THIS PRODUCT COVERS EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA, CENTRAL AND WESTERN MARYLAND,NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA**TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS EXTENDED FARTHER NORTHWEST**NEW INFORMATION---------------* CHANGES TO WATCHES AND WARNINGS:- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR CARROLL, CENTRALAND SOUTHEAST HOWARD, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY,NORTHERN BALTIMORE, NORTHWEST HARFORD, NORTHWEST HOWARD,NORTHWEST MONTGOMERY, AND SPOTSYLVANIA- THE TROPICAL STORM WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A TROPICAL STORMWARNING FOR ANNE ARUNDEL, ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA,CHARLES, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, FAIRFAX, KING GEORGE, PRINCEGEORGES, PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK, SOUTHEASTHARFORD, SOUTHERN BALTIMORE, AND STAFFORD* CURRENT WATCHES AND WARNINGS:- A TROPICAL STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR ANNE ARUNDEL,ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA, CALVERT, CARROLL, CENTRALAND SOUTHEAST HOWARD, CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MONTGOMERY,CHARLES, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, FAIRFAX, KING GEORGE, NORTHERNBALTIMORE, NORTHWEST HARFORD, NORTHWEST HOWARD, NORTHWESTMONTGOMERY, PRINCE GEORGES, PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSASPARK, SOUTHEAST HARFORD, SOUTHERN BALTIMORE, SPOTSYLVANIA, ST.MARYS, AND STAFFORD* STORM INFORMATION:- ABOUT 590 MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF WASHINGTON DC OR ABOUT 620MILES SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF BALTIMORE MD- 30.7N 80.1W- STORM INTENSITY 70 MPH- MOVEMENT NORTH OR 360 DEGREES AT 13 MPHSITUATION OVERVIEW------------------SIGNIFICANT FLASH FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS AND CREEKS IS LIKELYTONIGHT INTO TUESDAY EVENING AS RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH TROPICALSTORM ISAIAS SPREADS NORTHWARD. WIDESPREAD RAINFALL TOTALS OF 3 TO6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS POSSIBLE. THEHIGHEST AMOUNTS ARE EXPECTED EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINSPARTICULARLY OVER THE I-95 CORRIDOR LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY.TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND EAST OF THEI-95 CORRIDOR AND NORTH CENTRAL MARYLAND. TREE DAMAGE AND POWERARE POSSIBLE IN THIS AREA. MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING IS ALSOPOSSIBLE AT TIMES OF HIGH TIDE TUESDAY AS ISAIAS MAKES ITSCLOSEST APPROACH TO THE AREA AND CONTINUING WEDNESDAY MORNING.POTENTIAL IMPACTS-----------------* FLOODING RAIN:PROTECT AGAINST LIFE-THREATENING RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLEEXTENSIVE IMPACTS ACROSS AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR.POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:- MAJOR RAINFALL FLOODING MAY PROMPT MANY EVACUATIONS AND RESCUES.- RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES MAY RAPIDLY OVERFLOW THEIR BANKS INMULTIPLE PLACES. SMALL STREAMS, CREEKS, CANALS, ARROYOS, ANDDITCHES MAY BECOME DANGEROUS RIVERS. IN MOUNTAIN AREAS,DESTRUCTIVE RUNOFF MAY RUN QUICKLY DOWN VALLEYS WHILEINCREASING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ROCKSLIDES AND MUDSLIDES. FLOODCONTROL SYSTEMS AND BARRIERS MAY BECOME STRESSED.- FLOOD WATERS CAN ENTER MANY STRUCTURES WITHIN MULTIPLECOMMUNITIES, SOME STRUCTURES BECOMING UNINHABITABLE OR WASHEDAWAY. MANY PLACES WHERE FLOOD WATERS MAY COVER ESCAPE ROUTES.STREETS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME RIVERS OF MOVING WATER WITHUNDERPASSES SUBMERGED. DRIVING CONDITIONS BECOME DANGEROUS.MANY ROAD AND BRIDGE CLOSURES WITH SOME WEAKENED OR WASHED OUT.PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS RAINFALL FLOODING HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITEDTO SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS ACROSS AREAS WEST OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR TO THEWESTERN MOUNTAINS.* WIND:PROTECT AGAINST DANGEROUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTSALONG AND EAST OF THE I-95 CORRIDOR INCLUDING THE WASHINGTON DC ANDBALTIMORE METRO AREA.. POTENTIAL IMPACTS IN THIS AREA INCLUDE:- SOME DAMAGE TO ROOFING AND SIDING MATERIALS, ALONG WITH DAMAGETO PORCHES, AWNINGS, CARPORTS, AND SHEDS. A FEW BUILDINGSEXPERIENCING WINDOW, DOOR, AND GARAGE DOOR FAILURES. MOBILEHOMES DAMAGED, ESPECIALLY IF UNANCHORED. UNSECURED LIGHTWEIGHTOBJECTS BECOME DANGEROUS PROJECTILES.- SEVERAL LARGE TREES SNAPPED OR UPROOTED, BUT WITH GREATERNUMBERS IN PLACES WHERE TREES ARE SHALLOW ROOTED. SEVERALFENCES AND ROADWAY SIGNS BLOWN OVER.- SOME ROADS IMPASSABLE FROM LARGE DEBRIS, AND MORE WITHIN URBANOR HEAVILY WOODED PLACES. A FEW BRIDGES, CAUSEWAYS, AND ACCESSROUTES IMPASSABLE.- SCATTERED POWER AND COMMUNICATIONS OUTAGES, BUT MORE PREVALENTIN AREAS WITH ABOVE GROUND LINES.ALSO, PROTECT AGAINST HAZARDOUS WIND HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTSALONG AND EAST OF THE I-81 CORRIDOR.* SURGE:PROTECT AGAINST LOCALLY HAZARDOUS SURGE HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITEDIMPACTS ACROSS TIDAL POTOMAC AND CHESAPEAKE BAY. POTENTIAL IMPACTSIN THIS AREA INCLUDE:- LOCALIZED INUNDATION WITH STORM SURGE FLOODING MAINLY ALONGIMMEDIATE SHORELINES AND IN LOW-LYING SPOTS, OR IN AREASFARTHER INLAND NEAR WHERE HIGHER SURGE WATERS MOVE ASHORE.- SECTIONS OF NEAR-SHORE ROADS AND PARKING LOTS BECOME OVERSPREADWITH SURGE WATER. DRIVING CONDITIONS DANGEROUS IN PLACES WHERESURGE WATER COVERS THE ROAD.- MODERATE BEACH EROSION. HEAVY SURF ALSO BREACHING DUNES, MAINLYIN USUALLY VULNERABLE LOCATIONS. STRONG RIP CURRENTS.- MINOR TO LOCALLY MODERATE DAMAGE TO MARINAS, DOCKS, BOARDWALKS,AND PIERS. A FEW SMALL CRAFT BROKEN AWAY FROM MOORINGS.* TORNADOES:PROTECT AGAINST A TORNADO EVENT HAVING POSSIBLE LIMITED IMPACTSACROSS SOUTHERN MARYLAND. POTENTIAL IMPACTS INCLUDE:- THE OCCURRENCE OF ISOLATED TORNADOES CAN HINDER THE EXECUTIONOF EMERGENCY PLANS DURING TROPICAL EVENTS.- A FEW PLACES MAY EXPERIENCE TORNADO DAMAGE, ALONG WITH POWERAND COMMUNICATIONS DISRUPTIONS.- LOCATIONS COULD REALIZE ROOFS PEELED OFF BUILDINGS, CHIMNEYSTOPPLED, MOBILE HOMES PUSHED OFF FOUNDATIONS OR OVERTURNED,LARGE TREE TOPS AND BRANCHES SNAPPED OFF, SHALLOW-ROOTED TREESKNOCKED OVER, MOVING VEHICLES BLOWN OFF ROADS, AND SMALL BOATSPULLED FROM MOORINGS.ELSEWHERE ACROSS EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA, CENTRAL AND WESTERN MARYLAND,NORTHERN AND NORTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, LITTLETO NO IMPACT IS ANTICIPATED.PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS----------------------------------* EVACUATIONS:WATCH/WARNING PHASE - LISTEN TO LOCAL OFFICIAL FOR RECOMMENDEDPREPAREDNESS ACTIONS, INCLUDING POSSIBLE EVACUATION OF LOW LYINGAREAS. IF ORDERED TO EVACUATE, DO SO IMMEDIATELY.* OTHER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION:NOW IS THE TIME TO COMPLETE ALL PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE ANDPROPERTY IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN. ENSURE YOU ARE IN ASAFE LOCATION BEFORE THE ONSET OF STRONG WINDS OR POSSIBLE FLOODING.IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, BE SURE TO KNOW THE NAME OF THE CITY OR TOWN INWHICH YOU ARE STAYING AND THE NAME OF THE COUNTY OR PARISH IN WHICHIT RESIDES. LISTEN FOR THESE LOCATIONS IN LOCAL NEWS UPDATES. PAYATTENTION FOR INSTRUCTIONS FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES.IF YOU LIVE IN A PLACE PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO FLOODING, SUCH ASAREAS ALONG TIDAL LOCATIONS, IN LOW-LYING OR POOR DRAINAGE AREAS, INA VALLEY, OR NEAR AN ALREADY SWOLLEN RIVER, BE PREPARED TO MOVEQUICKLY TO SAFE SHELTER ON HIGHER GROUND.RAPIDLY RISING FLOOD WATERS ARE DEADLY. IF YOU ARE IN A FLOOD-PRONEAREA, CONSIDER MOVING TO HIGHER GROUND. NEVER DRIVE THROUGH A FLOODEDROADWAY. REMEMBER, TURN AROUND DON'T DROWN!IF IN A PLACE THAT IS VULNERABLE TO HIGH WIND, SUCH AS NEAR LARGETREES, A MANUFACTURED HOME, UPPER FLOORS OF A HIGH-RISE BUILDING, ORON A BOAT, CONSIDER MOVING TO A SAFER LOCATION BEFORE THE ONSET OFSTRONG WINDS.CLOSELY MONITOR WEATHER.GOV, NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR LOCAL NEWS OUTLETSFOR OFFICIAL STORM INFORMATION. BE READY TO ADAPT TO POSSIBLE CHANGESTO THE FORECAST. ENSURE YOU HAVE MULTIPLE WAYS TO RECEIVE WEATHERWARNINGS.THERE IS A THREAT FROM TORNADOES WITH THIS STORM. HAVE MULTIPLE WAYSTO RECEIVE TORNADO WARNINGS. BE READY TO SHELTER QUICKLY.* ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION:- FOR INFORMATION ON APPROPRIATE PREPARATIONS SEE READY.GOV- FOR INFORMATION ON CREATING AN EMERGENCY PLAN SEE GETAGAMEPLAN.ORG- FOR ADDITIONAL DISASTER PREPAREDNESS INFORMATION SEE REDCROSS.ORGNEXT UPDATE-----------THE NEXT LOCAL STATEMENT WILL BE ISSUED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHERSERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC AROUND 230 PM EDT, OR SOONER IFCONDITIONS WARRANT.

