NEXT YEAR – OVERNIGHT:  Already we see the predictions for next year, and some of them are pretty interesting.  We'll see more like this in the coming week.  From the New York Post: 

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

In 2022, we’re ready for what’s next. And one thing’s for sure: We’re not going back to the old ways. So what can we expect from the new normal?

Here, experts give their predictions for the coming year.

Restaurant robots

Staff shortages at restaurants are only getting worse — according to the National Restaurant Association, three out of every four restaurant owners can’t retain enough servers — but demand for in-person dining is returning. What are restaurateurs to do? Hire robots.

Last summer, the Cuban restaurant Sergio’s in Miami, Florida, introduced the newest member of their staff, Servi — created by Silicon Valley company Bear Robotics. Servi, which delivers food and clears dirty dishes, is leased by Sergio’s for around $999 a month — or about $2 to $3 an hour including installation and support — and doesn’t accept tips.

Flippy, a burger-flipping robot from Miso Robotics, 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.

“I think the big difference in 2022 is that we’ll likely see actual production deployment of specific devices, such as French fry or pizza robots,” said Jim Collins, President of Perfect Company, a leading provider of technology solutions for the restaurant and hospitality industries.

Adding robots isn’t just about streamlining the cooking process. “It can actually free the kitchen team to focus more on creativity and innovation,” said Collins. “There are benefits to technology that go beyond quality and consistency.”

Minivans

Since their debut in the ’80s, minivans have never been cool. They’ve 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. New minivan models — like the much-touted 2022 Kia Carnival (above), described by critics as “sexy” — have the same sliding doors and high seats beloved by suburbanites, but now come with a rugged, stylish design.

Part of the minivan renaissance is thanks to COVID. “Minivans speak to our current, pandemic-induced desire to simultaneously cocoon and escape,” said automotive journalist and minivan enthusiast Brett Berk. “They’re literally a living room on wheels.”

Berk also points to a generational shift. “For Gen-Xers who were weaned on station wagons, the practicality of minivans are a revelation,” he said. “And they can be knowingly, slyly contrarian. Like wearing wide-wale corduroy blazers, they’re so uncool, they’re cool.”

Today’s daters crave more than dinner and a movie

After sitting at home for nearly two years, singles are “craving adventure and are up for anything,” said Talia Goldstein, the founder and president of matchmaking service Three Day Rule.

Today’s daters crave more than dinner and a movie, and they’re willing to travel further than a cab ride can take them. “Pre-pandemic daters would request a radius of 10 miles,” Goldstein says. “Now, clients are open to nationwide matches and even relocating for the right match.”

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 “passported” 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.

“To avoid flirtations getting lost in translation, we’ve partnered with [language-learning platform] Duolingo to give 100,000 Tinder members a free month of Duolingo Plus,” said a spokesperson for the company.

COMMENT:  Read the rest.  As Mort Sahl liked to say, "The future lies ahead."  There are more revelations in the article, and many more to come in the following months.

December 19, 2021