Back in February we wrote about the superb Oculus Rift virtual reality sailing app MarineVerse Cup. This fully immersive and accurate simulation surprised us with its physics based playset and incredibly realistic sense of actually sailing. (Add a fan moving air into your face and body for an even more visceral experience.) It is a most welcome virtual reality experience.
MarineVerse started development with a focus on regattas while aiming to create what the developers called “a chill sailing game”. Like all robust apps, the developments and updates continued and I wouldn’t be surprised if one day we might see knot tying or rigging etc. as part of their sailing school.
Night Sailing!
The latest update allows VR mariners to try night sailing & boating and experience relaxing sailing under the stars at Akalana Island while testing navigation skills like never before.
Night Navigation Practice
Have you ever sailed at night? Can you distinguish safe water from an isolated danger mark by just looking at its lights? Often a feared outing for a novice sailor in the real world, you can learn safely, at your own pace, and without the fear of grounding your boat and risking your life.
Test your skills in MarineVerse Cup:
( The video doesn’t do it full justice; make sure to try it in VR yourself. )
Why do we ignore the greatest threats to our pets well being, vulnerability to wildfires, floods, tornadoes, and other disasters?
Enter PHaR (Pet Help & Rescue app): the world’s first pet evacuation app.
Using a tight neighbors network, when disasters strike, activate the app, for a dedicated channel to arrange the rescue of your beloved animal companion.
Dave Crawford, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Animal Help Now, helped write the country’s first state legislative bill to double fines for traffic infractions in wildlife crossing zones; spearheaded RMAD’s nationwide boycott of Nalgene water bottles; stopped a multinational organization from building a Plexiglas zoo at Rocky Mountain National Park; and produced the country’s first video exposing conditions inside intensive egg facilities.
Crawford says, “PHaR was produced following the Marshall fire (Boulder County, CO; December 30, 2021), which took the lives of an estimated 1,000 dogs, cats and other pets.
Studies show – as did David’s personal experience in the Marshall Fire – that when disasters strike and you’re not home, your neighbors are your best bet to have your pets evacuated. PHaR is the only app of its kind. Not only in the United States, but in the entire world.”
A view of the destruction post tornado Moore, Oklahoma.
With this animal-focused tech nonprofit app, record and then, when needed, provide to your trusted contacts all the info they need to evacuate your beloved pets, including where their go-bag is, where their meds are, where they hide when scared, and how to get into your home.
For more info, visit www.AHNow.orgwww.PHaR.org @animalhelpnow @animalhelpnowapp (IG) @pethelpandrescue
More about the non profit
Animal Help Now, a nonprofit which operates its namesake wildlife emergency app, created PHaR. The 30-month effort started a week after the Marshall fire and culminated in the nationwide release on July 5, 2024.
Animal Help Now is a volunteer-based nonprofit with a budget under $200,000 USD/ $276,000 CAD. Creating PHaR was possible only because of public support and the dedication, perseverance and hard work of the organization’s mission-driven volunteers.
More about David:
David Crawford is co-founder and executive director of Animal Help Now. Dave has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and Mass Communication. He has been working on animal issues since 1989. He is co-founder and former long-time executive director of Rocky Mountain Animal Defense (RMAD). In that role, Dave led one of the most respected and effective regional animal advocacy organizations in the country; he produced the country’s first video exposing conditions inside intensive egg facilities; and he led the successful effort to stop a multinational organization from building a Plexiglas zoo at the Estes Park entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. RMAD also convened the first national conference on prairie dogs – the 2001 Prairie Dog Summit – and was central to the founding of the Prairie Dog Coalition. For the Silo, Kat Fleischman.
Happiness…..I popped the pink pill into my mouth and waited for the expected feelings of ecstasy. No, the pill wasn’t the drug XTC, but rather a legal and safe “hacking” alternative. Then I put on my trans-cranial stimulation device, known as “The Thync,” and waited to see what happened. Wow! After five minutes, it felt like my brain was flooding me with endorphins. Finally, I placed the scalp stimulator known as the Tingler on my head. When I did this, an orgasmic wave of intense pleasure rippled through my entire body.
After a few minutes of this euphoria, I took off the devices and went about my day. Having just been catapulted into sweet ecstasy, my day became both incredibly productive and happy.
This is not a future scenario.
This is how I like to start my mornings. Nowadays, there are new and improved ways to feel good-even ecstatic-that most people don’t know anything about. In an age when depression is rampant and dangerous drug use is epidemic, amazing new ways to feel peaceful, euphoric, and just plain happy are popping up all over the place. However, people miss out on these amazing methods because they simply don’t know about them. From safe drugs to “happy apps,” to high tech brain stimulation devices, a whole new world of ways to feel good is blossoming.
We live in an age where everything is shifting and accelerating. Yet, most people still pursue an ancient path for finding happiness. Their formula for being happy is to try to control all the external events and people in their lives to be exactly the way they want. This is a tiresome activity at best, and there are always some events and people that we can’t control. However, there is a new model for finding more joy and peace of mind: find it within your self. Of course, this is a not a new idea. Everyone from the Buddha to Jesus has said that heaven can be found within, but now there are cutting edge and more efficient ways to tap into this magical inner kingdom.
As invited to talk to Google employees about “The Future of Happiness.” I described new ways to control their minds and emotions that were more effective than trying to be happy by controlling all the events in their life. The reaction was intense. Everyone wanted to know what some of these innovative ways to “hack happiness” were, and how they could get them. That led me to write a book on the subject.
In my research I learned that different things work for different people.
For example, there are a lot of supplements known as “cognitive enhancers” that can dramatically increase your focus, energy, and mood. Yet, you have to try out many of them in order to find the one or two that really rock your world. I also learned that people define happiness in unique ways. Some people want a gadget that increases their pleasure, while other folks want a tool that improves their relationships or makes them feel totally peaceful.
Gary Numan “Complex” from The Pleasure Principle
As with all technologies, “inner” tech keeps getting better. In fact, some of them are so good that it’s possible to get addicted to them. Ultimately, one has to discern whether a given gadget is truly a friend that helps them find the joy within–or is just another WMD-Widget of Mass Distraction. Since there are many tools that do different things, there’s no simple answer as to whether something is beneficial to you.
For example, people become addicted and dependent on coffee. Yet, on the other hand, caffeine can prevent many types of cancer, and helps people feel good and be productive. So, is coffee a “good” thing? It’s up to you to decide…
In my own case, I decide if a specific technology is truly my friend by asking myself two questions. First I ask myself, “Does this tool lead me to being dependent on it?” It’s always better when technology acts like “training wheels” on a bike-meaning that the tool exists so that you can eventually do without it. If instead a gadget fosters a sense of dependence, then that’s a warning sign it may ultimately not be worth it.
The second question is, “Does this technology help teach me how to better connect with a sense of peace, love, or joy within?” Even the Dalai Lama has reportedly said that if there were a pill that duplicated Buddha’s awakening, he would take it immediately and prescribe it for all living beings. If a tool helps me learn how to get to a more peaceful, loving place more efficiently, I think that’s a good thing.
It’s hard to say exactly what the future holds, though Steve Jobs was seemingly pretty good at predicting it. In 1972 I had the unusual opportunity to be in a computer class with Steve Jobs. Of course, at the time he was just a nerdy teen and I was four years his junior. He and I would vie to play Tic-tac-toe on a 500 pound “computer” that our High School had recently purchased. Steve was obsessed with this machine. One day I asked Steve why he was so fixated on this refrigerator sized computer. He turned to me and said in an intense manner, “Don’t you see? This machine is going to change everything! It’s going to change the world!”
It turns out Steve Jobs was right.
Well, nowadays it may not seem like the latest brain supplement, neuro-stimulator, or mood enhancing app is going to change the world, but technology has a way of discreetly slipping into our lives. This “technology of joy” will only accelerate until the entire way we pursue happiness is transformed in the next few years. I’ve seen that when people try out enough of these new gadgets, apps, and supplements, they inevitably find something that feels good–and is even good for them. When that happens, their lives are never the same. For the Silo,Jonathan Robinson.
Keep your conversations and audio completely private with newly debuted technology featured in the nwm MBE001 True Wireless On-Ear Speakers ! In addition to proffering stellar audio quality and comfort, they also notably prioritize privacy via advanced “Personalized Sound Zone” tech that eliminates sound leakage while letting ambient sounds in, keeping conversations and other audio private (even if someone is sitting right next to you) while also maintaining situational awareness and ability to engage with others. The North Star Boys group (55+ million followers strong) pictured/quoted below are praising this comfortable, non-invasive on-ear speaker that can be used in public spaces without disturbing the wearer’s surroundings—or having prying ears listening in no matter how close the other person is.
Japanese Tech Behemoth ‘NTT’ Launches Next Generation of Open-Ear Wireless Earphones Only the Wearer Can Hear
Prioritizing Privacy: NTT subsidiary, NTT sonority, introduces ground-breaking, true wireless on-ear speakers featuring proprietary Personalized Sound Zone technology that eliminates sound leakage while letting ambient sounds in for utmost situational awareness;
Founders of the leading Asian-American creator group and pop band the North Star Boys, 55 million+ social media followers strong, praise the nwm-branded MBE001 wireless headphones—the latest innovation in the company’s ambitious R&D pipeline—which keep the listener’s audio private while enabling human connectivity, conversation and engagement fostering seamless sound for a seamless world
With the global earphone and headphone market’s size forecasted to grow to USD $126 billion usd / $170 billion cad by as soon as 2030, numerous factors are propelling the category to these extreme fiscal heights. This includes rising customer expectations for increased audio quality coupled with the expansion of the music industry, mobile technologies and Internet penetration at large. Earphones have also become a ubiquitous accessory for the numerous ways the device enhances daily lives. From 2-way communication, music, entertainment, fitness and gaming immersion to more utilitarian needs like concentration, noise cancellation and hearing protection, earphones enrich the human experience in so many ways. As this sector burgeons, one visionary company realized the still untapped potential of this product category and is single-handedly taking earphone technology to exciting new heights: NTT sonority—Japan’s audio brand that is a subsidiary of NTT, which is a leading global technology company.
This tech behemoth has significantly raised the bar and is permanently disrupting the market with the launch of its ground-breaking nwm MBE001 True Wireless On-Ear Speakers, now available at www.PersonalizedSoundZone.com, featuring its proprietary “Personalized Sound Zone” (PSZ) Technology. Revolutionizing the way we experience audio, the PSZ innovation allows users to enjoy audio with utmost privacy, situational awareness, sound quality and comfort. The technology minimizes audio leakage by containing sound to the ear, enabling users to use this on-ear speaker in public spaces without worrying about disturbing their surroundings—or having prying ears listening in … even if they are sitting or standing right next to you. This audio technology advancement is at the product’s core, providing users with the ultimate private acoustic space and balanced sound experience allowing them to hear their world differently than ever before.
“It is important for users to remain connected to their environment while indulging in their favorite audio content, and this additional safety element is among the key features setting nwm MBE001 apart from other earphones on the market—both wireless and wired,” said Hiroshi Sakai, NTT sonority Managing Director and CEO. “The technology enables users to enjoy their own personal sound zone without disturbing those around them or allowing them to accidentally or intentionally listen in. With the nwm MBE001 open earphones, audio is confined to within a few centimeters of the ear, ensuring music, audiobooks, videos, conversations and other sounds remain entirely private. These earphones concurrently allow users to stay aware of what’s around them, but without compromising audio quality, comfort or discretion. The wearer will hear more and miss less.”
So noteworthy the innovation, the music industry is quickly taking notice. This as the wildly popular Asian-American creator group and pop band The North Star Boys founded by brothers Sebastian Moy and Oliver Moy, which boasts over 55 million followers combined on social media platforms and a reported 20 million monthly views on their syndicated Snapchat shows, is praising the earphone advancement.