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GETTING THERE: Technology coming to help combat Interstate 95 congestion - Fredericksburg.com

Massachusetts largest group of tech companies is calling on its members to double the percentage of Black and Latinx employees in the state by the end of the decade.

Introduced on Monday, the 2030 Challenge by the Mass Technology Leadership Council aims to push the percentage of Black employees at tech companies in Massachusetts to 10% and Latinx workers to 14%.

While MassTCL specifically mentioned Black and Latinx workers, the organization will continue to strive for gender equity within the tech work-sphere asa well.

According to the MassTLC, the Massachusetts tech sector does not adequately reflect the diverse population of the state.

More than calling for change, the MassTLC is asking its more than 450 members to commit to The Tech Compact for Social Justice, which outlines 12 steps to accomplish its 2030 Challenge.

So far more than 60 companies have agreed to the commitment.

This is a time when people are speaking out and we, as leaders, need to listen to them, CEO of MassTLC Tom Hopcroft said in a statement. This is how change happens, and it is why we launched The Tech Compact for Social Justice. We recognize that Boston and the tech industry have more to do to support and encourage the inclusion of black, Latinx and Indigenous people and we accept our responsibility to do more to make change at the company and community level.

By agreeing to the Tech Compact for Social Justice, companies commit to introducing or expanding educational programs and opportunities that promote diversity. The compact states companies should invest in students of color to create more diversity in developmental programs too.

They also commit to creating more diversity within leadership and board composition.

The CEO of companies will be evaluated on racially diverse hiring, leadership development, and promotion, the compact says.

By June 2022, companies that join the compact agree to self report demographic data of employees and hiring practices including at the leadership level and promotions. Reporting data will also include self reporting on racial diversity initiatives in purchasing and procurement as well as aggregate pay parity.

Outside of the day-to-day operations, the compact calls for companies to leverage products and communications to support communities of color. Companies will also advocate for public policies that support opportunities for people of color.

More than 60 companies have already signed on including Akamai, iRobot, TripAdvisor, Verizon and Wayfair.

At Akamai, diversity is a mission-critical goal, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of Akamai Technologies Anthony Williams said in a statement. As long-time active members of MassTLC we are proud to join forces with them to create long-term change in the Massachusetts technology community. By pooling resources with other companies, we harness our collective influence for greater impact.

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Mass Technology Leadership Council calls on its members to double states Black, Latinx tech employees as par - MassLive.com

Giving back to his community is nothing new for Marvin Skipper.

Skipper formed a nonprofit in 2015, Youth are Bigger Than Life, that provides mentorship to young people and often gives food to those in need.

When the pandemic struck, Skipper's organization stepped up with a grocery giveaway at Detroit's Pershing High School, his alma mater, where he was a star basketball player and one of the top 100 players in the country. But his basketball career was cut short by a heart condition going into his freshman year at Eastern Michigan University.

Skipper now is a service and parts representative for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

"I have a very tight-knit relationship with the people in the neighborhood," Skipper told Automotive News.

Skipper's group distributed more than 700 packages of food and necessities such as soap and deodorant for those who attended the drive-through event May 9. The group also does a food giveaway before Christmas each year.

Skipper has hit buzzer-beaters during basketball games but said nothing compares to the feeling of giving back to others during a tough time.

"I was still fortunate enough to work, so I wanted to give," Skipper said. "It's like no other feeling in the world."

Skipper's event is just one example of an FCA employee helping during the health crisis.

The rest is here:

FCA employees make impact through charity and technology - Automotive News

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) Its never too late to make healthier choices when it comes to what we eat!The reality is we need strong immune system health to fight the current pandemic.

The Muscleman of Technology joined Good Morning San Diego to demonstrate organic healthy food products that can make you feel better, give you more energy and help boost your immunity.

MacroLife Naturals The Ultimate Superfoodhttp://macrolifenaturals.com Macro Meals 15 Servings Can is $39.95 (28 Servings Can is $39.95)

MarcroLife Macro Greens:A true green superfood containing 38 nutrient rich super-food plant-based ingredients that feed the body at a cellular levelit nourishes the body with antioxidants, co-nutrients, enzymes, vitamins, minerals and amino acids! Most of the ingredients in MacroLife Naturals products are cold processed or are processed at low temperatures to ensure enzyme bioactivity. Macro Greens promotes gentle daily cleansing, and is Americas Best Tasting GreensNon-GMO, vegan, gluten and dairy free!It also has 18 billion probiotics to help boost your immune system.

Bear Bar Organic Meal-on-the-Go Energy Bar Made in San Diegowww.BearBar.com Case of 20 Individually Wrapped Bars is about $30.43Sold at all Jimbos or Frazier Farms locations San Diego & online

Made from just six simple, pure, whole food ingredients & USDA Certified OrganicBear Bars are an energy boosting meal-on-the-go made right here in San Diego!All 6 ingredients are 100% USDA Certified Organic: cashews, red bell pepper, kale, chia seeds, lemon juice and sea salt. The Bear Bar was born out of a desire for a better energy bar! So many bars were too sweet or had long lists of ingredients.Its not sweet like most bars. Its a healthy, savory snack you can feel great about.Bear Bars are certified organic, gluten-free, and vegan. Plus, they are low-temp dried to keep nutrients intact. We start with fresh, whole, organic produceand it makes a difference you can taste! We even juice our own lemons. They are great for hiking, camping, a day at the beach or before a workout. Also sold at Ocean Beach Peoples Co-Op, Jensens Pt. Loma or Mission Square Market.

ORGANIC Food Bar 100% Certified USDA Organicwww.OrganicFoodBar.comCovid19 SPECIAL: Friends & Family 47% OFF Discount:Just $1.74 each plus shipping ($3.29 is normal price) call 800-246-4685and use friends and family code: FAFD

This incredible bar is certified 100% USDA Organiccontains 11g of raw and organic protein including 4000mg of our exclusive green superfood blend with certified organic Spirulina, wheat and barley grass juice powder (gluten-free), Blueberry and Raspberry and MORE! The Active Greens Bar is one of our most nutritionally robust formulas and it doesnt sacrifice one bit on taste. The Active Greens Bar is optimal energy food for those of you who want to add wholesome, organic fruits and vegetables to your diet.

Orga Foods Super Crisps: 100% Organic / Gluten-Free / Veganwww.orga-foods.com about $7 for 4 oz. bag

A blend of organic seeds, berries and spices creates a delicious cracker crisp that is VERY high in fiber and protein. It is GF & Organic Certified, NON-GMO and Kosher.If you like truly heathy snacks, look no further then Orga Foods Super Crispsan excellent source of fiber, and a healthy way to increase your intake of Omega fats as well as plant-based protein & iron. Crush them and sprinkle on salads, and perfect with soup instead of those unhealthy crackers!Only 6 ingredients: Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Flaxseeds,Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sesame Seeds & Himalayan Pink Salt.

Dr. Bronners Health Conscious Productswww.drbronner.com

Are your hands dried out from washing them all the time, or using too much hand sanitizer? A bottle of Dr. Bronners Pure-Castile Soap is sold in the U.S. every 2.4 seconds!! Dr. Bronners (Since 1858) is a family business committed to honoring the vision of our founder Dr. E.H. Bronner by making socially and environmentally responsible products of the highest quality, and by dedicating our profits to helping make a better world.

Today we featured:

Dr. Bronners Magic BalmDr. Bronners Unscented Organic Magic Balm provides instant relief and protection from all kinds of skin irritationssoothe skin safely and simply with no synthetic ingredients, certified to the same National Organic Program that certifies food. It can be used to heal dry hands, face, body, cuticles, chins & cheeks.

Dr. Bronners Pure-Castile SoapDr. Bronners is the top-selling soap in the U.S. natural marketplace. Dr. Bronners is the very best soap for body, home and Earth.Dr. Bronners Peppermint (or Cinnamon) All-One ToothpasteFluoride-Free, with 70% Organic Ingredients! No artificial colors, preservatives, flavors, or sweeteners!

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Get healthier right now with the Muscleman of Technology - - KUSI

RICHMOND, Va., Aug. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), in association with VCU Health System, announced a partnership with Kallaco Health & Technology to support VCU's COVID-19 testing strategy for VCU students and employees. Kallaco is a comprehensive, integrated wellness company that offers customizable testing, training and technology solutions.

