Offline is the new luxury. Excerpt from my talk at FutureDay 2014. Futurist Speaker Gerd Leonhard – Video

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Offline is the new luxury. Excerpt from my talk at FutureDay 2014. Futurist Speaker Gerd Leonhard
Being in the moment matters, again:) This is a brief except from my talk at Future Day 2014 in Istanbul, see http://gerd.fm/1mZmwGd for details, slides and f...

By: Gerd Leonhard

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Offline is the new luxury. Excerpt from my talk at FutureDay 2014. Futurist Speaker Gerd Leonhard - Video

Is your wearable tech watching you?

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A Google Glass wearer poses at the Belgium's Google headquarters in Brussels. Are these the start of a wearables revolution?

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Editor's note: Gerd Leonhard is a futurist, speaker and CEO of TheFuturesAgency, based in Basel, Switzerland. He is also the host and creator of The Future Show, which you can watch here. Follow Gerd on Twitter. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Gerd Leonhard.

Basel (CNN) -- Imagine a world where computing becomes invisible, like your thoughts. A world where the interface between our senses, our minds and brains, and a digital device that emulates human traits or which augments our own capabilities becomes seamless, and the border between "it" and "us" becomes opaque.

Imagine instant access to the world's data and content, without typing or without even searching -- think GoogleNow x100, projected onto your iris. The power of IBM's Watson at the disposal of every doctor, with a blink of an eye or a simple voice command. Anticipatory services that know what you need before you do. Constant reads of my body's status via my wristwatch.

Convenient. Incredible. Empowering. Beautiful. Addictive. Indispensable. Scary. Here soon.

Vast progress and vast curses

"Nothing vast enters the lives of mortals without a curse" Greek tragedian Sophocles once said. And plenty of curses are sure to emerge when it's about wearables, which are powered by big data, the cloud, artificial intelligence, not to forget good old-fashioned capitalism.

It is the danger of exponential unintended consequences we must start to consider, because we probably don't have the choice to "just say no" -- wearable computing is as certain as mobile phones.

In his 1964 book "Understanding Media," Marshall McLuhan famously called media "the extensions of man." If we can define wearables as "media" then, following mobile devices, wearables are the next logical step in this rapid evolution.

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Is your wearable tech watching you?

The Power of Knowledge & Influence: Farm Credit Corporation Services 2014 Conference in Washington, D.C. to Feature …

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Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) April 29, 2014

The power of knowledge fuels smart, strategic decision-making and direction. What better way to address intelligent decision making than to engage a futurist like Jack Uldrich who makes a living looking at emerging technological trends and blending it with strategic planning? Bestselling author and global futurist Jack Uldrich has been selected to share his knowledge on "future-proofing" with members of the Farm Credit Corporation Services (FCC Services) at their 2014 conference in Washington D.C. on April 29th.

The 2014 FCC Services Executive Leadership Series is dedicated to exploring the power and consequences of knowledge and its positive effect on inspirational leadership. This year futurist Jack Uldrich will help them hone in on how they can most effectively utilize their current knowledge, and develop new practices surrounding emerging technology to fuel innovative actions and empowering decisions.

During the 2014 Executive Leadership Series, The Power of Knowledge and Influence Conference will examine key influencers on businesses and industry, explore ways to translate influencers and ideas into strategy and action, and transform inspirational leaders with the power of awareness, to influence and shape change.

Jack Uldrich is a highly sought after keynote speaker, and bestselling author, who focuses on emerging trends in a number of areas such as economics, agriculture, healthcare, finance, energy, the environment, Internet and communications. Uldrich goes beyond simple trend analysis and offers his audiences, like FCC Services, practical tools for leveraging rapid technology-driven change, that give them upper hand while forging ahead into the future.

Drawing on content from his upcoming book: "Business as Unusual: How to Future-Proof Your Business Against Tomorrow's Trends, Today," Uldrich will share insights on the Internet of things, Big Data, and the Big AHA with FCC Services audience members. For more on Uldrich's thoughts on the Big AHA, read his latest article here.