“I’ve always wished for headphones that don’t go directly inside my ear but also have perfect sound that cancels out noise,” Sebastian said. “I’m so happy to use NTT sonority’s nwm wireless headphones! They’re super comfortable and the special technology prevents other people from listening in, even if they’re sitting right next to me. Favorite headphones!”
Oliver Moy is also spreading the love for NTT sonority’s newest earphones, sharing, “Been using the nwm wireless on ear speakers for a couple of days now and, as a music producer, these on-ear speakers bring great quality with great practicality for everyday use. Cannot leave to the gym without them, as they are very comfortable and do not slip off my ear like other ear speakers… and they feel weightless while sitting on my ears.”
User Experience is Everything
The nwm MBE001 on-ear speakers are thoughtfully designed to address numerous factors that directly impact user satisfaction. These key benefits include:
Reduced audio escape for utmost privacy.
These earphones feature “PSZ Technology” creating a Personalized Sound Zone, which reduces audio leakage and ensures a private audio experience … whether that be a conversation, music, video or any other sound source. The PSZ technology resolves the long-lamented sound leakage problem, finally allowing users to listen to music, audiobooks, phone calls and attend online meetings in cafes and other public spaces with peace of mind.
Balanced listening comfort. In addition, the nwm MBE001 open-ear speakers offer balanced listening comfort by not blocking the ears, allowing users to hear ambient sounds and even their own voice clearly. The 12mm diameter drivers provide a natural listening comfort, similar to listening to background music, allowing a unique and equitable listening experience both through and outside of the earphones. Perfect for those who frequently use online communication, the open ears make it easy to speak without blocking the sound of your own voice.
Situational awareness and interaction. Because the device is not inserted inside the ear canal and does not block the ears, users can engage in natural conversations with people around them … even while listening to music or any other audio. They no longer have to remove the device when paying at the cash register, asking a quick question at the gym or responding to co-workers. Most importantly, users can remain alert to the sounds of approaching cars and other possible hazards—fostering potentially life-saving situational awareness.
Superior sound quality. Advanced sound technology allows users to experience crystal-clear audio. These on-ear speakers deliver rich, balanced sound across all genres, elevating the music listening experience to new heights.
Seamless wireless connectivity: The latest Bluetooth technology provides hassle-free pairing and a reliable, uninterrupted wireless connection that allows users to move freely, without any limitations.
Customizable sound via a dedicated app. nwm Connect (for iOS and Android only) is a dedicated app available as a free download. The EQ feature allows you to select your favorite preset and enjoy the sound that best fits to your environment.
Ultra-comfort for extended wear. The earphones are also ultra-light, weighing only 9.5g, ensuring those using the nwm MBE001 wireless on-ear speakers can avoid fatigue from extended use. Its ultra-lightweight, ergonomic design, coupled with the stability of the ear-hook, reduces stress on the ear amid prolonged wear.
Extended battery life: The built-in microphone and zero need to continually recharge throughout the work day or night makes these earphones ideal for remote work and online meetings. Users can enjoy conversations, their favorite music and other audio all day long. The nwm MBE001 wireless on-ear speakers boast an impressive battery life, ensuring the earphones are always ready whenever needed. Moreover, the included charging case and cable provides convenient on-the-go charging.
Button controls: Effortlessly control your audio experience with a simple physical button built into the wearable device. With a simple push, you can play.
“We are committed to pushing the boundaries of audio technology and delivering innovative products that enhance our customers’ audio experiences and lifestyle overall,” Sakai continued. “Our relentless pursuit of balance between sound pressure, quality, ergonomics and aesthetics has led to the disruptive, cutting-edge design of our new nwm MBE001 wireless on-ear speakers. They are not just about sound, but rather connection as they offer a new way of engaging with the world … complete with your very own Personalized Sound Zone. With them, you’re in tune with your world by being in control of your sound.”
Revolutionary Technology
NTT sonority’s journey taking the nwm MBE001 wireless on-ear speakers from concept to product launch was marked by countless trials and adjustments to balance sound pressure and quality while minimizing sound leakage. The company’s PSZ technology is a key innovation that applies the principle of noise cancellation by producing an inverted soundwave to neutralize sound. Unlike conventional audio devices that house the speaker unit in a box to prevent interference, PSZ technology has redefined this norm by confining sound within a 360-degree radius around the ear to minimize sound leakage. This non-directional speaker design offers stress-free, continuous listening without the pressure or vibrations associated with bone conduction earphones.
To incorporate PSZ technology into the nwm MBE001 on-ear speakers , the company had to reduce the size of the speaker units to their smallest possible dimensions. The challenge was to maintain sound quality while achieving sound pressure in the ear. The unique approach of using the inverted waveform from the back of the speaker to cancel out sound has also led NTT sonority to undertake R&D on both aircraft seats that provide a more private acoustic space as well as automobile seats that allow different audio playback for each user—all to improve comfort in ground and air transport vehicles WITHOUT using earphones or headphones. The ability to enjoy audio comfortably in a private space will make long journeys more enjoyable and comfortable while also enabling seamless communication with those around you.
For the Silo, Anne Gold.
About nwm
NTT sonority’s New Wave Maker (nwm) audio brand was created in November 2022 with the goal of creating an optimal audio experience. The company aims to expand its audio solutions to address future ways of working and living by creating not just a sense of immersion, but the comfort of being connected. Learn more at us.nwm.global .
About NTT sonority
NTT sonority is an audio engineering-focused subsidiary of NTT, which is a leading global technology company providing services in over 190 countries and regions to consumers and business as a mobile operator, infrastructure, networks, applications and consulting provider. The company’s mission is to foster connection through sound, by letting people choose what they want to hear, and what they want others to hear. The company’s core R&D in sound physics and related hardware powers ground-breaking consumer product lines as well as B2B use cases with wide societal impact. Learn more at https://ntt-sonority.com/en.
A major money saving and environmentally beneficial smart kitchen app launched waaaaay back in 2015, on World Environment Day, and deserves another look as it still works well and saves users up to $1,000 every year and helps reduce food waste.
The “Smart Kitchen” EatBy App reduces food waste, saving households up to $1,000 per year and helps the environment.
The staggering amount of wasted food continues to make headlines and back when the app was first created, husband and wife developers, Steffan and Barbara Lewis were focusing their passion for finding a solution to the environmental issues surrounding food waste and came up with the idea to develop and launch “Smart Kitchen” EatBy as soon as possible.
“We had the idea one lunchtime after we had to throw out the food we’d hoped to eat because it had passed it’s use by date. That led to a purge of all the out of date food in our kitchen. And quite frankly, we were shocked and disgusted with ourselves when we realised how much we waste.” said Barbara Lewis.
They decided to make the app free to download and offer expanded use with an optional shopping list that can be activated with an in app purchase.
“It’s important to us that the app’s basic functions have to be free in order to gain and benefit the maximum number of users. Collectively we can all make a huge difference to the environment. And it’s an added bonus that we’ll save around £700 ($1,000) each year.”
And the numbers add up.
Recent reports state that the average household wastes $80 usd ($109.23 CAD) every month on un eaten food. With over 123 million U.S. households that’s $9,840,000,000. Factor in similar habits throughout the rest of North America and an equivalent amount in Europe, the tally is somewhere around a staggering $236 Billion each year. It’s known that about one third of all food produced is discarded but the real cost to the environment is misunderstood: 1.3 billion tonnes of wasted food contributes 10% of worldwide total greenhouse gases.
Many strategies for reducing food waste have been proposed by environmentalists, government agencies and industry specialists. But the husband and wife creators of the EatBy App claim their app is the first practical personal tech solution to the problem of food waste. It is a simple to use Smart Kitchen App that effectively helps manage the food in your kitchen and lets you know when food items expire. The optional integrated shopping list will also help reduce buying too much food in the first place.
“We are under no illusion that our app will immediately solve this global problem,” Said Steffan Lewis, “But if only a few million people download and use it, then it’ll already make an impact and that’d be a great start. Obviously, we’d like everyone to use our app and benefit from it!”
The EatBy App is available for both Android and Apple devices. More information about the project’s history can be found at https://www.eatbyapp.com
Pi Network increased its team member headcount by nearly 33% over the past year, debuted new developer features and KYCd 3.8M community members to-date
PALO ALTO, Calif., March, 2023 /– Pi Network, a community of tens of millions of humans mining Pi cryptocurrency to use and build the Web3 app ecosystem, today announced a series of milestones for the growing organization, including a notable spike in full-time Core Team members, multiple app developments and new improvements to its native KYC ID review algorithms.
March 14 (3-1-4) is Pi day
Despite the overall crypto market contraction, the Pi Core Team continues to grow, signaling the speedy development of the Pi Network ecosystem and its long-term vision.
Since February of 2022, full-time team member headcount has increased almost 33% in critical areas such as product, engineering, and community. Pi Network’s most recent hires include a new Senior Engineering Manager who will add more bandwidth to its technology management. The Pi Core team now stands around 40 strong and continues growing as the network expands and the ecosystem evolves.
“Given the breadth of work at Pi Network, the Core Team’s growth will continue to enable more decentralized efforts from our community of over 35 million engaged members who collectively build this network. Pi Network’s work is to empower those members in alignment with Pi’s vision of an ecosystem that is built on the blockchain to support a new Web3 social network of a large community, all of whom are empowered to create and use utilities through its developer’s platform and Pi apps. Building for that ambitious vision requires an all-hands approach from Pioneers, community developers, external partners, and the Core Team together,” said Chengdiao Fan, a Founder and Head of Product at Pi Network.
“By prioritizing the human aspect, focusing on building substance and adopting non-consensus long-term strategies, we’ve taken a more careful and deliberate path. We know that patience isn’t a strength in the crypto space but we’re confident in our approach: that’s why we’ve been able to continue the Network’s steady growth despite the downturn we’ve seen impacting some other crypto projects.”
In addition, Pi Network has taken great strides in the product and ecosystem fronts with numerous updates and developments.
Pi’s current Enclosed Network period of Mainnet allows Pi to focus on completing KYC and Mainnet Migration for the majority of the network, and bootstrapping the Pi ecosystem with meaningful apps and utilities, without undue influence from external factors.
To that end, Pi has been diligently improving its KYC ID algorithms to expand access to its native KYC solution, officially launched March 14, 2022, as the primary mechanism to validate Pioneers’ identities for Mainnet Migration. Since enabling mass KYC in June of last year, Pi has successfully validated over 3.8 million Pioneers to date.
Simultaneously, Pi has made significant efforts in building Developer Platform features and expanding community collaboration to foster Pi ecosystem growth, including the launch of PiOS, Pi’s Open Source Software License which allows Pi Community Developers to create open source applications and tools and exclusively extends to use within the Pi Ecosystem. Recent ecosystem-related updates include work on App-to-User payments and Developer Wallets for improved Mainnet payment flows, the Pi “Brainstorm” app (where “Pioneers” can propose and explore various ideas and pair up with like-minded Pioneers to build real Pi platform apps, and more.
Moreover, Pi has emphasized app development through Core-Team-developed apps, external business partnerships, and the most recent Pi Hackathon which hosted over 6,400 participants, all to better source talent, concepts, and utilities for the community.
“With the much-anticipated ‘Pi Day’—which celebrates the 4th anniversary of Pi’s official launch—happening this March 14, we have some exciting programs in the pipeline that we are eager to introduce to the Pioneers and developers for our decentralized efforts to build the Pi ecosystem,” said Dr. Nicolas Kokkalis, a Founder and Head of Technology. “At Pi, we’re creating things and solving problems in a way that the world hasn’t seen before.”
To learn more about Pi Network, please visit minepi.com.
