Daily Archives: April 7, 2017

Uber Denies It Is Using Stolen Waymo Technology – New York Times

Posted: April 7, 2017 at 8:51 pm


New York Times
Uber Denies It Is Using Stolen Waymo Technology
New York Times
SAN FRANCISCO Uber denied claims from Waymo, the self-driving car company spun out of Google's parent company last year, that it is using driverless car technology stolen by a former Google employee. In a federal court filing on Friday, Uber said it ...
Uber says its self-driving technology differs from Waymo'sReuters
Uber calls claims it stole self-driving technology 'demonstrably false'The Guardian
Uber rejects claims it stole Waymo driverless technologyTelegraph.co.uk
Business Insider -Financial Times
all 98 news articles »

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Disabled Americans less likely to use technology | Pew Research … – Pew Research Center

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This is the second in a series of posts about how different demographic groups in the U.S. have fared in the digital age.

More than 56 million people in the United States are living with a disability, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. But even as a growing share of these Americans report going online or owning a smartphone, the digital divide between those who have a disability and those who dont remains large.

Disabled Americans are about three times as likely as those without a disability to say they never go online (23% vs. 8%), according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in the fall of 2016. When compared with those who do not have a disability, disabled adults are roughly 20 percentage points less likely to say they subscribe to home broadband and own a traditional computer, a smartphone or a tablet.

Adults who report having a disability are also less likely to have multiple devices that enable them to go online. One-in-four disabled adults say they have high-speed internet at home, a smartphone, a desktop or laptop computer and a tablet, compared with 42% of those who report not having a disability.

The amount of time people spend online and their comfort level with technology also varies by disability status. Disabled Americans are less likely than those who dont have a disability to report using the internet on a daily basis (50% vs. 79%). They are also less likely to say that having a high level of confidence in their ability to use the internet and other communication devices to keep up with information describes them very well (39% vs. 65%), according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in spring 2016.

These findings are based on a pair of surveys conducted by the Center last year, when roughly one-in-six U.S. adults (16%) reported that they lived with a disability (defined here as a health problem, disability or handicap currently keeping you from participating fully in work, school, housework or other activities). The latest figures from the Census Bureau estimate that 19% of the U.S. population has some form of disability a similar share to what the Center found. It is important to note that there are various forms of disabilities, often ranging in severity, so this question is meant to be a broad look at disabled Americans.

Due to the nature of the surveys associated with this data, certain Americans with disabilities are likely undercounted. The figures reported on adoption and internet use are from phone surveys that were conducted via landlines and cellphones and likely under-covered adults who are deaf or have difficulty speaking. The data on the sharing economy are from a survey by Pew Research Centers American Trends Panel. Initial recruitment surveys for the panel were conductedon landlines and cellphones, so adults who are deaf or have difficulty speaking were likely under-covered. The estimates reported here are from panel surveys conducted via the web and mail, which may underrepresent blind people. In addition, our surveysdo not coverthose living in institutionalized group quarters, which may include some severely disabled individuals.

The disabled population is disproportionally comprised of seniors, and this is an age group that generally has lower levels of digital adoption than the nation as a whole.

Indeed, disabled Americans younger than 65 have much higher rates of having home broadband services and owning digital devices than those ages 65 and up. Still, even among younger adults, people with a disability are less likely to report using digital technology. For example, 67% of disabled Americans ages 18 to 64 say they own a desktop or laptop computer, compared with 84% of those in the same group who dont have a disability.

There are tools on the market aimed at making the digital experience more accessible to disabled Americans. Social media companies, for example, have experimented with artificial intelligence to help the visually impaired use their platforms, while other tech companies are expanding their screen-reading software and mobile apps. But there have also been dozens of lawsuits in recent years, claiming some websites are not accessible to those with disabilities. The Department of Justice is currently seeking public comments on how to ensure that the internet adheres to the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

Some experts have suggested the sharing economy may bring about a more inclusive digital experience. Data from a 2015 Pew Research Center survey show that disabled Americans have the same or less experience with the sharing economy when compared with those who report having no disabilities. For example, only 7% of adults with a disability say they have ever used a ride-hailing app, compared with 18% of adults who dont have a disability. But disabled Americans are also just as likely as those without a disability to say they have ever ordered groceries online or hired someone to do a task or run an errand via an online platform (only around 5% of both groups say they have done either of these online activities).

Topics: Digital Divide, Health, Mobile, Technology Adoption

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How agencies are pushing voice technology – Digiday

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Forget ordering pizza. Soon youll also be able to consult Alexa aboutyournext period.