VCU requires residential students to take a COVID-19 test and receive negative results prior to move-in and is working with Kallaco to mail test kits to residential students that they can take at home and mail back for analysis before move-in begins in August.

In addition, VCU Health System will provide on-campus testing for symptomatic VCU students and employees, as well as prevalence testing for a portion of VCU asymptomatic students and employees in an effort to monitor the overall prevalence of COVID-19 in the VCU community.

VCU students and employees who receive COVID-19 testing through VCU will have access to the Kallaco app where they can review their test results and monitor their daily health.

"The partnership with Kallaco provides numerous benefits and opportunities that complement our own experience and expertise through this pandemic as an academic health system," said Melinda S. Hancock, CPA, FHFMA. Chief administrative and financial officer, VCU Health System. "Together we bring these to the University to provide the resources needed to return to campus."

The partnership with Kallaco is in addition to VCU's extensive return-to-campus plan that also includes starter supply kits for every returning student and employee (face coverings, sanitizer, and disinfectant spray to supplement supplies they may already have), required online training related to safety protocols, and required daily attestations of health.

"Kallaco is proud to partner with VCU and VCU Health along with tens-of-thousands of employees and students across universities and businesses with at-home COVID testing and other services," said John Spivey, Founder and CEO of Kallaco. "VCU and VCU Health have shown an outstanding commitment to creating the safest possible return for their students, faculty, and surrounding communities, and we are honored to assist in their efforts."

VCU's return continues now in phases and they prepare for classes to begin on the Monroe Park Campus on Aug. 17.

About VCU

Virginia Commonwealth University is a major, urban public research university with national and international rankings in sponsored research. Located in downtown Richmond, VCU enrolls more than 30,000 students in 233 degree and certificate programs in the arts, sciences and humanities. Twenty-two of the programs are unique in Virginia, many of them crossing the disciplines of VCU's 11 schools and three colleges. The VCU Health brand represents the VCU health sciences academic programs, the VCU Massey Cancer Center and the VCU Health System, which comprises VCU Medical Center (the only academic medical center in the region), Community Memorial Hospital, Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU, and MCV Physicians. For more, please visit http://www.vcu.edu and vcuhealth.org.

About Kallaco

Kallaco was inspired by the greek word Kala, meaning "good, well" along with -co which represents connection, community, confidence, and collaboration. Kallaco was created as a health management platform to provide employers, university, and healthcare administrators a connected health solution to manage the current challenges of today along with their organization's future health management. For more information visitwww.kalla.co.

Media Inquiries related to VCU and VCUHS: Michael R. Porter[emailprotected]

Media Inquiries related to Kallaco: Amy Cheronis[emailprotected]

SOURCE Kallaco

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VCU Partners with Kallaco Health & Technology for Student and Employee COVID-19 Testing - PRNewswire

Without the presence of ions and their transfer, many natural and industrial processes would not exist; plants could not perform photosynthesis, mammals wouldnt maintain a stable blood pH and there would be no batteries for electronic devices. However, there are many situations where the presence of ions is unwelcome. Even at trace concentrations, ionic impurities can cause problems. For example, disinfection by-products in drinking water can have carcinogenic effects at g/L, while ambient air pollutants impact health at very low concentrations (g/m3).Therefore, highly sensitive analytical methods are needed to detect and quantify the presence of ionic impurities. While gas chromatography (GC)-based methods are commonly used for analyzing compounds that can be easily vaporized, GC analysis of ionic impurities can be challenging. Baseline movement (e.g., noise and drift) is a frequently encountered issue, often caused by contamination from a previously injected sample. Troubleshooting this problem can be time-consuming and labor-intensive.

However, determining low levels of ionic impurities no longer needs to be slow and complicated, as modern and optimized instruments are available to simplify and expedite analysis. In this article, we use real-life examples to showcase ion chromatography (IC) as an efficient and sensitive method that helps to overcome analytical challenges.

Characterization of ionic and polar compounds can be achieved using a range of techniques, including GC, which is often used as the established method despite its limitations. Not all compounds are amenable to analysis by GC in their natural state. For example, some highly polar compounds with low volatility may not elute from the GC column, precluding detection. Such compounds must be modified into stable and volatile derivatives suitable for GC elution and separation. This process is known as derivatization, and can involve a range of reactions to improve sensitivity, selectivity or specificity for a particular separation in GC combined with mass spectrometry (MS).

While derivatization is a useful tool, it has been described as the bottleneck of GC-MS due to its labor-intensive and time-consuming nature. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Method 552.3 describes a tedious multi-step sample preparation process for the detection of haloacetic acids (HAA) and dalapon in drinking water, which involves liquid-liquid microextraction, derivatization and GC with electron capture detection executed over a number of days.

HAAs arise from a reaction between chlorine-containing disinfectants and other compounds and are a focus of modern water analysis. In common GC methods, derivatization of HAAs is achieved using diazomethane or methanol. This poses health risks to those involved in analysis. So much so that in Sweden, diazomethane is listed as a carcinogenic air pollutant in the workplace and has strict regulations around its use. Overall, there is a strong incentive to simplify methods for ionic analysis.

Advances in IC technology remove the need for such extensive sample pre-treatment, without compromising speed and sensitivity. A modular IC system, using a newly developed column, when coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (IC-MS/MS), can divert common interfering anions to waste and allow the direct detection of HAAs in water samples in 35 minutes. Compared with a standard GC method for water quality analysis, this simplified method enabled determination of key HAAs without sample acidification, extraction and derivatization.

The remarkable reduction in run time for water analysis is a consequence of new IC technologies, which provide benefits across a range of industries. One example can be found in manufacturing processes, where sulfuric acid is commonly used during production. As trace ionic impurities directly impact yield and reliability of wafer cleaning (a vital stage in electronics production, involving the use of sulfuric acid), determining their presence is critical. However, detecting anionic impurities in concentrated acids, such as sulfuric acid, poses many analytical challenges related to:

Cumbersome and tedious titration methods

The use of hazardous materials during titration

Insufficient sensitivity: there are limits to the amount of concentrated acid that can be injected onto an anion-exchange column

Long retention times for phosphate, rendering the determination of phosphate contaminants in sulfuric acid difficult

Progress in column technology has increased capacity and improved the resolution of inorganic ions, providing an attractive alternative to titration. Column selectivity has also been modified to facilitate ionic determinations, as exemplified by one developed recently that can be used to determine phosphate contamination in sulfuric acid reliably and accurately due to a modification in the order of anion elution.

Advanced IC columns are also paired with instrument technology, such as an eluent generator, to simplify the workflow. Like other types of chromatography, eluent for IC can be prepared manually by diluting an eluent concentrate or with stock chemicals. With the need for dilutions and preparation from dry chemicals, there is a strong potential for lot-to-lot variation, which can affect IC peak retention and resolution, and there is an additional safety concern relating to exposure to hazardous chemicals. Removing manual elements of a process can reduce the opportunity for error, thereby, improving reproducibility, while providing a high degree of automation. By just adding water, eluent can be automatically generated online by software control, allowing reliable and consistent eluent creation.

A simple operation combined with high performance is a dream combination for any environmental analysis, especially in challenging research conditions. Monitoring air quality in polar regions is necessary for the development of mitigation strategies for reducing air pollution. In particular, the measurement of atmospheric amines is critical to forecasting climate impacts. Between sample collection and analysis, however, amines tend to decompose, creating logistical challenges for analysis.

To overcome this, onboard analysis was trialed on an arctic voyage spanning several months. The Snow Dragon, a 25-year old research vessel, carried an ambient ion monitoring (AIM) system for IC analysis of ambient air. The operation was successful, with 27 inorganic anions and cations, carboxylic acids and amines evaluated every hour for the entire trip, producing accurate and high-resolution data. The low maintenance requirements of the AIM system made for a smoother voyage; only water needed to be added for monitoring to continue.

There are also more direct and obvious benefits to advances in air quality monitoring for human health, as newer IC methods also enable more sensitive determination of inorganic anions and carboxylic acids in fine urban ambient particles.

Advanced, and yet easy to use, IC systems have found their place across a range of settings, from food and pharmaceutical industries to municipal water treatment and bottled water quality control. Anion-exchange chromatography can be used to separate mixtures of organic acids and inorganic ions, regardless of whether the goal is to ensure flavor, safety or biotherapeutic quality. Successful analysis is dependent on the method having sufficient sensitivity, and this is particularly important for the analysis of drinking water.

In the US, thyroid dysfunction has been linked to perchlorate exposure, an oxidizer that has been used in rocket propellant, explosives, fireworks and road flares since the 1950s. Consequently, several states have set standards and guidelines for perchlorate levels in drinking water (2 and 6 g/L for Massachusetts and California, respectively) creating the need for reliable detection methods. A high-pressure IC system can be coupled with a single quadrupole MS to provide higher sensitivity, along with mass confirmation, compared to using only conductivity detection. This platform can be integrated with user-friendly software to ensure the technology is suitable for even novice users.

Advanced IC technology has simplified and fast-tracked the detection of ionic impurities across a wide range of applications, from sulfuric acid quality control to assessing air quality. Fortunately, we can leave many chromatography challenges in the past, including labor-intensive derivatization and manual eluent preparation. Modern IC platforms are important tools for manufacturing, research, and environmental analysis, where the determination of ionic impurities is critical for quality control and our health.

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The Challenges of Analytical Chromatography We Can Leave in the Past - Technology Networks

Four Big Tech CEOs - Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, Amazons Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai of Google and Tim Cook of Apple - are testifying on their companies practices on the issue of market dominance in the industry. (July 29) AP Domestic

Many of us have had the feeling that technology, whichcontinues to changeat an ever-dizzying pace, may be leaving us behind. Thatwas embodied this past week during a Congressional hearing, nominally convened to investigate antitrust concerns of fourbig tech titans: Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google.