Some highlights of the discussion will include how members of FCC Services can learn to embrace ambiguity;" why finding a reverse mentor could be crucial; and why taking small risks may very well be the safest thing they can do to position themselves for success in the years to come.

With and engaging style and plethora of stories that make his ideas relevant, Uldrich offers a variety of informational resources for those interested in exploring the future. Daily visits are made to his Jump the Curve blog page for a variety of thought provoking articles on emerging ideas, trends, and cutting edge technologies.

In the past year, Jack Uldrich, who is also recognized as a leading expert in the field of change management and unlearning, has addressed dozens of agricultural corporations and associations, including Novozymes, Land O' Lakes, Ag Spectrum, MosaicAg, Case IH, The Christian Farmers Federation, The Iowa Institute for Cooperatives, The Agricultural Adaptation Council of Ontario, AgGateway, the California Ag Summit, along with several other clients in a variety of industries, like the AMA, Fiatech, United Healthcare, Cisco, IBM, and Verizon Wireless.

Parties interested in learning more about him, his books, his daily blog or his speaking availability are encouraged to visit his website. Media wishing to know more about either the event or interviewing Jack as a futurist or trend expert can contact Amy Tomczyk at (651) 343.0660.

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The Power of Knowledge & Influence: Farm Credit Corporation Services 2014 Conference in Washington, D.C. to Feature ...

Freedom campers leave 'untenable mess' at church

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Published: 2:07PM Tuesday April 29, 2014 Source: Fairfax

Mackenzie District Mayor Claire Barlow wants public help to deal with the issue of freedom camping and the "untenable mess" at the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Her comments come in response to Lake Tekapo resident George Empson's volunteer cleanup work.

Under the Mackenzie District Council's bylaws, it is illegal to freedom camp by the Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo, but Mr Empson said overnight camping seemed to be common.

"Most of these campervans are very small, and do not seem to have proper toilet facilities," he said.

"Rubbish and waste has been a problem for a while, but it appears to be getting worse."

People caught freedom camping near the Church of the Good Shepherd can face fines up to $500.

However, Mr Empson queried whether the rules were being properly enforced.

"It's a big issue for the community. It saddens me to see all the rubbish around the church," he said. "This is a place for worship and prayer and has a history for the high country people."

Mr Empson said his recent cleanup missions had uncovered some disgusting discoveries.

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Freedom campers leave 'untenable mess' at church

Protection of freedom online is critical, says ODowd

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Fergus O Dowd: online freedom needed for future economic and social development File photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times.

Protection of freedom online is critical for future economic and social development, Minister of State for Communications Fergus ODowd said.

Mr ODowd was speaking at the 4th annual conference of the Freedom Online Coalition in Estonia yesterday.

Addressing a ministerial meeting in Tallinn, Mr ODowd called for the preservation of a free, open and unitary internet.

Freedom online, he said, was critical for future economic and social development, and he said the Government continuously reflects on the best possible governance arrangements to protect freedom of expression online.

The coalition is a group of governments who have committed to work together to support internet freedom and protect fundamental human rights free expression, association, assembly, and privacy online.

It was established in 2011 at the inaugural Freedom Online Conference in The Hague and now claims 23 members worldwide, in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East.

Coalition members have been negotiating a series of recommendations, addressing such issues as the promotion of human rights and fundamental freedoms online; the future of multistakeholder model of free and secure internet governance; and support for activists, who are being persecuted because of their views published online.

Developing preventive measures to interfere with blocking, filtering and hacking of content found online are also among the topics of the recommendations the conference is expected to adopt.

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Protection of freedom online is critical, says ODowd

Malaysia's Fall In Press Freedom Index Influenced By Various Factors – Ahmad Shabery

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KUALA LUMPUR, April 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's fall of 23 rungs in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index should not be attributed solely to government actions, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

He said the actions of some opposition parties in blocking certain media from covering their events also affected the position of the country in the media freedom index.

"Therefore, it is not fair to blame the government as the only cause for the fall in ranking as other factors also contributed to the state of press freedom in the country," he added.

He was winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the royal address at the Dewan Negara sitting, here, Tuesday.