Last weekend, digital agency Rain hosted a two-day hackathon for staffers and local developers at its Nicaragua office to play around withvoice-driven experiences, and one of the Alexa skills that came of the exercise was a menstrual calendar for women planning to get pregnant. Rain isnt alone.As services like Alexa, Siri, Cortana and Watson increasingly become embedded in consumers daily lives, agencies are doubling down on their efforts and looking to provide actual utility through these platforms on behalf of their clients.

Agencies including Rain, Maxus, Huge, We Are Social and CP+B are betting on the future of voice technology, doing everything from encouraging internal demos and hosting hackathons to get employees better acquainted with the technology in-house. An its not just chasing the shiny, new object, they say.

Its still in the early adopter curiosity stage, but a huge shift is underway as far as clients are concerned, said Corey Szopinski, executive creative technology director at CP+B Los Angeles.

Tom Kelshaw, director of innovation at Maxus, agreed that clients are very interested, particularly those with close integration with Amazon as it reduces friction for sales. But budgets are small right now, because experimentation is very cheap and easy, he said.

Voice has been a big focus area for Rain ever since the agency debuted its recipe library for Campbells on Amazon Echo in 2015. The agency has designed Echo skills for a variety of clients and built a smartphone app called Reverb, which lets anyone interact with Alexa even if they dont have an Echo device. Most recently, it hosted the hackathon event for voice-driven experiences, out of which four projects are being submitted to Amazon, including themenstrual calendar above as wellas a skill allowing people to check their balance for public transportation.

The idea of learn-then-teach and repeat is part of the culture at Rain, said Andrew Howlett, founding partner at Rain. When you train others, you actually improve your own skills and expertise.

At Maxus, Kelshaw has an Echo Dot set up at his desk that staffers are encouraged to come and try out. The agency also regularly demos skills at internal events and brings in specialist developers for staffers to school its employees further.

Hugehosts regular hackathons to encourage applied learning for emerging tech across the board and had one focused on conversational user experience or voice interfaces. Among the projects was, for example, a voice-activated Alexa skill designed formarketers to useto get relevant marketing stats and figures. Wondersauce, on the other hand, has a small team dedicated to developing relationships with technology partners, diving into APIs, and attending hackathons and meet-ups. This group is then responsible for educating the agencys staffers on practical use cases that they can help their clients with.

Others, including We Are Social and CP+B, are also investing significantly in voice technology, hosting frequent meetups to school current employees as well hiring new talent, especially UX designers with experience working with voice. We Are Social launched its own daily news broadcast on Amazon Echo last December, giving consumers briefs on the latest news in marketing.

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Most branded voice activations including CP+B and Dominos pizza-ordering skill and VaynerMedia and Johnnie Walkers cocktail recipe skill seem gimmicky so far. But according to Rains Howlett, as the technology matures and developers start to grasp its true potential, real utility will emerge.

Look back at the early app store days for the iPhone the large majority of apps were gimmicky and silly, he said. But voice technology will continue to improve in its accuracy and efficiency, and this will allow more opportunities for brands to create useful interactions for consumers and revenue opportunities will too follow.

The technology will particularly have implications for the automobile sector, as well as in third-party app integrations such as geo-location, maps and payment. We are already working on some of these and are excited about what consumers will be able to do without ever taking their eyes off the road, he said.

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The technology that brought us Airbnb and Uber can do so much more – Grist

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Theres a problem with the sharing economy, says Julian Agyeman, an urban studies and environmental policy scholar at Tufts University. While useful in some ways, he says, the concept of a sharing economy limits this very human value sharing to an economic transaction.

Thats the thesis of Agyemans most recent book, Sharing Cities, cowritten with environmental scholar Duncan McLaren. In the book, the two authors make the case for technology as a tool to transform cities into more equitable and more sustainable places if applied correctly. But when smart-city programs arent designed to correct social inequality, Agyeman says, they end up furthering it. Take San Francisco, the de facto sharing-economy headquarters, where skyrocketing rents have made the city unaffordable for all but the wealthiest.

Agyeman wasnt always focused on issues of justice. As an undergraduate, he studied botany and geography. But his interests shifted when he moved to London in the mid 80s. I realized that environment even landscape is not apolitical, he says. Landscapes are both real and socially constructed.

So Agyeman turned to urban policy how cities are formed, who has the power to shape them, and how they make up a greater human landscape. At the bottom of it all lies a question of human agency: Its one thing to discuss ideologies and policies that guide growth, but how do the changes that transform a city actually take place?

The sharing-cities concept offers a radically different vision of what the city can be, says Agyeman. He holds up Medellin, Colombia, and Seoul, South Korea, as examples of what happens when public officials make a true commitment to a sharing vision, from more accessible urban spaces to smart, tech-informed public transit that serves all its citizens.