ABOUT PI NETWORK
Pi Network is a community of tens of millions of humans mining Pi cryptocurrency to use and build the Web3 app ecosystem. Founded in 2018 by Stanford University PhDs with specializations in blockchain and social computing, Pi Network is a utilities-based ecosystem for third-party apps on a mobile web platform, with widespread (rather than concentrated) token distribution. The blockchain platform offers a mobile-first mining approach, with low financial cost and a light environmental footprint within the crypto space.
Within the global sector of cyber security, the two major areas that are constantly under attack are financial and governmental. Financial organizations that hold consumer data, in particular those that provide financial services to retail and commercial customers, including banks, investment companies, real estate firms, retail banking and insurance companies, are an obvious target for the simple fact that this is where the money is. At the end of the day, unless an attack is of a personal nature, in which the reputation of an individual or business is targeted, monetary assets are the endgame.
Now imagine a cyber threat the same as you would a burglar walking down the street. When a thief leaves their home, they do not necessarily know what they are going to target, unless they have done some reconnaissance and are after something specific. In most cases, however, the target itself is not premeditated. And a house which is more vulnerable and has less defences, will always be the first point of call. Given the choice between a house with an open window and lights out, and a house with attack dogs, security cameras and search lights, nine times out of ten a burglar will take the opportunity to infiltrate the house with the open window. Why? Because it is easier and quicker to break into this house successfully.
The same applies within the finance industry. If there is a vulnerability, it will be the first target. In response, banks and financial institutions require tailored and sophisticated security to support their systems and people, and to defend against an onslaught of complex and aggressive cyber-attacks. Not only must security compliance within the financial sector be tenfold, but it is essential that security precautions evolve, to mirror the growing threat landscape.
But as new cyber threats develop daily, this is easier said than done.
Anti-Fraud Systems
To uphold compliance, and elements such as GDPR, antifraud systems within the finance industry have developed significantly over the last few years to safeguard credentials. To do this a combination of key codes, two factor authentication, voice ID, behavioral analysis, one-time passcodes, protective messaging, and digital fingerprinting have been widely integrated.
In fact, if you look at the document, ‘Comparison of banking providers’ fraud controls’, from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), the majority of banks use a combination of these systems. With organisations including the Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax and HSBC, using touch identification. An element that would seem almost impossible to recreate virtually.
But cyber criminals have a concerningly accurate knowledge of the internal workings of banking and banking systems. And, in 2019, an arena known on the dark web as Genesis Market was uncovered. Within Genesis Market, digital fingerprints, stolen from PC’s, were/are sold. And, with each fingerprint, a user’s digital identity provides the means to bypass security measures and gain access to accounts.
According to darknetstats, Genesis Market is accessible by invitation alone. Once in, not only are fingerprints available, but so are passwords, credit card information, cookies and more.
Admiral Kirk retina scan in progress. Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan
It is no wonder that retina scanners are developing in the biometrics/banking sphere.
Internal Threats
It can be argued that the reason why many cyber criminals know so much about the inner workings of financial organisations is because, at one point or another, many worked legitimately within the industry. Internal teams pose as much of a threat as external attacks. In every Bond film there is always an insider guy.
The Insider guy in 1995’s James Bond film GoldenEye. Alec Trevelyan (006), aka Janus.
But whether an attack is malicious or accidental, internal security breaches are regular occurrences. Which us why User Behavior Analytics is crucial to understand the actions within a team, and to highlight and stop unusual activity before the damage is done.
Another element that is important to recognize with regards to internal threats, is that many employees/insiders are completely unaware that they are a threat in the first place. Take, for instance, an employee working remotely. This employee may be sat at a local café where they decide to work on a company device. If this device was unknowingly hacked while using a different Wi-Fi, the user may be completely unaware that they are spreading malicious malware via their device throughout the company.
Ransomware
Say a crime group has gained access to personal accounts. The next logical step is to blackmail the victim/organization via ransomware. Unfortunately, as a public security breach would cause mass panic and many potential lawsuits, banks will often pay off cyber criminals into an anonymous cryptocurrency account, rather than lose client data. Crime groups know this.
Sometimes victims speak out, but this does not always end well.
Take Travelex, the currency exchange company, for instance. Following an attack by a Sodinokibi ransomware in January, $6 million usd was demanded in exchange for 5GB of personal data. Since the attack, Travelex has fallen into administration, with PwC saying that the ‘foreign exchange firm was acutely impacted by COVID and the recent cyber-attack.’
For financial organisations, ransomware can and will destroy a whole business. And, if they lock you out of an account, you are finished.
App Developments
Apps surrounding investment and finance have grown substantially in 2020. This, in part, is a good thing, as the ability to invest online is quick and easy, and accessible to all. But due to the demand, many of these apps were developed quickly and are underprepared for cyber-attacks.
For instance, many do not provide two-factor authentication, are not supported by the appropriate regulations, are not patched or maintained properly, and do not have contingency plans in place to mitigate the effects of a cyber-attack. As a result, personal information of app users is relatively easy to steal and sell. This can be done by creating duplicate fraudulent apps to trick the user. On these duplicate apps, the imagery and language of the genuine app is mirrored. And, once the personal information is supplied, both real and virtual money is then accessible. Thus, the circle of ransomware ensues.
COVID-19
Another element to take into consideration over the past two years and counting is, of course, COVID-19. According to an article by ComputerWeekly, ‘what has been referred to as an “unprecedented anomaly”, cyber criminals were and to some degree still are increasingly targeting the financial services sector during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic, with attacks on banks and other financial institutions spiking by 38% between February and March of 2020 to account for 52% of all attacks observed by VMware’s Carbon Black Cloud.’
COVID-19 has altered cyber security on a global scale and in every vertical.
Third-Party Risk
These days, few organisations work on their own. The majority use third parties, including vendors, partners, e-mail providers, service providers, web hosting, law firms, data management companies, subcontractors and so on. With regards to many of these, from IT systems to sensitive information shared with legal teams, these third parties could easily be a backdoor into your financial systems for attackers to infiltrate.
According to Ponemon Institute, ‘53% of organisations have experience one or more data breaches caused by a third party, costing an average of $7.5 million to remediate.’ For a large organisation, this can be crippling. And can wipe out a small organisation in a matter of minutes.
To manage third parties, financial organisations must have the ability to detect threats, and the capability to respond to them. Which requires the right combination of people, processes, and technologies.
But half the battle is locating vulnerabilities in the first place. Which is why cyber resiliency needs to be sharp, and why investing in the best managed security services is essential. From Firewall Management, to Decoy Deception and Honeypots, it is important to know what services will support an organisation best. This will depend on factors including location, company size, current security measures and more.
Considerations
Cyber threats will continue to grow into 2023. That much is clear.
Financial organizations have either already tackled a cyber-attack, will tackle one in the very near future, or may be a target of one currently, but are simply unaware of the fact.
Effective security comes down to three key elements. Processes, people and technology. Processes must run seamlessly alongside the organisation. Security experts must have the capability to detect, react and understand the context of a risk. And the technology must be superior, to keep up with cyber threats. All elements are equally as important, and you must have all three to ensure security.
In times like these security measures are more crucial than ever. Especially for those within finance. So that our life savings are secure, the security of our loved ones is maintained, and the livelihoods of those employed within the financial world continues. Contact SecurityHQ for a free consultation to learn more. For the Silo, Eleanor Barlow.
As the 2022 school year comes to an end, the surge of summer travel plans begins. With an estimated60%of Canadians and Americans planning at least one trip over the next 3 months, hackers have roughly 200,000,000 projected tourists to prey on.
Lookout’s Cyber Security Expert, Hank Schless, shares how these cyber-attacks usually capitalize on travelers who are often overwhelmed or distracted when in unfamiliar environments, like airports and cafes.
>> Public Wifi Connections
“Although many airports offer free Wi-Fi connectivity, you should make sure that you join the official airport network and not a similar network that is configured to trick travelers into giving up their usernames and passwords”
Attackers have been known to set up fake networks – with obvious but convincing names like ‘Starbucks_Guest_WiFi’.
Once you connect, they’ll gain access to sensitive information, including your login credentials, emails, and messages.
In order to protect yourself from wifi threats, alter your device’s settings so that it does not automatically connect to nearby networks, which the Lookout app does automatically.
>> Social Awareness & Juice Jacking
While on the go, travelers rely on power outlets and USB cords to keep their mobile device’s battery charged. Attackers can exploit USB chargers by loading malware onto them that infects your device the second you plug it in – Always be aware of your surroundings.
The “USB condom” works by physically disconnecting the data pins of a USB device and only allowing the power pins to make contact.
If someone approaches you and offers their USB charging cord, it is best to decline.
Always travel with your personal USB cords, and plug your charger directly into an electrical socket (vs USB port) if possible.
The easiest place for a scammer to steal or hack your phone is in crowded areas – so never leave your phone or device unattended and only let people you know “borrow” your devices.
>> SMS and Email Travel Updates
“It’s important to be on guard for travel-related email, text, and social media scams as well. Attackers may try to steal a traveler’s credentials through phishing campaigns that pretend to be an airline, credit card company, or TSA”
The Lookout App by Google is now available in Canada.
Here’s how it works: A scammer will send a message telling the recipient that their TSA PreCheck needs to be renewed, but the link in the renewal email leads to a fake site where hackers can accept payment and steal a victim’s personal information.
Although the TSA sends renewal reminder texts and emails, travelers should always go directly to the TSA website for information on their existing accounts.
For added protection, consumers can also download security – Security protection, like the Lookout app, will automatically monitor and identify scam URLs in email, text messages, and on the web and block you from threats that can do harm.
Mobile apps using ‘metaverse’ in their description surge fivefold in 3months
Various mobile application developers are increasingly aligning their products with the growing metaverse concept after Facebook popularized the term following the company’s rebranding to Meta. Although metaverse is a work in progress, several appsol are associating with the concept in their descriptions.
Data presented by Burga indicates that between November 2021 and January 2022, a monthly average of 28 mobile applications added metaverse to their description, a fivefold growth or 460% spike from the five average recorded between June 2021 and October 2021. The highest number was registered in December 2021 at 30.
Elsewhere, games with 107 applications lead in the number of app categories referencing the ‘metaverse’ keyword. Finance ranks second at 101, followed by social at 70. In the tenth slot, there is education with 11 apps. Data on mobile apps referencing metaverse is provided by mobile intelligence platform Sensor Tower.
Why app developers are focusing on metaverse
Mobile phone applications adding metaverse to their description were seemingly triggered by Facebook’s rebranding to Meta in October 2021. Most companies and applications have followed suit after the social media giant also announced that it plans to invest heavily in the metaverse. The apps are aligned with the metaverse even as players in the sector explore industry standards.
Generally, the metaverse concept is a network of virtual worlds focused on social connection as a hypothetical iteration of the Internet as a single, universal virtual world supported by virtual and augmented reality headsets.
Although the metaverse is still gaining ground, app developers are using the concept as a critical marketing tool as different sectors await the actual technical requirements for the metaverse to emerge. It can be argued that the applications are working towards having an edge once the technology’s full potential is realized.
A significant share of the metaverse will likely be enabled by apps, which explains developers’ decision to associate with the virtual concept. Notably, apps in the metaverse are touted to potentially harness the most critical features of smartphones, wearables, headsets, and IoT.
Furthermore, virtual interactions offer enticing financial opportunities for businesses and could potentially open new revenue streams for companies diving into this new venture. At this point, with the shift towards a digital life, the opportunities offered by the metaverse are limitless.
Why gaming apps are leading the metaverse
It is no surprise that the gaming apps are leading in adding metaverse to their description. Notably, games have long been associated with VR and AR technology which is at the core of the metaverse. Game engines are likely to be foundational technologies and a critical building block for creating virtual world applications.
In this line, some of the big players in the tech space led by Microsoft are increasing their involvement in the metaverse. According to the company, the metaverse is all about creating games, a key driver for its acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard. Additionally, gaming platform Roblox has long been viewed as the metaverse frontrunner.
