Posts made in July 2020

Washington NFL Team Changes Name

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By Gabriella Scerbo

Following hundreds of protests condemning racism, the Washington Redskins football team combat discrimination by changing their name.

Much of the Native American experience has been one filled with hatred, violence, and disadvantage throughout U.S. history. The term “redskin” was a way to identify Native Americans from white colonizers in the 19th century. Today, with the derogatory term cheered in crowds, adorned on merchandise, and profited from by the NFL, the discrimination of Native Americans continues to be normalized.

Corporations including Target and Nike have agreed to stop selling Washington Redskin merchandise if the name is not changed; Amazon has already taken to removing the team’s merchandise. Now, the team plans to change the mascot as well as any Native American imagery connected to the sports team.

Although the Washington Redskin name is more than eighty years old, it is better late than never to better the NFL. While the Washington football team may be first team at any national level in sports to change their racist name, they are hopefully not the last. Hopefully more companies will follow suit as the world continues to question the racist implications and origins of symbols in our society.

Projected NBA Revenue

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Data gathered by Safe Betting Sites shows that the NBA sponsorship revenue over the past decade amounts to about $9.24 billion. According to the data, the revenue is projected to grow by 159.33% between 2010 and 2020.

Sponsorship revenue to peak during 2019/20 season. The revenue will be highest during the current 2019/20 season at $1.39 billion while during the 2009/10 season the revenue stood at $536 million.

The revenue surpassed the one billion mark during the 2017/18 season when it stood at $1.12 billion and later grew by 15.89% to 1.29 billion in the 2018/19 season.

From the data, the biggest growth was between the 2016/17 and 2017/18 season with a percentage increase of 30.08%.

The coronavirus pandemic might impact the current season’s sponsorship revenue. According to our research report: “It is important to note that the NBA’s unprecedented move to suspend its season early this year due to the coronavirus had an immense cost as the league’s clubs collectively lost millions in game-day revenue for games canceled. This move might significantly impact the 2020 figures. However, the league is expected to resume later this month.”

Our research also overviewed sports sponsorship spending in the United States from 2014 to 2024. By 2024, the spending will grow to $19.8 billion, an increase of 27.74% from the estimated 2020’s figure of $15.5 billion.

By next year, the spending will stand at about $16.4 billion, which will later increase by 6.09% to $17.4 billion by 2022. In 2023, the spending is projected to stand at $18.5 billion. Between 2014 and this year, the sponsorship has grown by 28.09%. From the data, the lowest spending was registered six years ago at $12.1 billion.

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Problem – Don’t Be Mad At Me

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Multi-talented Grammy-nominated Compton musician Problem returns to his day 1 collaborators Freddie Gibbs and Snoop Dogg to remix his stand-out track “Don’t Be Mad At Me” from his recently released Coffee & Kush Vol 1 album. The remix brings 3 artists together as they put aside their egos to make amends with their queens.

Produced by DJ Kai and Miles Rose, the hypnotizing track adds Freddie Gibbs’ raw scorching bars followed by Snoop Dogg’s smooth and seductive flow while Problem charms his way back in. Coffee and Kush Vol 1 is available now via Diamond Lane Music Group/Rostrum Records. Problem explains, “Freddie has been my dawg since we first started. He was on Mollywood 1 & 3. Snoop is a king. Any time he grants me with his presence, I honor it. I appreciate what these two bring to the game. And it was fun taking them out of their element.” Problem continues, “I want this song to help couples get through these tough quarantine times together. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Being the bigger person is the key.

The song was actually recorded as a real apology. I was wrong about something we had a small argument about and instead of just saying sorry, I went and did the song and sent it to her. It worked lol.” “Don’t Be Mad At Me” has gained millions of streams on DSP’s and has landed on sought after playlists.

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United States Suicide Crisis

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The United States is a nation currently plagued by many crises. We are facing a public health, economic, and civil rights crisis all at the same time. The coronavirus pandemic alone is changing almost every facet of life for hundreds of millions of Americans. Cases of COVID19 are rising again with fear and anxiety close behind.