In a conversation with Grist, he explained how that concept could redefine our idea of what makes a city truly smart. (This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity.)

Q.In the introduction to this book, you write that sharing is an inherent human trait but isnt there evidence that suggests humans are naturally selfish?

A.When we evolved as a species on the savannas of Africa, you couldnt survive unless you cooperated and shared resources with bands of other pre-humans, and then humans. There has been a lot of study of peoples level of satisfaction with sharing it makes people feel good. Whats probably happened is that, as societies became more complex, some of the more basic traits were overtaken by others, like selfishness and competition.

Q.How do most of us imagine sharing in cities today, and how is the Sharing Cities vision different?

A.We need to reinvent and recreate the urban commons as a place where humans interact in a much more relational way, not just in a transactional way. In a sense, what were saying is we want to move from the sharing economy to understanding whole cities as shared spaces. Modern technology gives us a kind of intersection of urban spaces and cyberspace, which we think could be a platform for a much more inclusive and efficient society.

Q.What are the opportunities and pitfalls to look out for as technology revolutionizes the way cities work?

A.A lot of people see this idea of the smart city as just the city that is wired for automation and efficiency. But were saying its only smart if it harnesses the capabilities and aspirations of the citizens. Its not smart if it just sits there controlling traffic lights and streetcars. Theres a very great need to see technology as something in the service of solidarity and social justice.

Q.How can we direct technological innovation to be more people-focused?

A.If you dont build a scheme from the get-go with equity and social justice in mind, it wont simply happen. Let me give you an example. I was called up by people who run a bike-share scheme about a year ago. They said, its wildly successful, but heres the problem: Very few low-income or minority people are riding our bikes.

My reaction was: On what basis is your scheme successful, if thats the case? Did you involve any person from a low-income or minority group in the envisioning of your scheme? Because if it is envisioned by people like you, then it probably didnt fit into what low-income and minority groups might want.

Q.Why has there been so much conflict around integrating sharing economy models, like Uber and Airbnb, into cities?

A.Theres nothing wrong with the concept of ride-sharing or sharing an apartment. Butreally they have ended up exacerbating problems. For instance, Airbnb is exacerbating housing crises in various cities. I think we want to see much more municipal regulation, in terms of making the sharing economy more equitable. Were not anti-disruption but I do think we have to have standards that can apply to worker hours, worker rights.

Q.You write in the book that there is no one path to a shared city but there are common elements. What are the pillars of a truly shared city?

A.The fundamental principle is what we call the sharing paradigm the understanding that human well-being depends on building, developing, and nurturing capabilities for all. The resources that we have to do that from breathable air to education, energy, health care are better understood as shared commons than private goods. We might decide, collectively, that the best way to manage and allocate resources is through market economies or public management, but the starting point is the recognition of the collective and shared nature of these resources.

For one thing, a sharing city would actively invest in public services and enable whats called coproduction. The idea of coproduction is that you blur the boundary between producer and consumer. A good example: If you are discharged from Lehigh Regional Medical Center, in Pennsylvania, after having certain procedures, you will not be seen by a doctor or a nurse practitioner. You will be seen by a recently discharged patient who has had a similar procedure to you. And the recovery rate has been staggering - far better than if you were seen by a doctor or a nurse. Why? Because this person can empathize with you.

Q.Can cities who arent yet thinking about the sharing paradigm on a large scale circumvent their own bureaucracy and political inertia to implement some of these kinds of changes?

A. One easy way that cities can get into this like my own city, Cambridge, Massachusetts is by engaging with participatory budgeting. Participatory budgeting is a way to get people into the functioning of the city through a very small keyhole, by giving residents the power to set budget priorities. At the moment, Cambridge is making $750,000 available for its participatory budget decisions. Its about making the city more transparent, and its about giving people real choices.

Q.How would you advise someone who wants to get more involved intheir own city?

A.This is about the right to the city. This idea fits in with seeing the whole city as this shared entity, with shared public services shared health care, child pre-education, libraries, etc. City dwellers are already reimagining and redefining their environments and these environments are, by their nature, collective urban commons, theyre shared spaces. So for people who want to get into this: Dont accept your place as it is. Think about what it could become. In many ways, the sharing-city concept is a vision and a product the sharing city but its also a process, of remaking the city.

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CCSD earns Top 10 designation for technology | Local News … – Cherokee Tribune Ledger News

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For the 12th time in Cherokee County School Districts history, the district has been named among the nations Top 10 of large school systems effectively using technology in education.

The honor recognizes results from the annual Digital School Districts Survey conducted by the Center for Digital Education and the National School Boards Association. The survey compares public school districts nationwide and awards Top 10 rankings to those fully integrating technology into the classroom, and throughout the systems operations.