Besides games, the metaverse is also expected to have several implications for different industries. Metaverse technologies have found practical applications among sectors like finance. For instance, VR and AR can be deployed in finance in data visualization, which can aid in analyzing financial risks providing more precise services to customers.
Although app developers are getting ready for metaverse, realizing the concept on a large scale might be extensive. For instance, access to high-speed Internet and the cost of reliable VR hardware remains a challenge.
Additionally, the high scale of interoperability required to build various aspects of the metaverse is yet to be achieved. In this line, tech companies will have to partner with other entities on factors such as metaverse laws. For the Silo, Gytis Gelzinis/BURGA.
The stay at home orders for the coronavirus has been extended in most cities, and for many of us who thought it would only be a few weeks, we are realizing that these orders might be for a lot longer than that.
What we thought might be a nice break from the grind of overworking has turned into a situation where we do not know what to do with ourselves. We have watched every series and film on Netflix that we missed and reruns of our favorite sports teams just ain’t cutting it the way we thought they would.
Online Casino Gaming
You might be tired of watching Netflix, and perhaps you are done with not having any interaction with your entertainment. This will push you perhaps toward playing interactive games. These can be great, but most are aimed toward young people, and they do not have any real-world consequences. As a result, they can get pretty boring after a while.
If you want something to do that is both interactive and has consequences, gambling at casinos online like Casimba is an excellent choice for some entertaining fun. This interactive website and mobile app gives you access to all of your favorite casino games, including slots, craps, roulette, blackjack, bingo, Bacharach, and every form of poker that you can imagine. And unlike traditional casinos, you don’t have to travel in order to play your favorite games.
You can use your desktop, laptop, or tablet computer, or your smartphone. As long as you have an internet connection, you have access to all the amazing casino games. And to make things serious, you play for real money. So the stakes can get pretty high, and so can the entertainment when you play online casino gambling.
Learning a New Language
Most people would love to learn a new language. When they hear people able to move from one language to another, it is always cool. However, most people feel that learning a new language is difficult and extremely time-consuming. Well because of the coronavirus lockdown, you got lots of time on your hands. And today there is software like Babel that specializes in helping anyone to quickly learn a new language. The lessons are all online, and you can move at your own speed. Also, the company has dozens of languages for you to learn. Imagine coming out of the coronavirus lockdown able to speak a new language.
Meditation
Too many people think that meditation is an eastern practice that is not effective in the western world. The reality is that meditation is both wonderful at reducing stress, and is effective no matter where you are. Meditation has been practiced for thousands of years, and wherever it is introduced, it becomes part of society. In Western societies, even traditional doctors and medical institutions are now advising patients to indulge in meditation on a regular basis. Meditating is simple. You only need to sit in a quiet place and clear your mind. Steady breathing helps. It will take a while for you to do it, but after some practice you will find this simple exercise relieves stress and lifts your spirit.
The coronavirus has caused lots of stress and feelings of lost control. This is a natural response to a situation that takes you out of your normal routine. Invest some time in the endeavors included here and it will help you to relieve the coronavirus blues. For the Silo, Dimitry Karloff.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. — Sports Gambling Podcast Network™ will launch the new National Football League season with a free $100,000 usd contest for its consumer audience, rewarding the person who picks all 16 games against the spread and hits on six of six over/unders from Sept. 9-13.
The contest began officially began yesterday, and fans can enter on the SGPN App, which is available on all devices and is downloadable at Apple’s App Store [1], the Google Play Store, and from www.SportsGamblingPodcast.com [2]. SGPN is the only independently-owned and operated sports gambling media network that places a premium on entertainment value.
The no-cost app, which debuted in June, includes content for sports wagerers on the move from over 45 SGPN writers and personalities plus exclusive access to multiple, free audience contests, now including the $100,000 Week 1 NFL Challenge.
In accordance with contest regulations, only one entry is permitted per person and the total number of eligible participants is 5,000.
https://youtu.be/yX8amLVHIuc
“Our audiences are loyal and they deserve the opportunity to convert a big payday,” stated Sean Green, SGPN co-founder, CEO and co-host of the popular Sports Gambling Podcast . “Interest is at a fever pitch now with preseason games in the books and the level will reach its apex that second week of September when the new season commences. Winning the cash will require a little bit of luck, but our audience is savvy. We actually think someone will pull this off.”
SGPN is all over the upcoming NFL season, providing its audiences with insights, analysis and definitive selections non-stop during the pre-season window. On July 13-14, the unprecedented 24-hour Fantasy Football Draft by SGPN expert Ryan Kramer resulted in over 100,000 minutes watched and a 100% approval rating from the audience.
The most recent contest for app downloaders was an NBA playoffs contest with a $1,000 usd winner-take-all cash prize.
The winner identified the Milwaukee Bucks as NBA Champions and correctly predicted that the series would be over in exactly six games. The tiebreaker prediction of total number of points scored in those games was needed to determine the winner.
Green and Kramer were among a handful of sports wagering information providers who produced live shows concurrent with the first round of the NFL Draft on April 29, delivering a second screen experience to avid fans looking for real-time, expert analysis as they viewed the selections and engaged in live wagering on the many legal sportsbooks in the marketplace. The show was delivered from SGPN’s new ultra-high definition 4K studio and resulted in substantial growth in viewership minutes over the 2020 show.
In all cases, Green, Kramer and the Sports Gambling Podcast Network of writers and personalities provide analysis, picks and best bets free of charge.
About SGPN
Sports Gambling Podcast Network™ was established in 2011 as one of the first website/digital media platforms to provide consumers with an entertainment experience featuring sophisticated insight and analysis plus definitive wagering recommendations and selections across the full spectrum of legally-available sports. Co-founded by sports and entertainment personalities Sean Green and Ryan Kramer, it is home to the Top 40 All-Time football podcast (per Chartable.com) Sports Gambling Podcast, one of 11 separate podcasts.
The website, www.sportsgamblingpodcast.com [2], boasts over 50 contributors delivering editorial content and social media postings under the SGPN banner.
The platform generates millions of unique page views and podcast downloads annually and remains a primary destination for the burgeoning population of sports fans across America and around the world. In addition to his stand-up comedy act, Green is an accomplished TV comedy and script writer with credits including MTV’s Ridiculousness and Nickelodeon’s Crashletes with Rob Gronkowski.
He has also anchored several sports wagering and fantasy sports shows for SiriusXM and ESPN+. Kramer is a SiriusXM contributor and a sports wagering marketplace influencer who specializes in NFL game prop bet predictions. He has multiple top finishes in the Fantasy Football Players Championship (FFPC) Main Event and registered a 14-6 mark last month with his Men’s NCAA Tournament college basketball locks.
SGPN is a member of the Fantasy Sports Gaming Association (FSGA).
A few years ago, on May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court decided to back New Jersey’s bid, allowing any state in the US to legalize sports betting. The Supreme Court overthrew PASPA – Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 – a law that was supposed to define the legal status of sports betting throughout the States.
However, PASPA didn’t ban sports gambling, it just didn’t permit the states to allow it. Passing the law ultimately resulted in creating an underground virtual monopoly over a multi-billion dollar industry.
Strong Case Against PASPA
The infographic below points out some facts regarding the illegal cash flow in the betting industry before the overturn of PASPA. As it turns out, the government of the state of New Jersey presented a strong case against PASPA, and it seems that participants of the hearings were worried that the law would restrain the States’ rights to raise revenue.
The American Gaming Association estimated that American citizens illegally wager more than $150 billion each year on sports betting. Until PASPA was struck down, Nevada was one of the only four states that permitted sports betting (Delaware, Oregon, and Montana also had an immunity). However, Nevada’s legally wagered money covered up for only a small portion of the total sum wagered on betting activities throughout the States (less than 4%).
Before PASPA was abolished, the Congress had the rights to mandate the forms that intrastate commerce states may regulate. However, by doing so, they didn’t manage to eliminate the sports betting market. They’ve just driven it underground.
New Beginnings Will Bring New Changes
On July 31st, 2018 ,Adam Silver, commissioner of the NBA, has teamed up with MGM, creating the first partnership between a major sports organization in the US and a gambling operator. The goal of this historic partnership is to preserve the integrity of the game and spread the global presence of the NBA.
MGM’s partnership with the NBA is only the next logical step in the development of this potentially booming industry. The process of accepting betting as a part of sports culture in the United States has begun.
The Cash Flow in Gambling is Tremendous
According to Oxford Economics, there is a lot going on under the table. Apparently, the numbers from the report project that the legalization of sports betting could increase the US annual GDP up to $40 billion.
Also, legalizing sports can help the US economy to keep the money within the States and help prevent domestic casinos to go bankrupt. Moreover, the newly-formed legal gambling system could create employment opportunities for more than 125,000 people.
When all of this is said and done, a typical worker in a reformed sports betting industry would have an average salary of approximately $48,000. In fact, this is only the beginning of economic benefits coming from legalized gambling in the US. Advances and technological innovations in online betting services will also have a strong impact on the economy.
A Bond Between Technology and Gambling
The United Kingdom has been the world’s leading online sports gambling market for many years now. UK mobile industry currently covers around 60% of the country’s sports betting market. The UK gambling market should serve as a blueprint for the future of sports betting in the US because mobile betting via smartphone apps would bring billions of dollars worth of revenue.
It is a known fact that technological developments make sports gambling far more entertaining. It’s much easier to place a bet for NBA Primetime Saturday game from your favorite recliner than having to drive to the casino at last minute.
It is only a matter of time before the mobile betting market in the US becomes the world’s largest. This somewhat bold statement doesn’t come as a shock if we take into consideration the potential influence of US powerhouse economy on the expansion of mobile betting industry.
To sum it all up, legalized sports betting in the US is a huge win for the US tax revenue, employment, and the entertainment business. Take a look at the nifty infographic below courtesy of our friends at NJ Games. For the Silo, Onur Unlu.
In a time when the sharing economy is generalizing eco-friendly solutions for a sustainable development, a European startup has brought up to date one of the oldest tourism ideas in the world to lower the carbon footprint on your next vacation. It’s called swapping or more precisely, NightSwapping.
A simple idea that is enjoyed for its human dimension, authenticity and the absence of money between members.
It is therefore with the utmost respect for traditional cultures, local territory and people that NightSwapping represents a new model for a sustainable tourism.
Has it not become common for travelers to stay at a local’s rather than hotels or resorts?
These new behaviors seem motivated by the desire to draw closer to local cultures and pass down certain values to our young ones…
Within this changing industry, a European concept has found a way to challenge the giants from the Silicon Valley. NightSwapping is the Sharing Economy at its core: no money exchanged, just sharing and authentic experiences.
A promising idea that continues to convince travelers around the world. For the Silo, Quentin Mittelett.
Have you tried this? Would you try this? Let us know in the comments below.
Clairy is an astounding handcrafted object that monitors your indoor air quality and when VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds such as cigarettes, solvents, pesticides, copy machine chemicals etc.) levels are bad, eliminates pollution in your home. It makes you and your beloved ones breathe better and live better. It is much more than a pretty houseplant.
How is that possible?
Following an 80s NASA Clean Air Program research project, Clairy uses the power of specific species of plants to trap the air pollutants into their roots. That’s why it doesn’t need filters: the plant is the filter!
Clairy has also tech sensors that communicate with an app, so you can check directly the levels of humidity, temperature, and VOCs of your home with your smartphone.
What makes Clairy so beautiful?
It’s 100% Made in Italy by the artisans of Nove, near Vicenza, where the techniques of working with ceramics have been transmitted from father to son for centuries.
You can choose from four different colors: Corallo, Alabastro, Acquamarina and Blu Mare.
You should also consider our Premium Edition, Nero and Rame, made with the special technique called “Terzo Fuoco”. A masterpiece of Italian design you must have in your home. Holiday time is approaching, and we all want to give a gift that can be beautiful and useful at the same time. Clairy is the answer. For the Silo, Andrea Passador.