Dr. Carlin Barnes and Dr. Marketa Wills – two Harvard-trained psychiatrists and co-founders of Healthy Mind MDs, LLC – a wellness enterprise whose sole mission is to improve the emotional and mental well-being of all Americans. They believe this increased rate of clinical anxiety and depression can lead to another major crisis – suicide. Mental health professionals are concerned that suicide rates will greatly increase over the next few months related to Americans deal with what is happening around them.

Suicide is not a new national problem. Research has established a strong link between economic upheaval and suicide and substance us In fact, it is a public health crisis that has plagued America for quite some time. Suicide rates among adults in the U.S. were on the rise before this pandemic. In 2020, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide deaths among those age 1 to 64 had increased to 35% in less than two decades. It is evident by our nation’s response, COVID-19 caught us off guard. A study of the Great Recession that began in late 2007 found that every percentage point increase in the unemployment rate, there was about a 1.6 percent increase in the suicide rate.

Drs. Barnes and Wills believe it is important that we, individually and collectively, ring the alarm regarding the possibilities of COVID-19 related suicide. They are available to talk about the signs of a loved one who may be contemplating suicide and how to combat it. Signs include:

• Extreme withdrawal from all family and friends from someone who had previously been outgoing and friendly

• Increased use of alcohol and drugs

• Stating that life is not worth living

• Starting to get possessions and final paperwork in order

• Erratic behaviors, mood swings, increased agitation/aggression/irritability

• Severe changes in sleep (increased sleep or decreased sleep) and appetite (increased appetite or decreased appetite

Given this confluence of stressors, the mental health of many Americans is becoming a major concern as we adapt to absorb the psychologic impact of all these major events. Data shows that one third of U.S adults have reported symptoms of clinical anxiety and depression related to this public health crisis.

Barnes, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist and behavioral health medical director at a Fortune 500 managed care company. For the past eighteen years, she has practiced child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry—she has a thriving, diverse, boutique private practice with patient clientele ranging from working adults to urban children and adolescents. She trained in the specialty of psychiatry at programs affiliated with both Harvard University and Emory University Schools Medicine and attended Texas A&M University College of Medicine, where she received a Doctor of Medicine degree. Dr. Barnes is a member of several professional organizations including the National Medical Association, the Black Psychiatrists of America, and the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She is originally from Hillside, New Jersey, and currently resides in Houston, Texas, where she lives with her son.

Marketa Wills, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist with a master’s in business administration from the Wharton School of Business and serves as a physician executive at a Fortune 500 health insurance company. She has cared for severely mentally ill patients in inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room clinical settings. As treatment team leader and medical director, she effectively collaborated with other mental professionals to ensure that patients with a variety of ailments—ranging from schizophrenia to postpartum depression to substance abuse—were able to live as productively as possible. Dr.Wills earned her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and completed a residency in adult psychiatry at Harvard’s Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital program. In her last year of the program, she served as chief resident. She has received numerous accolades and awards highlighting her clinical and community achievements. Originally from Dayton, Ohio, she currently resides in sunny Tampa, Florida.

The doctors have shared their expertise on numerous news outlets as well as CBS News, NBC Syndication and CBS Radio.
July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. Drs. Barnes and Wills would be ideal experts to talk about mental health and suicide issues.

Gracie Abrams – minor

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Today, emerging songwriter Gracie Abrams shares her highly awaited debut project, minor. A stunning showcase for her nuanced lyricism and mesmerizing vocals, the seven-song project features Abrams’s acclaimed singles “21,” “I miss you, I’m sorry,” and “Long Sleeves.” minor is available now via Interscope Records at all digital retailers HERE.

Today also marks the premiere of the video for “Friend,” a particularly poignant track from minor. The beautifully shot visual follows the 20-year-old artist as she rides around Los Angeles alone, journeying through the city’s enchanted outskirts, chaotic freeways, and lonesome streets while candidly sharing her story of betrayal and loss.

Watch the video for “Friend” by Gracie Abrams HERE.

Executive-produced by Blake Slatkin, minor spotlights the quietly captivating artistry that’s won Abrams praise from outlets like NME (who hailed her “painfully honest tales of heartbreak draped in delicate melodies that carry much more intrigue than the usual run-of-the-mill singer-songwriter”) and i-D (who noted that her voice “cradl[es] the power to break even the toughest heart”). With each song centered on her unguarded yet finely layered songwriting, minor finds Abrams collaborating with producer/songwriters like Joel Little, Benny Blanco, Jim-E Stack, Sarah Aarons and Caroline Pennell.