While the five-and-a-half-hour inquiry touched on a range topics from pesky spam filters and search resultsto how companies approached acquisitions, the House Judiciary subcommittee hearing laid one thing bare: Asizable disconnect appears to exist between the technology Americans are using and depending on in their daily lives andthe knowledge base of people with the power and responsibility to decide its future and regulation.

"Consumers and investors walk away feeling like a lot of these lawmakers dont really understand the business models to an extent that they could then navigate them and put laws in place that will dictate the future of where they go,"said Daniel Ives, an analyst with Wedbush Securities.

The antitrust subcommitteehearing had been convened to look into the tech giants' market dominance. While some questions asked and issues raised were pointed, others may have left constituents and the tech CEOs themselves scratching their heads.

Instead, the hearing primarily became a forum for Republicans to lament what is seen as a bias against conservatives on digital platforms and for Democrats to ask about issues such as the poor treatment of small businesses and third-party sellers online.

Rep. James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis., asked Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg why the social network recently took down Donald Trump Jr.'s post about hydroxychloroquine. "Why did that happen?"he asked.

Whoops, the platform that took that action was Twitter, Zuckerberg noted.

Twittertemporarily suspended the account for posting "misleading and potentially harmful information" related to COVID-19. Earlier in the week, tech platforms removed the video, which featuredsome doctors touting the malaria drug as a treatment for COVID-19 it has not been found helpful and can be harmful and suggesting masks aren't needed in preventing the spread of the virus.

Zuckerberg said the video was removed on Facebook because the platform prohibits content "that would lead to imminent risk of harm. Stating that there is a proven cure for COVID when there is in fact none might encourage somebody to go take something that might have some adverse effects."

Rep. Pramilla Jayapal, D-Wash., questioned Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos about whether the online retailer uses any data from its third-party sellers when making business decisions, especially for its private-branded products. Bezos responded that Amazon has a policy against that, but added "I cant guarantee you that that policy has never been violated.

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and its parent company Alphabet, was asked by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Fla., why his father was finding Steube's campaign emails in his spam folder.

AndHouse Judiciary Committee chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y, took Facebook and Google to task for setting off the decline of journalism,primarily because the tech behemoths dominate digital advertising revenue, siphoning spending on print ads.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, simply attacked all the companies for an anti-conservative bias. "I'll just cut to the chase. Big tech is out to get conservatives," he said.

But for observers of the hearing, "there is definitely the feeling of two ships passing in the night,"saidIves.

Despite some smart questions on acquisitions, privacy and spread of misinformation, "the technological ignorance demonstrated by our elected officials in (the) hearing was truly stunning," said Shelly Palmer, CEO at The Palmer Group, a tech strategy advisory group.

The data elite are playing a different game with a different set of rules. Apparently, Congress can't even find the ballpark.

"People who are this clueless about the economic forces shaping our world should not be tasked with leading us into the age of AI (artificial intelligence)," he said. "The data elite are playing a different game with a different set of rules. Apparently, Congress can't even find the ballpark."

Tech CEO hearing: 10 questions Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai, Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook could have been asked

Privacy and data: Amazon shares your private info unless you do these steps

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos testifies via video conference during the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial and Administrative Law hearing on Online Platforms and Market Power in the Rayburn House office Building, July 29, 2020 in Washington, DC.(Photo: Pool, Getty Images)

Criticism of the questioning went beyond the conference room on Capitol Hill. On Twitter a tech giant not invited discussion about the issues extended beyond the hearing.

"Net approval of the tech industry has increased 28% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic," tweeted Alex Stapp, director of technology policy at the Progressive Policy Institute. "Weird time for Congress to hold an antitrust hearing about breaking up Big Tech."

And the discussion continued into the next day. On Thursday, the House voted on an amendment to the Pentagon budget, proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., prohibiting the military from using the Twitch online video service, esports and video games as ways to gain recruits. The measure failed, but Ocasio-Cortez wondered whether her fellow Congressional members knew what they were voting on.

"Imagine trying to explain to your colleagues who are members of Congress what Twitch is," she tweeted Thursday.

She continued in another Tweet, callingtech literacy a "growing need in Congress so we can legislate to protect peoples privacy, etc."

The Wednesday hearing was confrontational and revealed that members of Congress are not necessarily "tech experts. That reality is clear,"said Gene Munster,an investor and analyst with Loup Ventures.

Much of the give-and-take focused on the negative aspects of the platforms, he says, which might be used as a reason to trumpet regulation that could harm the very small businesses some lawmakers professed to champion."What was clearly missed in Wednesday's conversation is the positive impact that these platforms have had on small businesses that far outweigh the negative impacts," Munster said.

Energizing the hearing was "the elephant in the room," which is the handling of content on social networks, especially manipulation of political speech and medical disinformation, saysLaura DeNardis, author ofThe Internet in Everything: Freedom and Security in a World with No Off Switch, and a professor andinterim dean of the school of communications at American University.

"Everyone understands that our democracy now is on the line when it comes to disinformation, censorship, who gets to speak in the public sphere and what to do about all these content questions," she said.

While it is important to raise questions about the market power and anti-competitive concerns around the tech giants, DeNardis said, "missing from all of itwas an acknowledgment of how important these companies are to our economy and also to our ability to thrive, and for people who are totally isolated to be able to connect in an age of COVID-19.

Tech companies and trade groups such as the Consumer Technology Association must make it their job to educate legislators and their staff as technology evolves, says Michael Petricone, the CTA's senior vice president of government affairs.

Even though there were signs that all members of Congress may not be keeping up with technology, historically, legislatorshave done a good job, Petricone says. Comparatively other countries, especially those in Europe, "are more apt to crack down on large companies because big is bad," he said. "But in terms of promoting innovation that has not beenan effective strategy."

The U.S. is "the globes innovation leader, and we also have the worlds most dynamic startup scene. Its not a coincidence. Its not because of what we eat for breakfast," he said. "We have made consistently good policy choices."

Follow Mike Snider on Twitter: @MikeSnider.

Texas house representative Ted Poe got a little heated while questioning CEO Sundar Pichai about Google's data tracking capabilities. USA TODAY

Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2020/08/02/google-facebook-and-amazon-too-technical-congress-regulate/5547091002/

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Congress and technology: Do lawmakers understand Google and Facebook enough to regulate them? - USA TODAY

With 60-70% of your face covered up by a mask, it isn't surprising that facial recognition algorithms designed pre-pandemic aren't working very well. The U.S. government did a study that proves this as companies and security agencies scramble to design new ones.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's (NIST) Mei Ngan says over the years the number of facial recognition software applications have exploded. "I remember one time reading about face recognition being used to ration toilet paper in public restrooms from different parts of China to combat toilet paper theft," she says.

Recently, the computer scientist conducted a study to see how reliable facial recognition algorithms were at identifying people with a mask. She applied masks digitally to millions of photographs and then compared the accuracy of masks to unmasked people. She also looked at how changing the shape, the color and the amount of nose coverage would affect the result.

"A coverage mask caused more errors when we compared them to low-coverage masks, and on average, we saw about a factor of five increase in error rates on high masks versus low masks and this was consistent across the board."

How Did Algorithms Do?

Generally, the algorithms had error rates of 20-50% but the top companies Paravision and Deep Glint had 5% error rates.

Paravision says it has developed new software that can identify people with masks and it is in the process of rolling it out.

Ngan says next will be testing algorithms that are designed for mask wearing. That is scheduled for the fall. In the meantime, she suggests businesses supplement algorithms with iris recognition or use software that focuses on the eyes, eye brows and forehead.

It appears the pandemic is certainly not slowing the use of facial recognition algorithms. The Columbus Dispatch reports Pop ID has teamed with an Ohio company,Wasserstrom, to make a program that combines instant facial recognition and temperature screening that can connect to employee's mobile devices, lock doors if a person's temperature is too high and record all that on a time log.

Original post:

Facial Recognition Technology Adapts In The Age Of Coronavirus - WVXU

HOLON, Israel, Aug. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Sapiens International Corporation, (NASDAQ: SPNS)and (TASE: SPNS), a leading global provider of software solutions for the insurance industry, announced today it has entered into an agreement to partner with AssureSign, a recognized leader in the electronic signature market. The partnership will enable carriers and agencies to expedite customer acquisitions and renewals through various distribution channels, including agency portals, carrier consumer portals and internal CSRs.

AssureSign's advanced technology will be integrated with Sapiens Platform for Workers' Compensation offering to enhance both claims and policy processes.

Sapiens is leveraging the eSign Anywhereand eSign via Textsolutions, so insureds can sign their documents on a mobile device, tablet, or computer. The solutions streamline existing insurance workflows that require single or multiple signatures, reducing operational costs by significantly speeding the previously unwieldy document completion process.

"Insurers know they must provide an immediate customer experience, while ensuring that documents are verified," said David Brinkman, President & CEO of AssureSign. The recent pandemic has increased pressure among insurance carriers to offer a high-quality remote experience to insureds. Whether customers or agents are signing in an office setting, on a laptop from home, or from a mobile device via text message, they can provide a secure and legal signature for any document, anytime, anywhere."

"Sapiens is always looking to offer a faster experience for insureds' customers and reduce insurers' operational costs," said Roni Al-Dor, president and CEO, Sapiens. "Integrating electronic signature functionality into our workers' compensation solutions will achieve these goals, without compromising on security. We are pleased to partner with AssureSign and plan to expand its technology to some of our other offerings in the near future."

About AssureSign

Since 2000, AssureSign has helpedthe most trusted and well-known brands execute over 800 million electronic signatures worldwide. Customizable as a public or managed private cloud solution for businesses of all sizes, AssureSign enables your business to send documents for signature to any device, at any time, and from anywhere. With unique solutions like eSign via Text andthe industry's most flexible APIs,AssureSign empowers you to accelerate your business and streamline your workflows making it convenient yet secure and seamlesscustomer experience.For more information:www.assuresign.com.