Pasadena, Calif. (November, 2020) – Innova Medical Group, Inc. (IMG) has partnered with the UK Government in its roll out of whole city screening and testing, beginning in Liverpool, with its INNOVA SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Rapid Qualitative Test Kits.
Innova Medical’s lateral flow antigen test uses nasal and throat swab samples to screen for infection, with highly accurate results in as little as 15-minutes. This test can be easily and safely administered anywhere, on both asymptomatic and symptomatic people, without costly delays and the need for a full-scale laboratory. With its low cost per test, about the same as a coffee and biscuit in London, at-risk populations and many with inequitable access to healthcare, can achieve peace-of-mind with a negative result. U.K. Government data showed the IMG rapid SARS-CoV-2 antigen test screened asymptomatic individuals with 98.98 percent accuracy.
https://youtu.be/S2qRibNrBPs
Dr. Susan Hopkins, Incident Director at Public Health England, said, “The tests we are using in Liverpool are accurate, especially in finding people who are infectious at that moment in time and so are more likely to pass it on to others. Part of the purpose of working with Liverpool to roll out whole city testing is to better understand how these tests work in the field, improve understanding of why people get tested, and the impact of this approach on reducing the transmission rate.”
Using the National Health Service (NHS COVID-19) app, people can book a test and later input their test results.
Individuals taking part in the roll out of Operation Moonshot will be notified of positive or negative results by text or email. With this important test-and-trace system in place, public health authorities can diagnose cases, isolate infected patients, trace their contacts, and implement stringent infection control policies to reduce outbreaks.
With colder months and the holiday season ahead, the risk of virus transmission accelerates with more indoor gatherings and travel. If people do not know they have COVID-19, it is unlikely they will take precautions to prevent virus spread. Research studies show that to achieve disease control both asymptomatic, people who are infected but never develop symptoms, and pre-symptomatic, infected people who develop symptoms later, must be isolated.
Under Operation Moonshot, the UK Government hopes to flatten the curve by employing proactive, rather than reactive, measures in its COVID-19 response. Up to 1-in-5 United Kingdom coronavirus infections present with no symptoms, but they are still contagious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says up to 40 percent of infected people are asymptomatic and should be tested if they have been exposed. Typically, a person develops symptoms 5 days after being infected; however, infectivity was found to be highest a day before symptom onset. After symptoms, such as a cough, fever, and shortness of breath, first appear, a person can remain contagious for at least ten days.
The Innova Rapid Antigen Test quickly identifies infectiousness. The lateral flow test can identify people with a high viral load who are the most likely to spread the virus. Daniel Elliott, President of Innova Medical Group, Inc., said, “Our lateral flow device incorporates a German nitrocellulose membrane partially composed of nanoparticles of colloidal gold. [ Colloidal gold is nanoparticles of gold in a liquid solution. These gold nanoparticles are coated in such a way that they detect Covid antibodies. CP ] This advanced, proprietary technology combined with our room temperature reagent, allows testing at point-of-care settings such as workplaces, universities, and airports.”
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN AND PRODUCTION
Innova Medical Group Inc. offers a global supply chain including the innovative and respected firms, GE Healthcare (USA) and Sartorius (Germany). IMG secured exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreements for its best-in-class portfolio of screening and diagnostic tests. By the end of November 2020, IMG will produce millions of kits per day in its Brea, California plant, combined with activity from plants in other global locations. After being selected over a large number of submissions to take part in Operation Moonshot, IMG is also exploring options for production in the United Kingdom.
The Innova test carries a CE Marking indicating that this IVD device complies with the European In-Vitro Diagnostic Devices Directive (98/79/EC). This device may be legally commercialized in the European Union (EU). For the Silo, Julie R. Manley.
About Innova Medical Group
Innova Medical Group, Inc. (IMG), is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pasaca Capital (Pasadena, Calif.). IMG strategically pivoted and leveraged its expertise in Healthcare and Medical Devices to create an ecosystem to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Innova Medical Ecosystem is delivering millions of tests every day to satisfy the diverse, point-of-care requirements of the world’s governments, large corporations, and institutions. IMG offers a global supply chain including the innovative and respected firms, GE Healthcare (USA), and Sartorius (Germany). IMG secured exclusive manufacturing and distribution agreements for its best-in-class portfolio of screening and diagnostic tests. For more information, visit www.innovamedgroup.com.
Every day, the weather affects our activities, plans and routines. But not just THE weather; specifically, it is the weather here and now that matters. The only way to stay on top of Mother Nature is to know the weather right here at home, not the weather from a generic weather app based on data at the airport or some other remote location. If you do anything outside – garden, golf, drive, hike, bike, boat, play, entertain – you’ll do it better if you know in advance what the weather is going to do. Besides giving you hyper-local, real-time weather data, a home weather station gives you the opportunity to help keep your community prepared by sharing your data. It gives you a way to learn about weather and maintain weather records. It allows you to know exactly when a particular condition reaches a critical level, and to know what is happening at home from anywhere you are. And if you are a weather geek, it offers ways to analyze, understand, study and share this fascinating and ever-changing part of our lives.
Davis Instruments, a recognized leader in precision weather instruments for consumer and commercial marketplaces. Used by meteorologists, farmers, industry professionals and hobbyists, Davis’ Vantage Pro2 and Vantage Vue weather stations have become trusted, integral tools thanks to their renowned accuracy and durability.
Looking for the perfect gift? Davis just released two new Vantage Vue Bundles.
Benefits of the bundles:
Save over buying separately
Sensor suite monitors outside temperature & humidity, wind speed & direction, and rainfall. WeatherLink Live gives barometric pressure, inside temperature and humidity.
Graph data and see wind chill, dew point, forecast, and moon phase.
Fast data updates: packets sent every 2.5 seconds
Share your data with friends, community or third-party weather sites
Vantage Vue and WeatherLink Live Bundle with Console (6120), $595
Bundle a Vantage Vue weather station and WeatherLink Live for the best in weather accuracy, reliability, and access. Self-contained, easy-to-install system provides accurate, reliable data. Includes outdoor sensor array and console. Comes bundled with a WeatherLink Live to stream your data live, effortlessly, to any smart device in your LAN and to the WeatherLink Cloud via Wi-Fi (or Ethernet). Solar-powered sensor suite sends data to both the console and the WeatherLink Live via powerful, long-range radio (up to 1000 feet/300 meters). Access, analyze and share your data on the console, on your smartphone with the free WeatherLink app or on WeatherLink.com. The system sets up quickly and easily: you’ll be seeing data within minutes of opening the box. Mounting pole and tripod available separately. Check out the holiday special at davisinstruments.com
Vantage Vue and WeatherLink Live Bundle (6110), $465 Bundle a Vantage Vue weather station and WeatherLink Live for the best in weather accuracy, reliability, and access. Self-contained, easy-to-install system provides accurate, reliable data. Includes outdoor sensor array. Comes bundled with a WeatherLink Live to stream your data live, effortlessly, to any smart device in your LAN and to the WeatherLink Cloud via Wi-Fi (or Ethernet). Solar-powered sensor suite sends data to the WeatherLink Live via powerful, long-range radio (up to 1000 feet/300 meters). Access, analyze and share your data, on your smartphone with the free WeatherLink app or on WeatherLink.com. The system sets up quickly and easily: you’ll be seeing data within minutes of opening the box. Mounting pole and tripod available separately. Check out the special davisinstruments.com
Next to our children, our pets are some of the most important members of our families. We do everything we can to make sure both our kids and pets are safe, but eventually kids can shoulder some of the burden themselves. But when “Spot” runs off, we can’t expect him to tell the nice neighbor that finds him that he has a medical condition, or who his veterinarian or owner is.
Though your pet will never learn to talk, there is a way to provide whoever finds your lost -or injured- pet with the information they need to offer aid. A new ‘wareable’ technology, MyEndlessID Pet, gives veterinarians and good samaritans all of the information they need to render aid in an emergency.
Inventor- Gustavo Rubacha
“Even the best trained pets might head off on an adventure sometime,” said Gustavo Rubacha, one of MyEndlessID Pet’s inventors. Worse still, Rubacha notes, is that from time to time those ‘adventures’ can result in injuries, sometimes serious. “We believe that it’s important to prepare for these emergencies ahead of time and that’s why we createdMyEndlessID Pet.”
MyEndlessID Pet jams the latest Near-Field Communication (NFC) technology into a tag small enough to hang from a pet’s collar. Utilizing the same tech that until now has only seen mass deployment in payment systems like Apple Pay and Google Wallet, the NFC tag will emit radio waves to any capable smart phone held close to it, providing vital information about your pet with just a tap.
When the device is activated, pet owners receive immediate alerts by text, email and a phone call, along with a geolocation of where their pet is located when the tag is activated. Most importantly though, MyEndlessID Pet provides rescuers and veterinarians instant access to vital medical information that could save an animal’s life in an emergency.
Vital information including medical conditions, medications, vaccinations, allergies, medical history and veterinarian history, insurance information, and more are all instantly available with the simple tap of any modern smartphone.
Unlike an implanted microchip, MyEndlessID Pet does not require special equipment beyond a smartphone to work, and priced at $20USD it is far more affordable than a vet visit to have a device implanted. And unlike recently introduced ‘smart collars’ – MyEndlessID Pet never requires charging or battery changes.
MyEndlessID Pet is also water resistant, allowing it to withstand whatever mischief your pet might wander into, while continuing to deliver critical information when someone comes to help your pet get out of whatever mess he or she has found himself in. For the Silo, Timothy Williams.
With Cars becoming more like smartphones nowadays, we thought we’d take a look at the growing concern of Car hacking, a phenomenon that’s sending chill up motorists’ and manufacturers’ spines across the globe, more efficiently than any air-conditioning unit could ever do.
However, perhaps even more importantly, we’ll tell you what the world’s governing agencies are doing to help eradicate car hacking and what YOU can do to prevent your car from being hacked. For the Silo, Louis S. Dixon andour friends at Select Car Leasing UK.
Pong, Mario, Doom, The Sims, Minecraft and … Fortnite? The hallowed halls of video game history are packed with products that became a cultural phenomenon – and it’s looking like Fortnite will soon be able to stake such a claim. The co-op survival game that takes place in a “sandbox” universe recorded a record 3.4 million concurrent users in February 2018. [ If you’re one of the 3.4 million and want to leave us a video comment or video of your Fortnite character please use our Video Uplink button at the end of this article.] The game, which is free to play, also allows users to purchase a semi-annual “Battle Pass” that runs less than $10 and provides access to additional items. This low-cost approach is apparently working, as reports show Epic Games earned nearly $300 million in April 2018 alone. Further, in-game “microtransactions” that allows players to use minimal amounts of real-world money for in-game goodies is helping add to Epic’s well, epic payday.
So, let’s recap: A game that’s free to play plus $10 usd occasional optional investment and microtransactions gives us hundreds of millions of dollars each month. You know what else makes that kind of money? Hollywood movies, major league sporting events and social media platforms – and those things are plastered with advertisements. According to Ken Wisnefski, CEO of digital marketing firm WebiMax, advertisers who want to get ahead of the coming eSports curve and start reaching gamers where they reside need to start paying attention to the preferences of this sector.
“Fortnite has really taken the world by storm. I think the new microtransaction process is a concept that shows how high volume and low cost can have a huge impact. It’s growth and notoriety is amazing,” said Wisnefski. “A few years ago, Pokemon Go was all the rage; I am curious to see if Fortnite continues to show this sort of traction.”
Want to make money through Fortnite? Here’s what Wisnefski has to tell companies on the verge of investing in video game ad buy.
‘Go’ along for the ride: According to Wisnefski, we haven’t seen a video game with such mass appeal since 2016’s “Pokemon Go,” which drew 10 million people to download the app in one week. An advertising analysis also notes that some businesses were given the opportunity to turn their stores into a “Pokestop” and, of course, increase foot traffic and hopefully sales as a result.