In a full-circle moment for Abrams, minor features the first of her songs to draw widespread attention: the project’s bittersweet title track, penned by Abrams at age 17. Now a fan favorite, after Abrams shared clips of the song on social media, “minor” offers an early glimpse into the graceful balance of raw outpouring and sharply detailed self-reflection that would come to define her music. That approach soon proved undeniable to listeners around the world, as evidenced by “21” and “I miss you, I’m sorry” each recently surpassing 10 million streams on Spotify.

Through the years, Abrams has shared homespun clips of her songs on social media, amassing over 290k followers on Instagram before she’d even released her first track.

Named an artist to watch by Pigeons & Planes, Fader, and iD — and crowned one of seven breakout female musicians by Vogue UK — Abrams considers herself a songwriter, first and foremost. After writing her first song at the age of eight, she went on to earn a devoted following on the strength of her indelibly personal lyrics and magnetic vocal delivery. Last fall, Abrams made her official debut with “Mean It” — an intensely vulnerable piece hailed by Ones To Watch as “pure, sentimental, and undeniably beautiful.”

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The Soundflowers – Your Look (Glorious)

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Today, The Soundflowers, featuring Paris Jackson and Gabriel Glenn, debuts the official video for “Your Look (Glorious)”—watch HERE! The full-length video was executive produced and shot by Prince Jackson via his production house King’s Son Productions.

“Your Look (Glorious)” is taken from the band’s self-titled debut EP, The Soundflowers, released last month to widespread acclaim via IMPERIAL. Billboard hailed “Your Look (Glorious)” as “simply romantic,” while Idolator proclaimed “The Soundflowers make a winning first impression” and Hollywood Life praised the EP as “five songs full of indie-folk goodness.”

This morning, Paris and Prince appeared on Good Morning America to discuss The Soundflowers, “Your Look (Glorious)” and more—watch their interview HERE. On collaborating with Prince, Paris says, “I was really comfortable working with my brother, it just felt natural.”

The Soundflowers’ five-track debut project eclectically blends indie acoustic and folk with influences of blues, soul, bluegrass country and beach reggae. The EP was produced by Mike Malchicoff (King Princess) with GRAMMY Award-winning mix engineer Rob Kinelski (Billie Eilish), and it is accompanied by video vignettes created by award-winning director Hannah Lux Davis (Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Nicki Minaj). The band is donating their net proceeds from merchandise sales to Black Women Lead, Black Voters Matter Fund, and BEAM through the end of this month. Merchandise is now available via thesoundflowersmerch.com.

The Soundflowers’ six-part Facebook Watch Original Docuseries, “Unfiltered: Paris Jackson & Gabriel Glenn,” is currently airing every Tuesday at 3AM PT/6AM ET through August 4th. The docuseries explores the band’s journey together beyond the music—watch the latest episode HERE and check out the band’s recent performance of “Geronimo” HERE.

The Soundflowers was born after Jackson and Glenn first crossed paths at Los Angeles’ Rainbow Bar and Grill during a TrashDögs performance, the rock ‘n’ roll band fronted by Gabriel. They quickly realized that their musical energies and passions aligned, as Paris recalls, “I started writing around 13 when I bought myself a guitar; I didn’t really start sharing or recording it until I met Gabriel.” Of their first time working on music together at Gabriel’s band’s rehearsal studio, he says, “We showed each other songs and even wrote a few on the spot. Everything fit together so naturally, from our voices to our songwriting style. I had never met someone who fit so perfectly with my sound.”