About Sapiens

Sapiens International Corporation empowers insurers to succeed in an evolving industry. The company offers digital software platforms, solutions and services for the property & casualty, life, pension & annuity, reinsurance,financial & compliance, workers' compensation and financialmarkets. With more than 35 years of experience delivering to over 500 organizations globally, Sapiens has a proven ability to satisfy customers' core, data and digital requirements. For more information:www.sapiens.com.

Media ContactAlex ZukermanCMO and Chief of Strategy, Sapiens+972-546-724-910[emailprotected]

SOURCE Sapiens International Corporation

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Sapiens Partners with AssureSign to Incorporate Electronic Signature Technology into its Workers' Compensation Platform - PRNewswire

A treatment to infuse hardened metal surfaces with naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides has been developed by researchers at Purdue University.

In other words, the Purdue research teams technology can create hard metal surfaces that kill bacteria trying to attach to it.

David Bahr, team leader and professor of materials engineering at Purdue, said this technology applies primarily to food processing and cutting surfaces, which can be especially vulnerable to bacteria growth because of the materials and surface designs.

This technology can reduce the risk of cross-contamination. Cross-contamination is the transfer of harmful bacteria to food from other foods, cutting boards, utensils, etc. This is especially true when handling raw meat, poultry, and seafood, as placing them on the same hard surface as already cooked or ready-to-eat foods and fresh produce can spread harmful bacteria.

Our technology can help ensure that if a food processing facility was chopping salad greens, bacteria would not transfer from a contaminated surface to a cutting tool, thereby contaminating many more parts, said Bahr. When used in conjunction with food washing and other safe handling, this should allow fewer outbreaks of foodborne illness.

Bahr explained that the Purdue team creates an oxidized metal surface with nanometer-wide and micrometer-deep cracks where antimicrobial peptides can be infused in these microscopic cracks with a simple wet process. The material stored in the cracks release over time, and the oxidation process also colors the material, which provides a visual indicator of the materials remaining antimicrobial resistance. The process works on stainless steel and titanium and can be used on a wide range of commercial metal alloys.

The creators are now looking for partners to commercialize their technology.

For more information on licensing this innovation, contact Dipak Narula of Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization at dnarula@prf.org.

(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here)

Excerpt from:

New technology creates hard metal surfaces that kill bacteria - Food Safety News

Saving money on school supplies with refurbished tech

Savings Angel Josh Elledge speaks to FOX 35.

ORLANDO, Fla. - When it comes to back to school shopping, online retailers are lining up to help you fill your baskets.

FOX 35 experts suggestthree ways to save money

Josh Elledge, the Savings Angel, advises parents stagger spending, especially for big-ticket items.

He explains "As a parent it's tough, you're like oh darn, I have to buy 3 laptops right now? How am I going to do that? That's a really tough situation and what I advise is to generally stagger those kinds of investments as much as possible."

RELATED:The right learning option: Some students perform better, break bad habits while learning from home

Omri Traub,the founder and CEO of 'Popcart' -- anonline browser extension that helps shoppers compare prices and find the best deals, warned consumers that they need to watch out for a spike in prices for supplies.

"The prices online can be dynamic and can adjust. If you were shopping for back-to-school a month ago, you might have actually paid a cheaper price than what you're paying online now. Everybody is in the same mind set as you, so that's when shoppers online have to be especially careful," Traub explains.

Since a lot of kids will be learning from home this year, Lawrence Zarian, 'The Fashion Guy,' said that they still need to dress as ifthey are going into the classroom.

RELATED:Tips for teaching online when schools reopen this fall

"When it comes to back to school clothes shopping, look to buy out of season stock, commit to the clearance rack, shop second hand and browse Ebay or other E-tail auction sites for the best deals," suggests Zarian.

Tune in to FOX 35 Orlando for the rest a Classroom Survival Guide as reopening schools approaches.

See more here:

3 ways to save money on school supplies, technology as schools will soon reopen - FOX 35 Orlando

In his bid to be elected chief prosecutor in the west bank parishes of the Baton Rouge metro area, Tony Clayton planned to hand out Krispy Kreme donuts at subdivision entrances, knock on doors, attend street parties and visit every social club he could find.

But that was before Louisiana had the nations highest ratio of infections in the coronavirus pandemic, upsetting traditional political campaign tactics.

Nobody wants to see some politician in a mask knocking on their door, Clayton said. Instead, he went digital.

For the next three months before the Nov. 3 elections, hundreds of Louisiana candidates will rely on technological interactions to replace looking voters in eye and listening to their concerns the method political strategists say is the most effective way to accumulate votes.

What is the best way to campaign in the age of masks and social distancing?

Boy, thats going to be a work in progress, said Republican U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is seeking a second term in November. Obviously, you cant work a restaurant because the restaurant is closed.

Cassidy said hes going to rely on Zoom town halls, tweets, Facebook postings and DIY video candidate shows.

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy arrived on the third and final day of qualifying to ensure his name is on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Members of Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards campaign team have joined a newly formed Super PAC to support Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins' bid

So will Democratic Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins, Cassidys main rival among 14 opponents. Obviously, were going to have to heavily rely on technology. But mostly, well rely on our messaging, he said.

Technology could level the playing field to allow an underfunded candidate to compete. But if they think that itll make up their lack of money, they will be disappointed, said Joshua Stockley, a political scientist teaching at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Candidates wont be able to abandon some tried and true tactics. Grassroots organizing, yard signs, robo-calls and direct mail flyers, as well as television and radio advertising still will play important roles in campaigning.

But social media has taken on a heightened importance as candidates are forced to open new playbooks in light of the pandemic," Stockley said.

With the onset of COVID, you have to get the politics from a different perspective, Clayton said. You still have to talk to everyone in the room.

In many ways social media makes that task easier. As a well known member of the Black community, Clayton already had received invites to church events and neighborhood parties. But the 18th Judicial District is 58% White, and getting personal time inside social circles not used to seeing Black faces isnt as automatic.

Apart from occasional tweets, Clayton said he had no idea how social media worked. He hired veteran political strategist Roy Fletcher, of Baton Rouge, and a social media expert Darren Gauthier, of Denham Springs.

They put together a two-minute Do It Yourself candidate show, during which Clayton talked about his experience prosecuting felonies and expressed his hopes for criminal justice in the future.

We ran it for 10 days. We got 100,000 views, Fletcher said. A view is described as someone having watched it for more than 30 seconds. Thats quite remarkable because on Saturday, Iberville, West Baton Rouge and Pointe Coupee parishes had only 54,558 registered voters, meaning that even accounting for viewers in adjacent East Baton Rouge Parish, more than a few of the targeted audience saw the show more than once.

Longtime prosecutor Antonio "Tony" Clayton has made his bid to become the west side's next District Attorney official on the opening day for c

Clayton said he had heard the term geofencing but didnt really know what it meant before his campaign embraced the marketing technology. Basically, using radio-frequency identification, Wi-Fi, global positioning and Bluetooth, geofencing allows candidates to lock into computers and smartphones and have their content repeatedly pop-up on the devices of voters in the districts geographical boundary.

Clayton was elected prosecutor when nobody signed up to run against him for the open seat, which is virtually unheard of in Louisiana politics.

I dont know that social media levels the playing field. But it does give them an inexpensive way to articulate themselves to a large number of people, Fletcher said. Credibility still plays a big role. You have to have something to say and you have to be credible saying it.

Clayton is a known quantity in the 18th Judicial District, where he was chief felony prosecutor for years. He successfully prosecuted two serial killers, Derrick Todd Lee and Sean Gillis, sat on the Southern University System Board, palled around with Congressman Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans, and partnered with the current district attorneys son state Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, in one the areas most prominent law firms.

Technology is catching up with a natural evolution in Louisiana that is moving past the face-to-face politicking to a more remote style.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, the leading Republican candidate for governor in 2015, walked in neighborhood parades and shook hands at various festivals. The GOP standard bearer in 2019, Eddie Rispone, who is far more gregarious, rarely made personal appearances, relying almost exclusively on television advertising.

Television is still most important, but platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat, and Twitter have been growing in sophistication, political strategists agree. For years, dozens of unknown candidates have said the use of social media would overcome establishment advantages of money and name recognition.

Few, however, have been successful.

An exception is Acadiana Congressman Clay Higgins, who in 2016 knocked off Public Service Commission Chairman Scott Angelle a former lieutenant governor, Cabinet secretary for two governors and nearly successful candidate for governor.

In his first campaign, Higgins filmed small gatherings in which the candidate spoke from the back of a pickup, then shook hands with the folks. Political videographer Chris Comeaux edited each video into slick, fast-paced vignettes that were available on Facebook and YouTube.

It was the combination of new media matched up with '30s campaign style, Comeaux said at the time.

The effort cost about $320,000 about a quarter of what Angelle spent on television, yard signs and the like.

But Higgins already was comfortable in front of the camera having become an internet sensation as a tough-talking cop in Crime Stoppers segments that ran on television news shows.

Though all of Louisianas incumbent congressmen seeking another two-year term drew opponents, only Acadianas U.S. Rep. Clay Higgins race is

In Higgins effort to win a third term in November, he faces opponents schooled in social media. One Democratic contender, Rob Anderson, of Sulphur, has about 100,000 Twitter followers and appears frequently in engaging DIY candidate shows.

Social media is going to be critical at getting out our ideas, said Braylon Harris, of Lake Charles, the other Democrat challenging Higgins who also has an easy manner in crowds.

Harris plans to enhance his social media with some old-style politicking, visiting small coffee shops, working the lines waiting to go into Walmart and the like.