Shadow of a doubt: Still skeptical about sinking money into video game advertising efforts? Then take one look at “Ninja,” a 26-year-old Fortnite player who is reportedly raking in $500,000 per month for streaming his live game feed on the “Twitch” website. Wisnefski says it merely makes sense for relevant brands to jump on an opportunity to get their product in front of potential customers – namely as a “medium rectangle” or 15-second spot before one of Ninja’s streams.
Risk and Reward: Soft drink and snack food companies – we’re looking at you, Mountain Dew and Doritos – have for years pandered to gamers. As well they should, says Wisnefski, noting that some sectors are “very viable for this sort of opportunity.” If you’re a small to medium-sized company, however, guidance from a digital marketing company may be in order. “Big companies have the ability to absorb some losses to see larger gains; smaller companies can’t afford to take that sort of risk,” said Wisnefski.
NEW YORK, NY (PRWEB)- According to the White House, by 2018, 51 percent of STEM jobs will be in computer science-related fields. However, the number of tech employees has not increased along with the number of jobs available. Why? The answer is simple: lack of relevant education. The White House maintains that just one quarter of K-12 schools offer high-quality computer science with programming and coding. In addition, in 2016, the PEW Research Center reported that only 17% of adults believed they were “digitally ready.” Technology is changing the way that we live and work, and it’s happening fast. So how do we ensure that individuals (especially girls and women) are digitally literate?
In my new interview below with C.M. Rubin (founder of CMRubinWorld), Derek Lo says he started Py because he wanted to demystify “coding”. His app does this by making coding fun. The program also avoids using any programming jargon until the learner is ready. Lo states that “gamification isn’t a hindrance to learning—-it accelerates it.” He further notes that coding “instills a greater aptitude for systematic thinking and logical decision making.” Lo recently partnered with the not for profit Girls Who Code to further reduce the gender gap and “change people’s image of who a coder is.”
“We specifically write our content using language that even young children can understand.” — Derek Lo
Why were 600,000 high-paying tech jobs unfilled in 2015 in the United States alone, or is the better question: Is technology developing faster than humans can learn to handle it?
When we look at diversity, things only get worse. In 2015, 22 percent of students taking the AP Computer Science exam were girls while 13 percent were African-American or Latino. These statistics are not U.S. specific; in 2015, Australia reported that only 28 percent of ICT jobs were held by women.
Coding has always been regarded as a mysterious field, something Derek Lo, co-founder of the new application “Py”, wants to change. Launched in 2016, the application offers interactive courses on everything from Python to iOS development. The “unique value proposition,” as Lo puts it, has been a revolutionary success. The fun-oriented application has so far resulted in over 100,000 downloads on both iTunes and Google Play.
Most parents frown when kids use their phones at the dinner table, but what if the kids were learning to code over Sunday roast? “Ok, so maybe not the Sunday roast, but seriously, could a more accessible and fun coding application make all the difference?”
The Global Search for Education is excited to welcome one of Py’s founders, Derek Lo, to discuss how Py’s revolutionary approach is literally making coding cool.
“Coding can provide people with the awesome ability of being able to create tangible things like websites and apps. It also instills less tangible things like a greater aptitude for systematic thinking and logical decision making.” — Derek Lo
People say education today is often treated as a business and that individual students’ needs have not been prioritized enough. As the number of qualified applicants increases, can individualized learning tools, such as Py, help today’s generations remain competent in our globalized world, even with “broken” education systems?
Yes. As college acceptance rates decline, more people will need alternatives for learning career-essential skills, and we believe Py will be a big part of that. Using machine learning algorithms, we’re able to adapt the user experience based on prior skill and behavior within the app, creating a tailored curriculum. Having a personal tutor in your pocket that knows how you learn and what you should be learning is powerful and why we are investing in personalization.
Py provides its users with a simple and easy platform while many other coding applications (e.g. Solo Learn) have opted for more traditional and serious lesson plans. Does making learning applications appear more serious fuel the conception that coding is a hard and scary thing to learn? Are we over-complicating the field of coding and making it seem inaccessible for people or should students really be this wary of programming?
One of the reasons that my co-founder and I started Py is to demystify “coding”. We make it easy by making it fun. When you’re dragging pretty blocks around and pressing colorful buttons, it doesn’t feel like work. Yet users are still soaking up all the same knowledge they would be by slogging through a boring textbook. We also intentionally avoid programming jargon until the learner is ready. A good example is when we teach users about loops—-we use words like “repeat” instead of “iterate”. Almost all of Py’s courses are focused on teaching the fundamental concepts using simple language and in an interactive fashion.
Also, many people are scared away from learning how to code because they hear from friends that computer science is such a difficult major in school. An important thing to realize is that there’s a big difference between theoretical computer science and making a simple website. An art major might not need to understand Dijkstra’s algorithm, but would greatly benefit from knowing a bit of HTML and CSS.
“We’re extremely excited about helping to change people’s image (and self-image) of who a coder is and actively encourage more girls to get into coding.” — Derek Lo
What would you say to skeptics who question whether a game-like application like Py can truly help people learn how to code properly?
Gamification isn’t a hindrance to learning—-it accelerates it. By keeping you excited and engaged, Py teaches you better than if you got bored or zoned out. When you’re having fun, you actually learn faster and better.
Another way to phrase this question might be, “Even if Py is fun, do you walk away having learned something from it?” The answer is yes, definitely. We’re very data-driven, constantly improving our courses by analyzing our users’ progress. We can see (and track) real progress in our users’ ability to understand everything from basic semantics to high-level algorithms and design principles.
Do you think Py’s game-like surface allows younger generations to become more involved with coding?
Yes. We specifically write our content using language that even young children can understand. In fact, a parent emailed us just the other day telling us he was using Py to teach his 10-year old son Python! Currently our target demographic is definitely a bit older than that though. We think of Py as the learn-to-code solution for the SnapChat generation.
What general skills does coding teach kids/ young adults?
Coding can provide people with the awesome ability of being able to create tangible things like websites and apps. It also instills less tangible things like a greater aptitude for systematic thinking and logical decision making.
“Once you understand how an algorithm works, typing it out should be an afterthought. The important thing is to understand it—once you do, it’s yours forever.” — Derek Lo
Py has recently partnered with Girls Who Code. Why do you think coding has been branded throughout history as a ‘male’ profession and how do you hope to eliminate this gender gap?
Historically some of the most important computer scientists are women. Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper are considered pioneers of programming. Stereotypes aside, men and women are obviously equally capable of becoming great software engineers. We’re extremely excited about helping to change people’s image (and self-image) of who a coder is and actively encourage more girls to get into coding. We’re huge fans of Girls Who Code and we’re so excited to provide them free premium subscriptions for some of their students.
When we think of coding, we mostly envision computer screens, yet we tend to use our phones more often than we do our computers. How does Py bridge the gap between using a computer screen as opposed to learning how to code on smaller devices? Is the coding world shifting to using smartphones or is coding still a generally ‘computer’ based field?
People actually don’t need to type lots of code to learn the concepts necessary to become great programmers. We’ve built interaction types like “fill-in-the-blank” that let users quickly edit code on the fly without any typing. Recently we’ve also created a custom keyboard that allows users to type real code on their phones in a friction-less way. This is great for short programs and practicing the fundamentals, and it’s how we’re making the transition from computer to phone and vice versa easier. Applying this knowledge to create a website or app does still primarily take place on computers. But the world is seeing a wave of new mobile learning applications, and I think we’re at the forefront of that trend.
How do you envision the world of coding changing in the next 15-20 years? How will Py keep up with these changes in the field?
Coding will become less about rote memorization of basic syntax and more about high-level understanding of what’s really going on. At a minimum, programming languages have morphed from low-level (shifting bits and allocating memory) to high-level (abstract data structures and functional programming), from obtuse (assembly, machine code) to human friendly (Python, Swift).
That’s why Py focuses on high-level concepts. Once you understand how an algorithm works, typing it out should be an afterthought. The important thing is to understand it—once you do, it’s yours forever.
(l) C. M. Rubin & (r) Derek Lo
(All photos are courtesy of CMRubinWorld except featured image by J. Barker)
For the Silo, David Wine /CMRubinWorld with contributions by Zita Petrahai.
Based in Hangzou, China, AliExpress is a global e-commerce platform made up of small business sellers offering a wide variety of consumer products worldwide. This growing platform already has (at the time of this writing) over 3 million likes on Facebook. An impressive number that speaks to the desirability of products on hand.
What makes AliExpress unique is the cellular nature of its structure. Many small businesses looking for a safe harbor are connected together and operate under the umbrella support of the larger corporate structure. Is this the ‘best of both worlds?’ We think it’s an interesting model and worth paying attention to. After all, a smaller company no longer has to struggle to develop an online identity or spend valuable resources designing and implementing a shopping ap. Yep- AliExpress has a pretty cool Ap that allows you to shop from Facebook and beyond…
Here’s a look at some of its Fashion small business sellers- Did you find something you like?
CANADA – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has launched the #ASK1TOASK1 campaign, asking all Canadians to join the challenge to raise 150,000 meals for children in Haiti through the ShareTheMeal app to mark Canada’s 150th anniversary.
Every day, countless children in Haiti turn up for school on an empty stomach, which makes it hard to focus on lessons. A daily school meal can mean not only better nutrition and health, but help the next generation reach its full potential. The #ASK1TOASK1 ShareTheMeal campaign will allow WFP to scale up their Home Grown School Meals programme in Haiti.
It costs just $4.55cdn, less than a bottle of maple syrup, to provide one week of nutritious meals to children in school through the ShareTheMeal app! The app allows users to share nutritious food with hungry children around the world by simply tapping on their smartphone and donating $0.65 or more.
“WFP’s ShareTheMeal app and the #ASK1TOASK1 campaign provides Canadians with an easy way to share meals with hungry children in Haiti,” said Robert Opp, a Canadian who is Director of Innovation and Change Management at WFP.
“Daily school meals allow children to focus on their studies rather than their stomachs, feeding their dreams for the future.”
Robert Opp
Haiti has been repeatedly affected by a series of devastating natural disasters over the last two decades. 2016 was the third consecutive year of El Nino-related drought, and the country was hit by the category 4 Hurricane Matthew, which left more than 800,000 people in need of urgent food assistance.
In Haiti, WFP is working together with the Government to produce a sustainable, nationally-owned, school feeding programme linked to local agricultural production. WFP procures local commodities such as rice, fresh fruit and vegetables from the local smallholder farmers, giving them a predictable market for their products and the children enjoy a healthy diversified school meal.
Join WFP Ambassador Against Hunger, George Stroumboulopoulos and other celebrities like World Champion Wrestler Andre Berto, Singer Dawn Richard and Canadian national Olympic Weightlifter Isabel Lahela who have all committed to help fundraise for the children in Haiti. To get involved, simply download the free app, join team #Canuck and once you have fed a child for a week share with your social media network, using the hashtag #ASK1TOASK1.
WFP’s award-winning app has engaged a new generation in supporting the fight against hunger. More than 850,000 people have downloaded the app and shared over 14 million meals with thousands of vulnerable children in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Malawi, Cameroon, South Sudan and Yemen.
image- worldvision.org.uk
The ShareTheMeal community recently contributed to WFP’s famine response in South Sudan, where users shared 1 million meals with those people in dire need of food.
WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.
ShareTheMeal allows smartphone users to share their meals with hungry people via a free iOS and Android app. ShareTheMeal is an initiative of the World Food Programme Innovation Accelerator.