About The Soundflowers

The sound behind The Soundflowers is an eclectic take on indie acoustic and folk music, as the band attributes their songwriting to influences like The Beatles, Joe Purdy, Ray LaMontagne, Radiohead and The Lumineers. While Paris Jackson hails from one of the most successful families in music history, she is best known for her activism, acting and modeling work, the latter of which has seen her front campaigns for international brands like Calvin Klein, gracing the cover of top fashion magazines, including Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar titles and making her runway debut earlier this year at Jean Paul Gaultier’s final show. On the acting front, Paris has taken on several TV and film roles, collaborating with acclaimed industry professionals, including Lee Daniels, Charlize Theron, Joel Edgerton and Rachel Winters. Aside from music, Paris’ biggest passion has always been in using her platform to shine light on causes important to her, notably going off-script while presenting at the GRAMMY Awards and MTV VMAs, to highlight the Dakota Access Pipeline and events of racial injustice in Charlottesville, respectably. Paris also serves as an Ambassador for the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation (ETAF) and is passionate about continuing her godmother’s legacy of ridding the stigma and finding a cure for the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

Gabriel Glenn has always leaned into his musical talents, which first emerged while singing in the car with his mom on the way to school and further cultivated by forming bands with friends in his youth and studying music at the collegiate level in his home state of Louisiana. Upon moving to Los Angeles several years ago, Gabriel and a couple close friends formed the “desert rock ‘n’ roll” band TrashDögs, which has found local success performing at popular haunts along the Sunset Strip. Upon meeting Paris and forming The Soundflowers, Gabriel feels more complete as an artist: “She creates so naturally and honestly; it inspires me to be a better songwriter. I think having a unique spirit like hers allows us to channel things we’d never receive on our own.”

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Instacart × Feeding America

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Instacart, the North American leader in online grocery, today announced the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge, a giving campaign to benefit Feeding America® and fight rising hunger in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The #GiveFromTheCart Challenge invites consumers to turn their grocery carts into good by donating the value of their last grocery cart to Feeding America to help support communities struggling with growing food insecurity. From today until August 14, 2020, every dollar raised will go to help fight hunger and Instacart will match each donation, up to 1 million meals* to Feeding America’s member food banks in support of the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge. To kick off the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge, professional athlete, businesswoman and activist Serena Williams and her family have teamed up with Instacart to make the first donation of the campaign, donating 50,000 meals* to Feeding America.

“Our mission is to create a world where everyone has access to the food they love and more time to enjoy it together. We’re proud to partner with Feeding America on the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge to help increase access to food at a time when more people than ever before are grappling with food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19,” said Apoorva Mehta, Founder and CEO, Instacart. “We believe that groceries are more than just food – they’re an expression of warmth and connection. We invite people everywhere to turn their groceries into good and #GiveFromTheCart to donate the value of their last grocery cart to help a family in need.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put an incredible strain on the Feeding America network food bank as we work to address the increased demand for food assistance in communities we serve,” said Casey Marsh, Chief Development Officer at Feeding America. “We are thankful to Instacart and their customers for helping to support our neighbors in need. Donations from the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge will help food banks provide more meals to people who need them most.”

“I’m so grateful to be partnering with Instacart and Feeding America for the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge — together we are working to fight rising food insecurity,” said Serena Williams. “I am kicking off the challenge by donating 50,000 meals, and I hope you’ll join me in supporting the communities that need our help the most right now.”

How to Join The #GiveFromTheCart Challenge

Joining the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge is simple:

Donate and Instacart will match: Consumers can visit the GiveFromTheCart website HERE to donate the value of their last grocery cart – or any amount they choose – to Feeding America. Every dollar raised will go to help fight hunger and Instacart will match each donation, up to 1 million meals* to the Feeding America network of food banks in support of the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge.

Create and share a grocery heart: Next, we’re inviting consumers to help raise awareness of rising hunger by gathering groceries from their fridges and pantries, forming them into the shape of a heart, taking a photo, and sharing it across their social channels. This heart-shaped grocery photo is the social symbol of the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge and, once posted across social channels, will help encourage friends and family to turn their groceries into good to help families in need. When sharing their grocery hearts on social channels, we encourage customers to tag @Instacart, @FeedingAmerica, #GiveFromTheCart, and share the #GiveFromTheCart Challenge donation page.

Instacart has been a Feeding America Supporting Partner since 2018, and supports the organization via its Instacart Serves social impact program. Instacart Serves aims to nourish its communities by helping to remove barriers to food access and enriching the lives of communities facing hunger. Instacart supports these communities through an annual volunteer week of service, grocery donations, disaster relief, and giving campaigns.

In June 2020, Instacart donated 2 million meals* to the Feeding America member food banks that support the ten counties with the highest food insecurity rates in the nation. Communities of color are disproportionately impacted by hunger, and the ten counties with the highest food insecurity rates in the nation are at least 60% African American.