Therell be no kissing of babies, Harris said. Well take precautions gloves, masks, 6 feet apart all that stuff. Its not optimal, but dont we want to win by spreading COVID-19.

Its a clichd scene in political theater: sign-waving throngs, urging their champion to take those final steps and pick up the mantle of leadership.

More:

In Louisiana's elections, technology is playing a huge role in campaigning amid coronavirus - The Advocate

The vast majority (92%) who have used rugged technology first-hand are keen to invest in more, according to a new multi-industry study.

Rugged technology is set to form a vital part in the future of manufacturing, with 64% of manufacturing professionals believing that tougher devices will be essential in their workplace over the next two years, with 44% users stating that tougher devices will form a vital part of the 5G revolution.

The research, published by Samsung Electronics UK, took in the views of employees and decision-makers in the sector, among others, to reveal current attitudes towards rugged technology.

Rugged refers to hardware including smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables designed to operate in extremely harsh environments and conditions.

Samsung uncovered an array of key insights into the benefits and attitudes towards the wider adoption of rugged tech, with those already using or deploying it in their workplace saying the following:

While more than two-thirds (68%) of users claim that they cannot imagine work life without rugged technology, the survey also revealed a strong will from non-users to deploy it in the future.

Read more:

Rugged technology to play pivotal role in future of manufacturing - The Manufacturer

NEW YORK, andLONDON, and DUBAI, UAE andMEXICO CITY, Aug. 3, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Volante Technologies Inc.,a leading provider of payments and financial messaging solutions in the cloud, today announced that it has raised USD 35M in growth equity financing led by Wavecrest Growth Partners with strategic participation from BNY Mellon, Citi Ventures, PostePay and Visa Inc.

The capital raise represents the company's first outside investment after nearly two decades of strong organic growth and profitability. Volante will direct the capital towards accelerating its cloud expansion globally and its reach into new geographies, market segments, and industry verticals.

"We are thrilled to lead the first institutional investment in Volante and partner with its stellar team," said Vaibhav Nalwaya, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Wavecrest, who will be joining the Company's Board of Directors. "Volante has built an impeccable reputation as a fintech that can quickly enter and dominate new markets. Shortly after launching their Volante Designer financial messaging platform, they became providers to some of the world's largest custodians and exchanges. Two years after entering the payments arena with VolPay, they processed the first U.S. real-time payment. Today, they can count four of the top five corporate banks among their more than one hundred customers."

"They've also rapidly emerged as the leader in cloud-based payments as a service," added Nalwaya. "With cloud and digital transformation becoming ever more critical for organizations of all types, Volante is perfectly positioned to capitalize on this arc of success. We look forward to accelerating the company's growth trajectory."

BNY Mellon and Volante have been collaborating since 2017 on creating and deploying real-time payment capabilities.

"We are excited to expand our strategic relationship by investing in Volante," adds Saket Sharma, Chief Information and Digital Officer for BNY Mellon Treasury services. "This reinforces our commitment to helping our clients leverage best-in-class products and services in their own digital transformations."

Citi's Treasury and Trade Solutions business has been working with Volante for several years and Volante currently serves as the translation layer across Citi's core payments infrastructure.

"Volante's solutions are already an integral part of Citi's payment processing architecture, underpinning the outstanding payments and transaction banking platforms for which Citi is known worldwide," explained Nick Nadgauda, Global Head of Treasury and Trade Solutions Technology at Citi."Our investment signals our confidence in Volante's technology and we look forward to enhancing our relationship for future engagements."

PostePay, a leading Italian Electronic Money Institution (EMI) and part of the Poste Italiane Group, is partnering with Volante to enable instant payments for SCT-INST as well as to provide a new transactional gateway to traditional interbank networks via their open banking platform.

Mirko Mischiatti, Group Chief Digital, Technology & Operating Officer at Poste Italiane, said, "Our investment in Volante is directly linked to our 'Deliver 2022' innovation strategy. VolPay's cloud-native microservices architecture will allow us to support current and future payment rails on and off the cloud. This will enable us to provide innovative customer experiences for over 14 million Poste Italiane account holders and 28 million cards as we continue to shift away from traditional payment methods to next-generation digital options and account-based payments."

Vijay Oddiraju, Co-Founder and CEO of Volante, commented, "We started Volante in 2001 with a clear purpose. We wanted to help financial institutions by providing modern solutions to simplify the complexity of their operations and accelerate business outcomes, from capital markets to custody to transaction banking."

Oddiraju continued, "Today, we process trillions in value and millions of transactions daily for the world's largest banks, financial institutions, card networks, market infrastructures, and corporations. We plan to invest further in cloud technologies and into other areas of financial services, as well as new industries. The fact that the majority of our strategic investors are clients is a testament to the mutual trust we have built over the years with a wide range of organizations."

Read more about the Volante journey and the company's future plans in CEO and co-founder Vijay Oddiraju's blog, "Taking Volante To The Next Level"

About Volante TechnologiesVolante Technologies is a global provider of technology and software as a service to accelerate digital transformation and modernization in financial services. Our clients include the world's largest banks, market infrastructures, exchanges, clearing houses, corporate treasuries, and card networks.

Volante's ecosystem of business services simplifies and automates complex systems and processes in payments, capital markets, and financial message integration. As a result, our clients are able to stay ahead of emerging market trends, become more competitive, deliver superior customer experiences, and grow their businesses through innovation.

Founded in Silicon Valley in 2001, Volante today serves as a trusted, strategic business partner to over 90 financial institutions in 35 countries.

For further information please visit: http://www.volantetech.com

About Wavecrest Growth PartnersBased in Boston, Wavecrest Growth Partners is a growth equity firm focused on investing in and partnering with leading B2B software and technology-enabled services companies. Wavecrest targets investments in profitable, high-growth technology companies with proven business models and brings to bear a unique combination of investing and operating expertise. Wavecrest's co-founders have three decades of combined investing and operating experience in growth-stage B2B technology companies. For more information, visitwavecrestgrowth.com.

About BNYM BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment and wealth management and investment services in 35 countries. As of June 30, 2020, BNY Mellon had $37.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $2.0 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on http://www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at http://www.bnymellon.com/newsroomfor the latest company news.

About CitiCiti Ventures ignites change and reimagines solutions that drive economic progress for clients. Headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices in San Francisco, New York, London and Tel Aviv, Citi Ventures accelerates discovery of new sources of value by exploring, incubating and investing in new ideas, in partnership with Citi colleagues, our clients and the innovation ecosystem. For more information visit: http://ventures.citi.com/.

About Poste ItalianePost Italiane is Italy's largest service infrastructure network, providing postal, financial, insurance, payments, mobile & digital services to households, businesses and public administrations across the Country. For 158 years, with 12,800 Post Offices, 125 thousand employees, 548 billion total financial assets and almost 35 million customers, Post Italiane has been an integral part of Italy's social and productive fabric, unparalleled in terms of size, brand awareness, reach and trust. In 2019, the group's activities generated direct, indirect and induced impact on the Italian economy equal to approximately 12.5 billion GDP.

For further information please visit http://www.posteitaliane.it/en

SOURCE Volante Technologies

http://www.volantetech.com

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Volante Technologies Receives $35m of Growth Funding from Leading International Investors to Accelerate Cloud Expansion Globally - PRNewswire

Closed schools, universities, and job training centers have made the need for online education ... [+] urgent.

In the daily flurry of negative news, investors should be careful not to lose sight of the fact that while Covid-19 has caused thousands of companies to struggle, default on their debt, or to declare bankruptcy around the globe, it has also created great business opportunities. With thousands of schools, universities, and job training center closed around the world, many since February, the need for online education for educators, parents, students and life-long learners has never been more urgent.

Covid-19 has caused a significant disruption in the world of education, but it has been a boon to education technology (EduTech) companies. Even when a vaccine for Covid-19 is approved, online education is here to stay filling gaps that already existed in education curricula. Online education has been helping reach underserved populations students as well as students with special needs and disabilities. Additionally, many parents and educators are likely to use online education to be ready for the next public health or natural disaster.

Anytime any student or client asks me for advice, I always tell them that long gone are the days when people went to a place of employment and stayed there for almost a lifetime.I myself take classes online several times a year to stay-up-to date in my professional field. The EduTech companies below cater mostly to K-12, but many also provide online education to students in higher education as well as to those looking for training for their current or prospective careers.

Salman Khan

Khan Academyis probably the most famous online educator. It is a not-for-profit with the stated mission of providing a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. Khans courses are for the youngest and oldest of learners. And Edutopia, which is an educational foundation founded by filmmaker George Lucas, is a treasure trove of free information, including on social and emotional learning, teacher development, and education research on project learning.

In addition to these not-for-profit online education providers, there are also a number of publicly traded companies from around the world that stand to gain from the rising demand for online education for learners from pre-school, primary and secondary schools, and colleges and graduate schools to post-graduate learners

EduTech Companies

Investors at banks and at institutional investing firms would do well to learn about these publicly traded companies, many of which are in education technology (EduTech) niche of the technology sector.

Arco Platform Limited (ARCE) serves more than 1,360,000 students and 5,400 private schools throughout Brazil from kindergarten to high school.

Chegg (CHGG) provides digital and physical textbook rentals, online tutoring, and other student services.

China New Higher Education Group (2001.HK) is an in person and online provider of vocational education and teacher training in seven provinces in China.

Connections Academy (LSE:PSON, NYSE:PSO) is owned by Pearson an online company for K-12 private schooling.

Instructure, Inc. (INST) is an online educator for K-12, college, and business professionals.

Kahoot (KAHOOT-ME.OL) headquartered in Norway, is an online educator for primary and secondary students as well as for lifelong learners in business. It was founded in partnership with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.