The World Press Freedom Index issued by Reporters Without Borders, a non-profit organisation registered in France, showed that Malaysia fell to 145th position out of 179 countries last year compared to 122nd in 2012.

Ahmad Shabery said although media freedom in the country declined to 145th place, the government was open-minded, among which was doing away with the annual press permit renewal except for media which violated the law.

"The question is why the fall? I was told the public's perception is that the government is the enemy of media freedom. It is incorrect. The Philippines and Indonesia are also not in the best positions. Thailand is more or less the same with us," he said.

Ahmad Shabery said interference by certain influential individuals could also contribute to the fall, for example, the act of an influential person in calling the news editor directly to determine a certain news also constituted press interference.

This could cause the fall in ranking of the country in press freedom, he added.

Ahmad Shabery said the government also encouraged the freedom to speak out by inviting parties from different political ideologies as panellists in discussion programmes produced by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM).

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Malaysia's Fall In Press Freedom Index Influenced By Various Factors - Ahmad Shabery

Bilcare receives National Intellectual Property Award 2014

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Bilcare Research has been awarded the National Intellectual Property Award 2014 by Government of India. This award is conferred to recognize and reward innovators of IP who have contributed to harnessing the countrys intellectual capital and creating an eco-system that boots creativity and innovation.

Dr. Praful R Naik, Executive Director, Bilcare was felicitated by Amitabh Kant, Secretary, DIPP at a function held on 26 April 2014, the World Intellectual Property Day, jointly organized by CII and the Government of India.

While receiving the award, Dr. Naik said: Bilcare continual investment in innovation pathway andR&Dhas lead to creation of portfolio of novel products, processes and services as well as path breaking technologies, like nonClonableID (nCiD) technologywhich not only finds its place in product securitization for the global pharmaceuticals but also application in e- governanceinitiativesin myriad Govt. and non Govt.sectors

Bilcare has contributed to harness the countrys intellectual capital and created an eco-system thats boosts creativity and innovation. The strong research orientation to Customer centric Innovations, Research and Development, has resulted in continual creation of valuable Intellectual Property in the form of Novel products & services and the path-breaking technology solution - nonClonableID technology (over 200 patent applications and 36 granted patents world-wide) resulting in global leadership with over 1000 pharmaceutical companies as well other industrial sectors.

BilcarenonClonableID (nCiD)technology was approved for a crucial national project by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research under its prestigious New Millennium Indian Technology leadership Initiative Program entitled Customized Adaptation of nonClonableID Technology to Establish Authenticity of Medical Products and Facilitate Improving Medication Compliance by Patients. Use of nCiD in security, be it in securitization of Identity of police personnel by Delhi Police or in securitization of Electronic Voting Machines by Maharashtra State Election Commission as well as securitizing e-governance initiative as done bythe National Jute Board in secured authentication and secured traceability cum accountability of jute bales or in secured authentication cum track-n-trace fertilizer bag by dept of fertilizer, has enabled safety and well being of people at large and socio-economic development.

Intellectual Property Office, Govt. of India under the Department of Industrial Policy & Promotion of Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India selects the organizations and individuals for their outstanding contribution to Intellectual Property in the country, every year.

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Bilcare receives National Intellectual Property Award 2014

Automation System has space conserving design.

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The ECO Compact 20 is designed for complete ease of use and flexibility within a production shop. It is ideal for use with vertical machining centers, housing 20 pallets in a 2-meter x 2-meter footprint, saving valuable manufacturing space without sacrificing capacity.

The system is shipped as a pre-adjusted, ready-to use-unit and functions on only 2 M-codes which allow for fast and simple installation. The unit is easily adjustable featuring a long loading arm with a travel capability up to 1200mm.

The ECO Compact 20 is extremely flexible and simple to maneuver which makes it easy to re-deploy throughout the manufacturing facility by forklift.

It can be configured with the loading door on the front or side. The loading arm can be offset at 9 degrees or 18 degrees for hard-to-reach tables. Linear guides and rails are available to ensure accessibility. The company also offers different colors to match the machining center at no extra charge.

To learn more visit http://www.lang-technovation.com.

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Automation System has space conserving design.