*$1 helps to provide at least ten meals secured by Feeding America® on behalf of local member food banks

About Instacart

Instacart is the North American leader in online groceries and one of the fastest-growing companies in e-commerce. Instacart shoppers offer same-day delivery and pickup services to bring fresh groceries and everyday essentials to busy people and families across the U.S. and Canada. Instacart has partnered with more than 350 beloved national, regional and local retailers, including Albertsons, ALDI, Costco, Kroger, Loblaw, Publix, Sam’s Club, Sprouts, Walmart Canada, and Wegmans, among others, to deliver from more than 25,000 stores across more than 5,500 cities in North America. Instacart’s delivery service is available to more than 85% of U.S. households and 70% of Canadian households. The company’s cutting-edge enterprise technology also powers the e-commerce platforms of some of the world’s biggest retail players, supporting their white-label websites, applications, and delivery solutions. Instacart offers an Instacart Express membership for unlimited free delivery on orders over $35. For more information or to start shopping, visit the Instacart website HERE. For anyone interested in becoming an Instacart shopper, click HERE for more information.

About Feeding America

Feeding America® is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of 200 food banks and 60,000 food pantries and meal programs, we provide meals to more than 40 million people each year. Feeding America also supports programs that prevent food waste and improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry.

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Colin Kaepernick × Disney

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By Mina Tocalini

Civil rights activist and former football quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, partners with the Walt Disney Company via his production company Ra Vision Media. The collaboration will direct their projects towards elevating Black and Brown directors, creators, storytellers, and producers, in an effort to inspire today’s youth, announced Kaepernick on media. The first project will follow Kapernick’s life story in a docuseries.

While playing for the San Francisco 49ers, Kaepernick’s protest of the national anthem became the topic of national debate. Kaepernick began kneeling during the national anthem to draw attention to the social injustice and police brutality faced by African Americans every day in the United States. In light of the recent uproar of activism after the death of George Floyd, Kaepernick’s partnership with Disney will provide the much-needed stories and perspectives that have been denied in our society.

The Undefeated will be working side by side with Kaepernick to develop future projects committed to create compelling stories that will educate, enlighten and entertain. The Undefeated is a platform established with ESPN that explores the intersections of race, sports and culture. Nonetheless, the partnership will work with all Walt Disney affiliates: Walt Disney Television, ESPN, Hulu, Pixar.

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Paloma Ford – X Tapes

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Today the California Chanteuse, R&B sensation, singer/songwriter Paloma Ford announces August 7th as the official release date for her highly anticipated, new body-of-work X Tapes. The rapturous announcement is backed with the unveiling of the project’s official cover art, creatively directed by Paloma, as she channels nostalgic sentiments tied to the direction of the overall project.

More on this theme for X Tapes, Paloma says: “Being an R&B artist in today’s climate you feel the pressure to switch up your sound to make it fit the market. But X Tapes was all about staying true to myself. I try to keep it as raw as possible. You’re going to feel those familiar R&B influences that inspire me, as well as fresh sounds and tempos that are Paloma Ford”.

X Tapes is heralded by the heartfelt R&B ballad “Nights I Cry,” and the accompanying official visual, praised by LA Weekly, ThisisRnB, HNHH, and more, capturing a smooth, laid-back California vibe to match the single’s sultry sound. Her track “Rain,” which premiered on Complex, and led as the introduction track for X Tapes, as well as the emotive live acoustic performance experience for “’Chome’ In My Feelings Version” will also feature on the project. X Tapes serves as follow up to Paloma’s 2016 Nearly Civilized EP, supported by an array of standout singles: “W.E.T.” [2.4 million Spotify streams], “Hit Of You” [1.6 million Spotify streams], and “Jada” [1.6 Million Spotify streams].

WATCH ‘NIGHTS I CRY’ OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE

WATCH ‘RAIN’ OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE

WATCH ‘CHROME’ ‘IN MY FEELINGS LIVE’ OFFICIAL VIDEO HERE

About Paloma Ford

Born in Los Angeles, Paloma Ford—singer, songwriter, designer, and mother exemplifies the feminine ideal from multiple angles. On the microphone, her sultry and soulful delivery consistently captivates listeners, while her relatable stories of love, passion, and heartbreak keep us coming back for more. It should be no surprise Paloma cites her primary influences as Aaliyah, Sade, and Janet Jackson, as she also bends R&B to fit and express her individual style.