K12(LRN)provides online education, in some cases with in person instruction, for elementary and secondary students. It also concentrates on providing world language instruction in Spanish, French, German, Latin, and Mandarin.

New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc (EDU) is a Chinese company providing online pre-school 12th grade courses as well as consulting services to students wishing to study abroad.

Perdoceo Education Corporation(PRDO) is an online higher education provider where students can obtain undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.

Tal (TAL) is a China-based K-12 after school online educational and tutoring company.

2U (TWOU) is an educational technology company which partners with top universities to educate higher education and lifelong learners especially with technical skills.

The above companies shares and bonds may be bought singly, or in some cases, they are part of Exchange Traded Funds and mutual funds. Caveat Emptor! Buyer beware. In order to conduct your own due diligence on the above companies, please do your own homework and/or consult your own financial advisor.

Analyzing a company's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats can help you make your ... [+] investment decisions.

A good way to start your analysis is by researching the companies with an eye to analyzing their strengths and weaknesses and the opportunities and threats that lie before them. In combination, another framework that can help you analyze these companies is Harvard Business School Professor Michael Porters Five Forces model. This framework helps you look at the supplier power, buyer power, competitive rivalry, substitution threat and threat of new entry that can impact the companies that you are analyzing. Porters model can help you figure out the competitive advantages that these companies have.

For a more robust analysis of companies, I use a corporate credit framework.The purpose of a corporate credit analysis is to determine whether a company will default, and if it does, how much would a lender suffer in losses. This analysis encompasses identifying the country and economic factors that can impact the relevant industry, in this case, education technology. From there, you analyze the balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statements of the company in order to determine whether the company is sufficiently profitable and liquid to keep paying lenders and bond holders.

Corporate credit analysis

If like a stock analyst, you want to forecast the price of these companies shares, the methodology has some similarities to the corporate credit framework. Once you get to the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement, you can design assumptions to create a net present value model to forecast the price of shares.Qualitative and quantitative information to help you conduct your SWOT, Porters Five Forces, a corporate credit analysis, or to forecast the price of shares, is in the live links above.

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The Covid-19 Crisis Is A Boost To Educational Technology Companies - Forbes

A study by scientists from the University of Southampton has examined the chances of catching COVID-19 in a train carriage carrying an infectious person.

Based on high-speed routes in China, researchers from WorldPop found that for train passengers sitting within three rows (widthwise) and five columns (lengthwise) of an infected person (index patient) between zero and ten percent (10.3) caught the disease. The average rate of transmission for these close contact travellers was 0.32 percent.

The study, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China Academy of Electronics and Information Technology, and Chinese Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, also showed that passengers travelling in seats directly adjacent to an index patient suffered the highest level of transmission, with an average of 3.5 percent contracting the disease. For those sitting on the same row, the figure was 1.5 percent.

The attack rate for each seat the number of passengers in a given seat diagnosed with COVID-19, divided by the total number of passengers travelling in the same seat increased by 0.15 percent for every hour that a person travelled with an index patient. For those in adjacent seats, this rate of increase was higher at 1.3 percent per hour.

Interestingly, the researchers found that only 0.075 percent of people who used a seat previously occupied by an index patient went on to contract the disease.

Details are published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases.

The WorldPop team, experts in population mapping, used sophisticated modelling to analyse anonymised itinerary and infection data relating to train passengers on Chinas high-speed G train network. This included those who had COVID-19 at the time of travel and their close contacts (who showed symptoms within 14 days of travel). The data, covering a period between 19 December 2019 and 6 March 2020, included 2,334 index patients and 72,093 close contacts. Their travel times ranged from between less than an hour to eight hours.

Lead investigator, Dr Shengjie Lai, comments: Our study shows that although there is an increased risk of COVID-19 transmission on trains, a persons seat location and travel time in relation to an infectious person can make a big difference as to whether it is passed on. The findings suggest that during the COVID-19 epidemic it is important to reduce the density of passengers and promote personal hygiene measures, the use of face coverings and possibly carry-out temperature checks before boarding.

The researchers conclude that given the attack rates estimated for passengers in the same row as an index patient, a safe social distance of more than one metre is required for one hour spent travelling together. After two hours of contact, they consider a distance of less than 2.5 metres may be insufficient to prevent transmission.

Director of WorldPop, Professor Andy Tatem adds: Our research is the first to quantify the individual risk of COVID-19 transmission on public transport based on data from epidemiological investigations of disease cases and their close contacts on high-speed trains.

It shows that the transmission risk not only relates to the distance from an infected person, but also the time in their presence. We hope it can help to inform authorities globally about measures needed to guard against the virus and in-turn help to reduce its spread.

ReferenceMaogui Hu, Hui Lin, Jinfeng Wang, Chengdong Xu, Andrew J Tatem, Bin Meng, Xin Zhang, Yifeng Liu, Pengda Wang, Guizhen Wu. The risk of COVID-19 transmission in train passengers: an epidemiological and modelling study. Clinical Infectious Diseases, ciaa1057, https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1057

This article has been republished from the following materials. Note: material may have been edited for length and content. For further information, please contact the cited source.

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COVID-19 Transmission on Trains Investigated - Technology Networks

One of the world's largest companies Apple has carried the tech sector higher this year.

The iPhone maker has rallied nearly 45% in 2020 and set another record high as recently as Friday, a day after a blowout earnings report.

But, Apple isn't the only way to play strength in the sector, according to long-time tech investor Paul Meeks who manages the Wireless Fund.

"Probably my favorite ideas, not necessarily in the near term because I can't predict the near term but over the next couple of years, are two semiconductor-related names," Meeks told CNBC's "Trading Nation" on Friday.

His first pick is Micron Technology, a chipmaker that has lagged a broad rally among the semiconductor stocks this year.

"I think they will double their stock price over the next two or three years, whereas some of the marquee tech stocks I think will continue to outperform but they can't double from here," said Meeks.

Micron is down 7% in 2020, while the SMH semiconductor ETF has gained 18%.

"Then the other one that I like is semiconductor capital equipment manufacturer ASM Lithography. Those two are probably my favorite ideas for tech over the next couple of years," he said.

While those are his top ideas, he says any tech investor should at least be exposed to some of the market's biggest companies including Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

"We're in a tech world and everything else is just revolving around us in the periphery," said Meeks. "Perhaps you don't like those valuations, there's some that I don't like at any particular time. But, these all are stocks that are probably over time, if you're a serious tech investor, must haves."

Disclosure: WIREX holds Micron, Apple, Facebook and Amazon.

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Two chipmakers are the best bet on future tech growth, long-time tech investor Paul Meeks says - CNBC

The age of 5G is different from previous generations; businesses across various industries, not just the telecommunication field, are working hard to converge with the next-generation mobile communication industry. Users are increasingly looking ahead to a daily life characterized by large capacity, low latency and hyper-connected communication.

In the age of 5G, in which a wide range of cutting-edge technologies co-exist, Vice President Intaik Park chose softwarization as the technology that we should first turn our attention to. A hardware-based implementation needs replacements every time a new technology emerges, noted Park. But a product realized with software on a general-purpose server only requires software updates to implement and enable new technologies. We also anticipate that softwarization can greatly reduce facility investment and operation costs.

Many global companies are currently focusing on softwarization, thus gradually expanding the use of technologies. Conventionally, software application was limited just to core network equipment, but it has recently expanded to modem implementations that need to operate in real-time, something that was considered difficult to realize without specialized hardware. As network-related open-source projects such as Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) emerge alongside the telecommunication industrys adoption of open-source systems for container management like Kubernetes from the IT industry, open-source software is spreading extensively throughout the communication industry, noted Park. He also explained that software development methods are changing too with the use of open-source software.

As well as softwarization, we also should be turning our attention to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in communication networks. As communication technologies advance, so does their complexity and variety. This means that the need for AI is increasing, too. There have been many previous attempts to leverage AI for communications, just as with software. But in the next generation of communication, AI is set to emerge as the most indispensable technology.

As 5G operates on an ultra-high frequency (mmWave), it requires more base stations than LTE (Long Term Evolution) due to its shorter ranges. Furthermore, since base stations equipped with new technologies like network slicing have to adapt to their unique environments, the situation becomes much more complex. Leveraging AI for base station management so that they can be operated automatically and adjust to changing environments would reduce operation costs and optimize performance, said Park.

Whereas 5G involved implementing AI into communication technologies for efficiency and automation, we plan for AI to be embedded across all system components in 6G networks, said Park of the future of AI in communications. We expect AI to play an important role right from the design stages. Our plan is to converge the next-generation communication network with AI to make communication intelligent. Samsungs software and AI capabilities will have a huge synergizing effect on the industry.

Researchers at Samsungs Advanced Communications Research Centers advanced solutions team are charting the convergence of a variety of technologies

5G is a technology that has only just been introduced, meaning that there still many challenges to overcome. The key to the wide adoption of 5G technology is to identify applications (apps) that harness the particular advantages of 5G, noted Park. More apps capable of offering new services and values to people based on the core characteristics of 5G need to emerge.

Such apps that could win over the hearts and minds of users could potentially be realized using 5Gs ultra-low latency characteristic. Latency exists in every form of communication for example, watching the live broadcast of a football match on a 4G smartphone will mean that what is displayed is slightly behind the actual game.

By drastically reducing latency, apps that could not be realized previously due to a lack of storage or computing resources on devices could be enabled by offloading computation to remote servers in the form of real-time streaming, explained Park. Multi-access edge computing (MEC) technology brings the computing resources of a data center that may be physically far away from a user closer to further reduce the delays that have been already reduced thanks to 5G technologys ultra-low latency. This technology will be recognized as a key communications technology, along with 5G.

