A city comprised of roughly 860,000 residents, San Francisco is also home to a staggering amount of homeless people. According to Bay Area-based housing firm Panoramic Interests, roughly 7,000 people consider the streets of San Francisco their home, however, it’s just debuted a plan to help combat this growing issue. Referred to as a MicroPAD, as in prefabricated affordable dwelling, Panoramic’s solution is a 160-square foot, pre-fabricated abode capable of stacking 12 units tall and costing no more than $1,000 per month — paid for by the city, of course.
A modern engineering marvel, each MicroPAD plans to feature a healthy dose of comfortable features including a full bathroom, a twin-size bed, a kitchenette, and a mid-sized desk. Despite its miniature floorplan, the residence boasts nine-foot ceilings which helps the space look and feel much bigger than it actually is. What is most striking about the units is the fact each looks no different than a modern studio apartment — albeit a bit narrow. These are not thrown together heaps of dated appliances; MicroPADs are undoubtedly genuine.
“The ‘Housing First’ approach offers rapid provision of permanent housing for homeless populations and has been proven an effective remedy to chronic homelessness,” said Panoramic Interests in its MicroPAD Executive Summary Sheet. “But creating housing in a city where new development averages $1,200 per square foot is no simple task. The MicroPAD by Panoramic Interests can do just that, getting people off the streets and into high-quality housing quickly and economically.”
Currently, Panoramic is working on finding suitable real estate in San Francisco to place a neighborhood of MicroPAD units. Be it a typically unappealing unused lot or on top of a parking structure, the firm is open to any option so long as it’s capable of keeping overall costs down. With demo models currently built to entice the city, Panoramic says it is ready to mass produce a lineup of units in its factory should San Francisco give it the green light.
If decision makers deem MicroPADs a proper fix for San Francisco’s homeless population, Panoramic plans on leasing the unit’s development to the city — including the ability to determine who gets the privilege of living in the homes. It’s likely San Francisco will be on board with the MicroPADs as each unit deftly tops the city’s earthquake regulations, is capable of being manufactured 50 percent quicker than most prefabricated homes, and costs around 40 percent less than regular homes.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.