Off the mic, Paloma describes herself as simply, “A mother and a girl from Los Angeles who has been through a lot of relatable experiences.” “I’m very optimistic, I try to see the good in others. I love being able to help and heal people. I’m a private person, so I don’t show everything on my social media. In my music, you can recognize moments of sensuality and strength. It’s all part of being a woman. That’s the message. It’s important for me to talk about other situations I’ve been in that other women can relate to.”

In 2006, she serendipitously met Macy Gray before a House of Blues gig. As it turned out, a background singer fell ill, so Macy asked Paloma to step in. Numerous live performances followed as Paloma also contributed vocals to three tracks from the star’s 2007 release Big—joining an esteemed cast of collaborators such as Justin Timberlake and will.i.am. As she built a following on YouTube via independent tracks “Dollars,” “Ménage à Trois,” and “Hit of You,” Meek Mill enlisted her for his 2014 single “I Don’t Know,” which rose fast on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Charts. During 2017, she unveiled her Nearly Civilized EP powered by a series of standout singles: “W.E.T.” [2.4 million Spotify streams], “Hit Of You” [1.6 million Spotify streams], and “Jada” [1.6 Million Spotify streams]. She appeared alongside Fabolous and Davo on “Connection” from Tory Lanez’s chart-topping Memories Don’t Die in 2018. At the same time, she carefully assembled what would become her 2020 independent EP, X Tapes.

LISTEN TO PALOMA FORD YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY | APPLE MUSIC | TIDAL | SOUNDCLOUD

CONNECT WITH PALOMA FORD: INSTAGRAM | TWITTER

Pininfarina × Blimp

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Pininfarina has recently made a series of announcements about its commitment to search for integrated, ready-to-use solutions for the post-COVID-19 era. This includes a partnership with startup Blimp to integrate physical and digital design, technology and services into a solution that can verify and monitor containment measures in any setting: from public transport to airports and stations and from offices to production plants, shops and large-scale retailers.

Angori believes that designers can and must play a crucial role in shaping the post-COVID-19 world. This is in line with Pininfarina’s “bespokely human” approach to design that explores new possibilities to build the future, transform organizations, help businesses, and enhance everyday experiences.

Silvio Angori started as a researcher at Augusta Westland Helicopters and worked as a senior researcher at Fiat Chrysler Automotive. He then joined ArvinMeritor in Detroit where he held various management roles. In 2007, he joined Pininfarina as COO and in 2009 was elected to his current position as CEO. His management skills and knowledge in the industry has earned the company top innovation awards every year since 2010. Angori is a member of several top American associations and his career has led him to deal with the Indice dei Libri del Mese-the Italian equivalent of the New York Review of Books-where he serves as chairman of the board. He has a master’s degree in theoretical physics from La Sapienza University in Rome and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

The Pininfarina Group, a premier Italian auto and industrial design company, recently announced a strategic partnership with artificial intelligence startup Blimp to launch the first of many ready-to-use solutions for the post-COVID-19 era. First up is Beat-19, a fully integrated physical and digital design platform that will allow governments and businesses to analyze the flow of people in a particular space and monitor how well they are adhering to COVID-19 containment measures. It will work in any public setting – indoors or outdoors.

Beat-19 will make it possible in real time to detect large groups of people in public spaces and, if necessary, prompt them to scatter through acoustic signals. It can monitor lines of people, count the number of nearby entrances and exits, measure body temperatures, and record how well safety measures like face masks and social distancing protocols are being observed. Importantly, the privacy of the individuals in these spaces will be completely protected. The images captured by the technology’s sensor – which is not a camera – are processed directly inside the sensor and immediately deleted.

As Pininfarina CEO Silvio Angori explains, “Design, which has the ability to innovate continuously while enhancing the lives of people in normal times, can provide the response to imagining a new future.” By designing new spaces and equipping them with digital measuring systems to make people safer, Beat-19 perfectly meets the needs of the “new normal.” It is the first major step in finding the right balance between social distancing and interaction.

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