The telecommunications industry is laboring hard to overcome challenges and provide far-reaching, best-in-class services and values to users of the recently-commercialized 5G network, and Samsung Electronics is no exception. Samsung possesses an excellent foundation with which to create new solutions and services by merit of the companys wide portfolio of technologies that cover everything from mobile phones to telecommunication equipment. The development of 5G services and solutions based on both mobile devices and telecommunication equipment will be an area where Samsung can shine with its accumulated experiences in these industries, highlighted Park.

Key players in software and hardware development are now entering the communications industry. Manufacturers of CPU, GPU and other components are actively engaging their technologies through the softwarization of communication equipment. As edge computing such as MEC has taken on a vital role in the industry, cloud providers have also started to join the communications sector. Furthermore, the leaders of the automobile market are also getting involved with the communications market as attention on autonomous driving continues to grow. Companies from a variety of industries have turned their attention to the communications market, meaning that the market has a huge growth potential, noted Park. The competition will be fierce, but we will witness a lot of innovation, too.

Within this market landscape, Samsung plans to solidify its leadership through the convergence of its various technologies. Since the borders between varying industries are breaking down, communications technology is also converging with a wide range of other technologies, said Park. We will tailor our software, AI, cloud service and other technologies for the communications industry, one by one. When undergoing such changes, Samsung will firmly maintain its principles of communication while enhancing our competitive edge based on the experience we have gained through a long-time involvement in the ever-changing communications industry.

Park, who has worked in the software industry for a long time, is pioneering a new way in the communications industry. The move from local standards to global standards brought in more players as well as more opportunities, noted Park. Now, with softwarization and AI being applied, the industry has become an unpredictable land of opportunity. In the age of hyper connectivity, perhaps even the physical distance between things will fade away once everything converges. Let us see how far we can go to reduce that distance in the future. With this firm outlook, Park is set for success when facing the next challenges that may arise.

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[What's Next in Communications Technology?] Embracing the Next Generation of Communication: the Convergence of Technologies - Samsung Global Newsroom

On July 29, the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee will hold a hearing with some of the nations top technology CEOs. Facebooks Mark Zuckerberg, Amazons Jeff Bezos, Googles Sundar Pichai, and Apples Tim Cook are all testifying (remotely), with the hearing focused on the anti-competitive behavior of their respective firms. The House Judiciary Committee started this investigation over a year ago and has collected over 1.3 million documents about these business practices, so there is some reason to be believe that this meeting will be more substantive and nuanced than some prior technology sector hearings.

On the other hand, Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) just asked the Department of Justice for a criminal investigation into Mark Zuckerberg based on a report from the chronically misleading Project Veritas. So, there is also some reason to believe it will be a circus.

The antitrust considerations are important (there are many specific issues with each company) and will hopefully be seriously engaged. Yet it would be a mistake to look at this hearing and see only a conversation around the size of some technology companies. Democratic governance of technology touches on broad foundational questions of our economic future. These questions will go far beyond what we now consider the tech sector and may define how we work and even what we know.

It is difficult to overstate the importance of the digital knowledge economy. Many internet users observed the early chaotic evolution of the internet, but that disorder is increasingly less prevalent today. More and more, a small number of companies are creating rules and systems that define the structure of the webrules that new generations of internet users will inherit as the status quo. While Google has long shaped the web due to the importance of its search results, it now directly subsumes other websites into its service.

On July 27, The Markup reported that 41% of Googles first page search results are composed of more Google services. This includes direct answers, which displays content from other webpages without their consent. Sundar Pichai may hear about this as an antitrust issue. For instance, it may not be to our benefit that Google Translate and not other cross-language dictionaries will always have the final word.

However, incisive observers should broaden their perspective and consider how a healthy internet should enable the discovery and distribution of knowledge. Despite its benefits, social media continues to enable large swaths of the country to disseminate dangerous pseudoscience and misinformation. On July 27, New York Times reporter Kevin Roose tweeted that a video claiming that masks arent necessary and hydroxychloroquine is a cure for COVID (both false and dangerous claims) garnered tens of millions of views, mostly on Facebook. This is with Facebook explicitly promising to fight COVID-19 misinformation, a step they do not take for most of the false information on their site. More systemically, look no further than how Facebook elevates the hyper partisan conservative site, The Daily Wire. Meanwhile, these companies are siphoning revenue and autonomy (see Google AMP, for instance) from objective journalism. It poses a problem that tech companies are undermining the stability of objective journalism while also being uninterested in the responsibility of content moderation. As more of that public discourse, from TikTok to academic journals, becomes internet native, do not expect this already-pressing question to go away.

These companies are also pioneering models of hybrid human and algorithmic workplaces models that may find their way to industries far beyond what we consider tech. Amazon is automating significant parts of its interaction with employees, tracking efficiency and automatically generating warnings and possibly terminations (Amazon has disputed the latter) for workers who arent keeping up. This management by algorithm is also well-established through companies like Uber and Lyft. Despite lack of profitability, these companies still inspire so many imitators that Uber for _____ is a trope of venture capitalist culture. Alternatively, Facebook is working to integrate AI systems and employees to work side-by-side, such as with content moderation on their platforms. Automated systems seek to detect and remove pornography and hate speech, and when those systems struggle, they pass the task off to human moderators.

One commonality is that these practices tend to create two tiers of employees: the highly paid jobs in the technology company, and the far less appealing roles working as an algorithmically managed contractor. Research has shown that almost all jobs across economic sectors are subject to some degree of automation, and so these models of workplace integration may be harbingers of far broader trends.

Much of the hearing will be focused on anti-competitive behavior in the markets that these four tech behemoths directly engage, such as retail, app stores, and advertising. For instance, representatives will likely ask if Apple is overcharging for hosting phone applications in its App Store, and whether all of the companies are using their data to acquire competing services before they are too big. Yet, the implications again go much further, as there are no markets untouched by technology. Even restaurants, quintessentially local businesses, need to actively manage a relationship with Google Maps, Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, and others just to survive. Further, Grubhub and DoorDash have been known to subsume restaurants into their services, sometimes without the eaterys knowledge or consent. If restaurants are functionally coerced into engaging with a series of online services just to serve food in person, is any industry going to be untouched?

This hearing could be the start of a broader reform of the tech industry, perhaps ranking among major regulatory milestone like the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Board in 2010 or the passage of the Food and Drugs Act and Meat Inspection Act in 1906. While this might lead to enormously important legislation for technology companies, the stakes are even far greater than that. Little of our society will remain untouched by the rules we decide on for technology and the web.

Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google are general, unrestricted donors to the Brookings Institution. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions posted in this piece are solely those of the author and not influenced by any donation.

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In Congresss big tech hearing, look beyond technology policy - Brookings Institution

LOUISVILLE, Colo. Brewing education pillar Siebel Institute of Technology and filling equipment leader Wild Goose Filling have joined forces to advance quality beverage packaging. Through combined experience, research and testing, the collaboration establishes comprehensive educational resources that strengthen beverage filling knowledge and practices.

Siebel Institute of TechnologyAmericas oldest brewing schoolhas educated brewers worldwide through specialized curriculum for 148 years. As one of the worlds first educational brewing institutions, Siebel Institutes alumni are found in almost every major brewery around the globe.

Wild Goose Filling harnessed decades of experience in beverage filling systems to become a global leader in craft canning and bottling equipment. The companys patented innovations helped make reliable packaging a viable in-house option for small breweries and other craft beverage producers. Drawing on longstanding brewing industry experienceSiebel Institute is nearing its 150th anniversary and Wild Goose recently installed its 1000th canning linethe collaboration arose from a mutual commitment to excellence in brewing education, practices and equipment. With specialty programming using a Wild Goose canning system, Siebel Institute can demonstrate packaging processes in a live production setting and offer hands-on canning equipment experience to develop student skill sets.

Said Christian R. von der Heide, president and CEO of Siebel Institute, I am delighted for our partnership with Wild Goose Filling. We love innovative companies and leaders in their field. We can showcase to our students how smaller scale can filling and seaming works, achieving great quality and shelf life. For Wild Goose, we are the go-to school and educator when it comes to all things brewing. Our pilot brewery is now enhanced with the ability to leverage can format for our consulting, training and trial projects.

Wild Goose Fillings chief executive officer Chris Fergen said, Promoting knowledge and advocating for quality strengthens our entire brewing community. We at Wild Goose stand on the quality of our equipment, and Siebel Institute of Technologys reputation for excellence is unmatched around the world. Our relationship with Siebel Institute means individuals are best prepared for success in their brewing career, which in turn helps the global craft industry flourish and grow.As more craft breweries around the world choose to implement canning systems, packaging equipment knowledge and training has become increasingly important to successful brewing operations.

About Siebel Institute of Technology

Since 1872, the Siebel Institute of Technology has attracted an extensive global following, educating brewers from around the world. Alumni span more than 60 countries and are found in almost every major brewery on earth. Siebel Institutes on-campus classes include a mix of participants from breweries of all sizes who hail from locations all over the world, enhancing the student learning experience through exposure to differences in culture, equipment, methods and beer styles.

About Wild Goose Filling

With decades of experience in brewing, canning and bottling craft beverages, Wild Goose Filling designs filling systems for beer, cider, kombucha, cannabis, wine, seltzer and other ready-to-drink beverages. Wild Goose pioneered the first craft canning and bottling systems on the market, innovating patented technology that maintains the highest quality levels for packaged beverages. The company engineers and manufactures equipment from its headquarters in Louisville, Colorado and operates offices in Europe along with a network of global partners. Wild Goose has sold 2,200 canning and bottling systems in more than 65 countries.

For more information: https://wildgoosefilling.com/siebel-institute-packaging-education/

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Siebel Institute of Technology Teams Up with Wild Goose Filling on Quality Beverage Packaging Education - Brewbound.com