LE PAM ET SHARETHEMEAL LANCENT UNE CAMPAGNE POUR DISTRIBUER 150 000 REPAS À DES ENFANTS EN HAÏTI EN L’HONNEUR DU 150ÈME ANNIVERSAIRE DU CANADA
CANADA – Le Programme Alimentaire Mondial (PAM) des Nations Unies démarre aujourd’hui la campagne #ASK1TOASK1, qui propose aux Canadiens de participer à un challenge visant à distribuer 150 000 repas à des enfants en Haïti via l’application ShareTheMeal en l’honneur du 150ème anniversaire du Canada.
Chaque jour, de très nombreux enfants haïtiens vont à l’école le ventre vide, ce qui les empêche de se concentrer. En plus d’améliorer leur nutrition et leur santé, un repas scolaire quotidien peut permettre à la prochaine génération d’atteindre pleinement son potentiel. La campagne #Ask1toAsk1 de ShareTheMeal permettra au PAM d’étendre la portée de son programme “Home Grown School Meals”, qui fournit des repas scolaires produits localement.
Avec l’application ShareTheMeal, fournir une semaine de repas scolaires nourrissants à des enfants ne coûte que $4,55, soit moins qu’une bouteille de sirop d’érable ! L’application permet aux utilisateurs de partager de la nourriture saine avec des enfants dans le besoin en quelques clics sur leur smartphone, en faisant des dons de $0,65 ou plus.
Robert Opp, directeur canadien de l’Innovation et du Changement au PAM, dit que “ l’application ShareTheMeal et la campagne #ASK1TOASK1 offrent aux Canadiens un moyen simple de partager des repas avec des enfants dans le besoin en Haïti.”
“Des repas scolaires quotidiens permettent aux enfants de se concentrer sur leurs études et non sur leur estomac, alimentant leurs projets futurs”
Haïti a été touché par une série de graves catastrophes naturelles lors des deux dernières décennies. En 2016, le pays a connu pour la troisième année consécutive des sécheresses causées par El Nino, et a été touché par l’ouragan Matthew de catégorie 4. En conséquence, plus de 800 000 personnes ont un besoin urgent d’assistance alimentaire.
En Haïti, le PAM collabore avec le gouvernement pour mettre en place un programme de repas scolaires durable et public, qui s’appuie sur l’agriculture locale. Le PAM se fournit en produits locaux auprès d’agriculteurs haïtiens de petite taille. Ces achats de riz, fruits et légumes frais donnent accès aux producteurs à un marché stable et offrent aux enfants des repas sains et variés.
Rejoignez l’ambassadeur du PAM George Stroumboulopoulos et d’autres célébrités comme le Champion du monde de lutte Andre Berto, la chanteuse Dawn Richard et l’haltérophile Isabel Lahela, qui se sont engagés à aider à collecter des fonds pour les enfants en Haïti. Pour participer, vous n’avez qu’à télécharger gratuitement l’application, rejoindre l’équipe #Canuck et, après avoir partagé une semaine de repas avec un enfant, partager cela sur les réseaux sociaux en utilisant le hashtag #ASK1TOASK1.
ShareTheMeal, l’application du PAM, a gagné de nombreuses récompenses pour avoir impliqué la nouvelle génération dans la lutte contre la faim. Plus de 850 000 personnes ont téléchargé l’application et ont partagé plus de 14 millions de repas avec des milliers d’enfants vulnérables en Jordanie, en Syrie, au Malawi, au Cameroun, au Soudan du Sud et au Yémen.
La communauté ShareTheMeal a récemment participé à l’intervention du PAM au Soudan du Sud, partageant 1 million de repas avec des personnes ayant un besoin urgent d’assistance alimentaire.
Le PAM est la plus grande agence humanitaire de lutte contre la faim dans le monde, apportant une assistance alimentaire pour résoudre des situations d’urgence et travaillant avec les populations locales pour améliorer la nutrition et mettre en place un système alimentaire stable. Chaque année le PAM vient en aide à 80 millions de personnes dans 80 pays.
Grâce à l’application Android et iOS ShareTheMeal, les utilisateurs de smartphones peuvent partager leurs repas avec des personnes dans le besoin. ShareTheMeal est une initiative de l’accélérateur du Programme Alimentaire Mondial.
In 2016, consumers spent an estimated $14.3 USD billion on gifts for Father’s Day alone, not to mention billions more on gifts for other occasions like birthdays and winter holidays. Traditional “guy gifts” include things like power tools and sporting event tickets. However, if you’re looking for a quintessential men’s gift that’s truly timeless, then you may want to turn to the WatchBox by Govberg app for an assist with what to get for the deserving dudes in your life.
This apt app serves as a resource for locating the exact gift-able watch he’s sure to love. Or, if you also enjoy beautiful timepieces, then this app can help you discover what’s currently available in the marketplace. Whether for yourself or as a gift for another, WatchBox by Govberg is an elegant and streamlined way to curate collection-worthy watches—something the folks behind this app know a great deal about. Established a century ago, Govberg Jewelers is a premier purveyor of luxury timepieces, known for their unrivaled offerings that include limited-production models by leading watchmakers; an extensive pre-owned inventory; and decidedly service-minded industry experts.
The app offers several different features a true timepiece enthusiast will find useful. This includes access to up-to-date news from the watch world. This information is gathered in real-time from all over the globe, aggregating and delivering articles and video reviews from a myriad of popular blogs and magazines devoted to Swiss watches, including all of the industry’s leading brands.
Users can also discover the worth of different watches. Whether you want to sell a watch, buy a new or pre-owned model, make a trade, or are just curious about what a new or used (secondary market) watch you own is currently selling for, the WatchBox by Govberg app boasts pricing tools like a database packed with information on over 80,000 watch models. This includes a 12-month price history for each. With this foundational and in-depth knowledge base, you can intelligently buy, sell, and trade luxury timepieces and generally communicate with other users—or even Govberg’s own watch buying experts—right from the app.
Danny Govberg
The advent of this app’s secondary market watch pricing tools, in particular, is significant. According to Danny Govberg, CEO of Govberg Jewelers, “Prior to the WatchBox by Govberg app, dialogue about the value of pre-owned watches wasn’t addressed elsewhere in a consistent, transparent manner; nor was it designed to support and educate the consumer. While manufacturers establish MSRPs for primary (new) watches, there was no resource, no Kelley Blue Book or Zillow, for the pre-owned, or secondary, market watch category to help consumers feel at ease. That changes with this app…For the first time in the watch category, Govberg is providing transparency into what pieces trade for on the secondary, or pre-owned, market.”
Quite fascinating is the proprietary algorithm the app uses to estimate and compute market value. Govberg explains, “It evaluates historical and active sales records spanning the secondary market–online sales platforms, auction sales and Govberg’s own data. The data represents final sales to end users, and is not an appraisal nor offer to buy, but rather an educated starting point to assess the secondary market value of a particular model. All pricing makes assumptions on the quality, service history and completeness of a timepiece with original box and paperwork. The data strength takes into account the number of data points captured, the variability of the prices seen on the secondary market, how current the data is and the quality of the source/vendor within the market.”
Impressively, this app will even store information and photos of your existing watch collection. This can be a useful tool to keep up with warranties, service history and to maintain a record for insurance purposes. Also of practical use, you can even schedule watch maintenance and repairs from within the app.
According to Govberg, “As more customers see watch ownership less about having a time-telling device and more as a hobby for collecting the world’s most intricate instruments, WatchBox by Govberg supports the growing watch enthusiast with instant access to valuable information so he can make the best decisions to begin, grow, trade or sell his collection.”
Relative to gift-giving, instead of spending hours upon hours hunting for an idea in general—or for a specific timepiece—that the recipient might like, you can simply turn to this easy-to-use tech. You’ll save time, money and the guesswork often involved in finding the perfect present for those “special someones.”
Govberg perhaps summarizes the usefulness of this technology best, noting, “Whether you want to keep up on the latest industry news and product releases, manage your watch collection for social sharing or insurance purposes, or buy, sell or trade a new or pre-owned watch, WatchBox by Govberg is the ultimate toolbox for today’s watch collector.”
The free WatchBox by Govberg app is available for download for iOS devices on the App Store and Android devices in the Play Store.
For The Silo, By Merilee Kern, ‘The Luxe List’ Executive Editor.
As the Executive Editor and Producer of “The Luxe List,” Merilee Kern is an internationally-regarded consumer product trends expert and hospitality industry voice of authority–a travel, dining, leisure and lifestyle expert who spotlights noteworthy marketplace innovations, change makers, movers and shakers. She identifies and reports on exemplary travel destinations and experiences, extraordinary events and newsworthy products and services across all categories. Reach her online at www.TheLuxeList.com, on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/LuxeListEditor, on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/TheLuxeList and on Instagram at www.Instagram.com/LuxeListReviews.
***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided or sponsored at no cost to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way.***
GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! TinyCo, a Jam City Company, and Fox Interactive have announced the development of Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow, a new game coming soon for mobile devices. The game features original content from Futurama creator and Executive Producer Matt Groening, Executive Producer David X. Cohen, and much of the team behind the beloved TV series. TinyCo is also working with Rough Draft Studios – Futurama’s original animators – to bring the show’s trademark humor, signature visual style, and ensemble comedic adventure to mobile players everywhere.
I love this game because it feels just like Futurama,” said Matt Groening, creator and Executive Producer of Futurama and The Simpsons. Except now you get to jab the characters in the face.
FUTURAMA focuses on the life of PHILIP J. FRY (Billy West), a 25-year-old pizza delivery boy who accidentally freezes himself on December 31, 1999 and wakes up 1,000 years later with a fresh start at life at Planet Express, an intergalactic delivery company. There, he meets a cast of characters, including love interest LEELA (Katey Sagal), a sexy cyclops with anger management issues, best friend BENDER (John DiMaggio), a beer-powered kleptomaniac robot, PROFESSOR FARNSWORTH (Billy West), a brilliant yet forgetful scientist and intrepid inventor, HERMES (Phil LaMarr), the company’s detail-oriented bureaucrat, AMY (Lauren Tom), an intern who is as cute as she is klutzy, and ZOIDBERG (Billy West), a lobster-like, self-proclaimed expert on humans.
Throughout their adventures, the team encounters MOM (Tress MacNeille), the foul-mouthed owner of MomCorp, ZAPP BRANNIGAN (Billy West), the vain, self- absorbed captain of the starship Nimbus, and many others.
Just as it is today, life in the future is a complex mix of the wonderful and horrible, where things are still laughable no matter how wild and crazy they get. Fry’s introduction to life in New New York includes a visit to The Head Museum, where the heads of humanity’s most renowned and influential people live on. Against a backdrop of pesky aliens, exasperating robots, and malfunctioning gadgets, Fry finds that people still struggle with the same daily anxieties of life and love.
FUTURAMA, the Emmy Award-winning series created by Matt Groening, is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television in association with The Curiosity Company, with animation produced by Rough Draft Studios, Inc. Groening, David X. Cohen, and Ken Keeler serve as executive producers. FUTURAMA is distributed by 20th Century Fox Television Distribution.
The game is being produced in partnership with Fox Interactive, Twentieth Century Fox’s interactive division, and Matt Groening’s Curiosity Company. This partnership continues the strong teamwork that Fox Interactive and TinyCo established with Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff, a mobile game based on the hit Fox animated TV series Family Guy. Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff has attracted tens of millions of players while winning multiple awards, and Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow looks to continue in this tradition.
“Futurama is back, bigger and better than ever! Or possibly smaller and equally good. But either way, it’s back!” said David X. Cohen, co-developer with Matt Groening and Executive Producer of Futurama. “We’ve got completely new stories from the original writers, cast, and animators. This is the real Futurama deal.”
