NEC Parking Tech Charges Only After You Leave Your Car

September 1, 2025 – A new parking system from Japanese tech giant NEC aims to eliminate the frustration of paying for time spent circling a lot or waiting to exit. The technology, which uses cameras and AI to detect when a driver actually leaves the vehicle, will begin trials next month in partnership with UrbanChain.

Most existing parking lots charge from the moment a car enters, meaning drivers pay for the minutes spent hunting for a spot and the time it takes to drive out. NEC’s approach flips that model: billing starts only after the driver parks and exits the car. The system relies on real-time video analysis to confirm occupancy, and the September trials will test how many cameras are needed for accurate detection.

NEC’s announcement also mentions “data utilization services” for commercial facilities, including monitoring vehicle occupant exit counts and analyzing visitor trends. Privacy advocates may see this as a new form of surveillance capitalism, but the company highlights a safety benefit: the system can flag drivers who remain in their cars for unusually long periods, potentially indicating a medical emergency. The company also suggests that if drivers know they won’t be charged while searching or exiting, they may drive more safely.

Fujifilm eyes printer business spin-off – Fujifilm has informed investors it is exploring a partial spin-off of its printer division, aiming to float the business while retaining up to 20% of shares. This move follows similar reductions by Epson, Toshiba, and Ricoh. According to IDC, the printer market faces “structural transformation and cyclical pressure,” with sharply falling sales. Fujifilm’s decision reflects a broader industry shift as companies pivot away from hardware toward digital services.

2GW-plus datacenter opens in western China – Chinese company Envision has commissioned a massive datacenter in Ulana, Inner Mongolia, exceeding two gigawatts. The 120,000-square-meter facility can house up to one million GPUs and deliver one million PFLOPS of AI computing power. Powered by renewable energy, the center aligns with Beijing’s “Data East, Compute West” plan, which moves large-scale computing closer to clean energy sources and away from coastal population hubs.

Submarine cable operator calls for police probe – Australian entrepreneur Bevan Slattery has reported suspicious activity around two of his submarine cables. A marine chart shows the tanker GEM Sapphire repeatedly crossing the cable paths at the time of the faults. “This is a concerning development,” Slattery wrote, noting that submarine cables are “the digital lifeblood of our nation” and that this could be the second incident in a federally declared cable protection zone. He has called for a police investigation.

Infosys to wear Crocs for ten years – Indian IT services giant Infosys has signed a decade-long deal to modernize Crocs’ systems. The project aims to unify data across the organization, enabling real-time, insight-driven decision-making. Crocs expects to address rising costs and inconsistent processes, though the contract makes no mention of making the famously ugly shoes look cool.

Australia urges smart glasses privacy probe – Australian discount retailer Kmart sold out of low-end smart glasses (AU$89) within days, sparking a privacy debate. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland has written to the Privacy Commissioner requesting “that this issue be given priority consideration,” citing “widespread community concerns about the potential impacts of ‘smart glasses’, particularly for women and children.” The move signals growing regulatory attention to wearable tech in public spaces.

This article provides a roundup of key tech developments from around the world, with a focus on NEC’s innovative parking system and its potential to reshape urban parking economics.