Founded in 2009, TinyCo has developed more than a dozen successful games for the App Store, Google Play Store and Amazon App store with titles such as MARVEL Avengers Academy and FAMILY GUY: The Quest for Stuff. The company’s mission is to make people happy five minutes at a time through incredible, fun and original mobile entertainment. For more information about TinyCo, please visit http://www.tinyco.com. About JamCity
Jam City is a Los Angeles-based mobile game maker with global reach. Created in 2010 by former MySpace co-founders Chris DeWolfe and Aber Whitcomb, and former 20th Century Fox executive Josh Yguado, Jam City is the creator of 6 of the Top 100 highest grossing games across Apple’s and Google’s US app stores. Its portfolio of titles–which includes Cookie Jam, Panda Pop, Family Guy: The Quest for Stuff and Marvel Avengers Academy–has been downloaded more than 800 million times and is regularly played by nearly 50 million people monthly. Jam City has studios in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego and Buenos Aires. About Fox Interactive
Fox Interactive, a division of the newly-formed FoxNext group, produces award- winning games and apps based on Twentieth Century Fox’s globally-recognized film and television properties. Fox Interactive’s products bring triple-A quality and enjoyment to millions of players every day with games including ALIEN™ ISOLATION, ANGRY BIRDS™ RIO, THE SIMPSONS™ TAPPED OUT, FAMILY GUY: THE QUEST FOR STUFF, FUTURAMA: GAME OF DRONES, SUGAR SMASH: THE BOOK OF LIFE and many more.
About Rough Draft Studios
Established in 1991, Rough Draft Studios, Inc. is an award-winning animation studio specializing in traditional character animation, computer animation, and the blend of both mediums. Supervising Director Peter Avanzino, Producer/Partner Claudia Katz, and the rest of the Rough Draft gang are thrilled to be lending a hand on TinyCo’s Futurama: Worlds of Tomorrow.
BELGRADE, SERBIA – (JANUARY 23, 2017) – Nordeus, an independent developer and publisher of mobile games, today announced Spellsouls: Duel of Legends, a new quick-play card-based mobile MOBA set in an epic fantasy world. In development for nearly two years, Spellsouls is the next big project from the company that created Top Eleven, the most-played mobile sports game with more than 150 million players worldwide. In Spellsouls: Duel of Legends, players will experience an engaging blend of intense three-minute battles and deep strategy in an immersive fantasy experience, built from the ground-up for mobile on iOS and Android.
With Spellsouls, Nordeus is looking to bring the competitive intensity and “easy to start playing, hard to stop” gameplay to the realm of card-based spells and magical duels. As seen in today’s new walkthrough trailer, the game is a completely new, graphically-rich title designed to bring a compelling high fantasy world to life.
Set in an ancient kingdom fallen prey to divisive realm wars, where powerful Spellcasters vie for power, the game invites players to enter into a thrilling, competitive experience. Gamers will choose a Spellcaster, collect and upgrade powerful spells, build the deadliest decks and unleash hordes of minions to compete with friends and adversaries around the world.
“We set out to ensure that Spellsouls builds on our strengths in competitive gaming to bring players a true blend of game genres that balances fast action and deep strategy” said Ivan Stojisavljević, CTO and co-founder of Nordeus. “We’re bringing a lot of the knowledge and expertise gained from years developing and running Top Eleven to Spellsouls; with AAA production values and deep engagement as our two highest priorities.”
In Spellsouls: Duel of Legends, two powerful Spellcasters will face off in fierce battles with elements of MOBA action combat, card deck building and Nordeus’ trademark focus on compelling PvP, that rewards smart strategic decisions. Players launch minions from top and bottom lane portals to attack their opponent’s minions and defense towers en route to defeating enemy Spellcasters.
Players boost minions with card-based spells, blast enemies with direct and area-based attacks, and strategically choose how to introduce new minions into the fray for maximum effect—while their opponent simultaneously does the same. Packed into three-minute battles, the game’s real-time competition is a mix of careful planning to build the perfect deck, white-knuckle intensity and well-timed strategy to execute the game-changing tactics that will lead to victory.
Spellsouls: Duel of Legends is currently in soft launch for iOS only in select countries including Taiwan, Canada, Croatia, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the Netherlands. More details on how Spellsouls: Duel of Legends plans to enter the world of PvP mobile gaming in 2017 will be revealed in the near future with development updates and game announcements. To pre-register for the game when it becomes available in your country, visit www.spellsouls.com. To stay in touch with Nordeus and Spellsouls, follow us on facebook.com/spellsouls and twitter.com/playspellsouls. For the Silo, Jeffrey Fong.
About Nordeus
Founded in Belgrade in 2010, Nordeus is an award-winning independent mobile games developer that has actively pioneered cross-platform competitive mobile gaming. Top Eleven, the company’s premier competitive sports game in which players manage a soccer team vs. other managers, is the most played sports game worldwide with over 150 million registered players and a 4+ star rating across the App Store, Google Play and Facebook. The company is launching a major new fantasy card-based MOBA game, Spellsouls: Duel of Legends, in 2017. For more information, visit nordeus.com.
LOS ANGELES – Bucky O’Hare – the original comic book series turned into a classic cartoon – made its debut in the digital domain with an 8-page exclusive Swipe Studio e-comic book written and illustrated by brand creators Larry Hama and Michael Golden together with Neal Adams and his Continuity Productions. Bucky O’Hare and the Toad Menace made its premiere appearance Day One of Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic Con recently held October 28-30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center.
Designed utilizing the tools available on the all-new Swipe Studio design app, the latest offering in the Bucky O’Hare legacy follows Bucky and his crew as they do battle with the Toad Armada. The special Los Angeles Comic Con presentation featured legendary artist Neal Adams together with Swipe Studio’s famed creator Satoshi Nakajima.
The 8-pager provided fans with a glimpse into the creative for the planned Bucky O’Hare theatrical motion picture now in the works with Neal Adams producing and directing.
The brainchild of software genius Satoshi Nakajima – the engineering architect responsible for Windows 95 and Windows 98 along with Internet Explorer versions 3 and 4 – Swipe empowers everyone from consumers to creators to easily animate everything from emails to digital comics with media-rich digital elements and make use of animation, video, vector graphics as well as full audio for voice, music and sound effects on tablets and smartphones. Created to take full advantage of today’s touch-enabled smartphone and tablet technology, Swipe eliminates the need for complex programming typically required to build animation or other forms of design content. As a result, creators, designers, animators and artists have the tools to create media-rich animated digital content for consumption via touch-enabled devices including smartphones, tablets and touch-enabled set-top-boxes, such as iPhone and Apple TV.
In addition to the Swipe Bucky O’Hare comic book, artist Neal Adams also worked with the Swipe team to load into the platform an impressive portfolio of Bucky art elements and animation that can be adapted by anyone for any digital purpose, including e-mails or presentations of any kind, including all main characters and several backgrounds.
Creators and artists can now experience the free Swipe app instantly by downloading Swipe Studio to their iPhone/iPad/iPod touch and begin to create media-rich animated digital content. To download the Swipe Studio, go to App Store https://appsto.re/us/hlcDeb.iNote- Swipe Studio is available only for iPhone/iPad/iPod touch users with version iOS9 or later.
“We are thrilled to unveil the newest Bucky O’Hare creative from the team responsible for this celebrated and enduring property at Stan Lee’s Los Angeles Comic con,” said Nakajima. “I [had] tremendous enthusiasm towards sharing a panel with the great Neal Adams whose brilliant use of the Swipe Studio design tools helps us usher in a new era in digital design.”
“It has been a lot of fun to work with Swipe Studio and I encourage artists to check it out for their own design projects. In fact, Swipie – which is Swipe’s platform for consumers – continues to offer a wealth of art and animation applications to enhance everything from emails to digital presentations. Mr. Nakajima has built an extraordinary platform and I am proud to contribute Bucky O’Hare as a way of underscoring its power as a design platform,” said Neal Adams.
About Swipe, Inc.
Headquartered in Tokyo, Swipe, Inc. is the parent company for Swipe™, an open source platform embedding the full range of visual and audio media into digital documents for smartphones, tablets and other touch-screen devices. Swipe, Inc. Founder-Chief Technology Officer Satoshi Nakajima is recognized industry-wide as the lead engineer and architect of Windows 95 and Windows 98 which he created during his tenure with Microsoft. Visit Swipe, Inc. online at http://www.Swipe.net/.
Building a better and more cohesive environment through collaboration
Washington, D.C. – “Meditate the Vote – the Real Conversation” is the brainchild of the globally broadcast America Meditating Radio Show. In the midst of the election fever and the buzz that follows it, it is even more important that the citizenry is brought together to converse on mutual issues to create a better and more cohesive understanding of ways of moving the country forward and making the world a better place. Can getting into our Zen zone help Americans to decide who they vote for or what they do regardless of who enters office?
The #MeditatetheVote grassroots campaign to bring respect, compassion and a peaceful dialog to our election process, intends to create an avenue where people from diverse backgrounds can express their views via various means of social media including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube and gatherings in homes and other venues. This campaign, supported by an alliance of friends, thought leaders and organizations from around the country, will be launched on the 1st of May, coinciding with the start of National Meditation Month and will continue leading up to Election Day on the 8th of November, 2016.
Our goal is simple. Meditate the Vote simply asks folks to amplify the quality of conversation using the Meditate the Vote questions to stimulate more inclusivity and partnership in the country as we lead up to Election Day on November 8th. Meditate the Vote does not endorse any candidate or political party. It is a movement to socially engage all folks into a higher and more cohesive way of working together as a people and a country.
The internet and social media platforms will be used in spreading the word with participants making videos saying “I, Meditate the Vote” and why, as well as sharing feedback from their conversations using Meditate the Vote questions.
There is also the Pause for Peace App available for users of Android and iOS devices to allow for constant communication, meditations and videos, and for listening to the America Meditating Radio Show featuring various prominent thought leaders sharing methods for personal development. For the Silo, Antonia Silvera.
About America Meditating
America Meditating was launched in June 2012, as a nationwide initiative to promote unity and peace as everyone is encouraged to pause for moments throughout the day to reflect within and create an environment where love, respect, and trust reign.
It subsequently resulted in the birth of the popular America Meditating Radio Show hosted by teacher and motivational speaker, Sister Jenna. The program is available across the globe on numerous platforms including Blog Talk Radio, iTunes, Stitcher, Aha Radio, Speaker, the Pause for Peace App, and the Player.FM App.
Supplemental: The David Lynch Foundation was established to ensure that any child in America who wants to learn and practice the Transcendental Meditation program can do so.
It’s hard to say exactly what the future holds, though Steve Jobs was seemingly pretty good at predicting it. In 1972 I had the unusual opportunity to be in a computer class with Steve Jobs. Of course, at the time he was just a nerdy teen and I was four years his junior. He and I would vie to play Tic-tac-toe on a 500 pound “computer” that our High School had recently purchased. Steve was obsessed with this machine. One day I asked Steve why he was so fixated on this refrigerator sized computer. He turned to me and said in an intense manner, “Don’t you see? This machine is going to change everything! It’s going to change the world!” 
Reduced audio escape for utmost privacy. 
Clairy has also tech sensors that communicate with an app, so you can check directly the levels of humidity, temperature, and VOCs of your home with your smartphone.
When the device is activated, pet owners receive immediate alerts by text, email and a phone call, along with a geolocation of where their pet is located when the tag is activated. Most importantly though, MyEndlessID Pet provides rescuers and veterinarians instant access to vital medical information that could save an animal’s life in an emergency.
It costs just $4.55cdn, less than a bottle of maple syrup, to provide one week of nutritious meals to children in school through the ShareTheMeal app! The app allows users to share nutritious food with hungry children around the world by simply tapping on their smartphone and donating $0.65 or more.
Set in an ancient kingdom fallen prey to divisive realm wars, where powerful Spellcasters vie for power, the game invites players to enter into a thrilling, competitive experience. Gamers will choose a Spellcaster, collect and upgrade powerful spells, build the deadliest decks and unleash hordes of minions to compete with friends and adversaries around the world.
Designed utilizing the tools available on 
Building a better and more cohesive environment through collaboration