Effectively using technology is a requirement for success in our world, and were focused on ensuring each of our students not only is engaged with technology, but also develops a sense of ownership through usage, said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Brian Hightower, noting he views technology as a valuable tool for every aspect of operations. We set a goal to further embrace business technology to improve operations and have implemented successful new systems, with more on the horizon.

The survey evaluates integration of technology and curriculum and related professional development, infrastructure and networks, leadership and transparency in governance, operational improvements, strategic planning, data management and safety and communications with students, parents, employees and community.

Technology is an essential tool for the transformation of education in our country, said Dr. Kecia Ray, executive director for the Center for Digital Education. The Digital School Districts Survey helps districts measure progress toward transformation and Im proud to recognize these districts and the work that is represented in their award. Congratulations to all of the award winners and great thanks to all who participated in the survey.

Winners were recognized at the National School Boards Associations Annual Conference in Denver on Saturday.

The school boards in these districts are recognized for utilizing technology solutions to make their work as a board more transparent and their district operations more efficient, said Thomas Gentzel, National School Boards Association executive director and CEO. Their accomplishments demonstrate that innovative approaches can be embraced by any district, regardless of its size or location.

The Center for Digital Education is a national research and advisory institute specializing in K-12 and higher education technology trends, policy and funding. The center provides education and industry leaders with decision support and actionable insights to help effectively incorporate new technologies in the 21st century.

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At US-China summit, Trump presses Xi on trade, North Korea; progress cited – Reuters

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By Steve Holland and Koh Gui Qing | PALM BEACH, Fla.

PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping to do more to curb North Koreas nuclear program and help reduce the gaping U.S. trade deficit with Beijing in talks on Friday, even as he toned down the strident anti-China rhetoric of his election campaign.

Trump spoke publicly of progress on a range of issues in his first U.S.-China summit as did several of his top aides but they provided few concrete specifics other than China's agreement to work together to narrow disagreements and find common ground for cooperation.

As the two leaders wrapped up a Florida summit overshadowed by U.S. missile strikes in Syria overnight, Xi joined Trump in stressing the positive mood of the meetings while papering over deep differences that have caused friction between the worlds two biggest economies.

Trumps aides insisted he had made good on his pledge to raise concerns about Chinas trade practices and said there was some headway, with Xi agreeing to a 100-day plan for trade talks aimed at boosting U.S. exports and reducing Chinas trade surplus with the United States.

Speaking after the two-day summit at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson also said that Xi had agreed to increased cooperation in reining in North Koreas missile and nuclear programs though he did not offer any new formula for cracking Pyongyangs defiant attitude.

Trump had promised during the campaign to stop what he called the theft of American jobs by China. Many blue-collar workers helped propel him to his unexpected election victory on Nov. 8 and Trump is under pressure to deliver for them.

The Republican president tweeted last week that the United States could no longer tolerate massive trade deficits and job losses and that his meeting with Xi "will be a very difficult one."

On Friday, the unpredictable Trump not only set a different tone but also avoided any public lapses in protocol that Chinese officials had feared could embarrass their leader.

"We have made tremendous progress in our relationship with China," Trump told reporters as the two delegations met around tables flanked by large U.S. and Chinese flags. "We will be making additional progress. The relationship developed by President Xi and myself I think is outstanding.

And I believe lots of very potentially bad problems will be going away," he added, without providing details.

"AGREE WITH YOU 100 PERCENT"

Xi also spoke in mostly positive terms.

We have engaged in deeper understanding, and have built a trust," he said. I believe we will keep developing in a stable way to form friendly relations....For the peace and stability of the world, we will also fulfill our historical responsibility.

Well, I agree with you 100 percent," Trump replied.

But in a sign that rough spots remained, Tillerson afterwards described the discussions as very frank and candid.

President Trump and President Xi agreed to work in concert to expand areas of cooperation while managing differences based on mutual respect, he said.

After the meeting, Trump took Xi on a walk around the manicured grounds of his lavish Spanish-style complex. Trump could be seen chatting and gesturing to Xi, who did the same.

Tillerson said Trump had accepted Xis invitation to visit China and that they also agreed to upgrade a U.S.-China dialogue by putting the two presidents at the head of the forum.

U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross said the Chinese had expressed an interest in reducing Chinas trade surplus as a way of controlling their own inflation. Thats the first time Ive heard them say that in a bilateral context, he said.

Ross declined to say whether the United States was ready to designate China a currency manipulator, however, referring to an upcoming report in which that issue would be addressed.

Although Trump during the presidential election campaign had pledged to label China a currency manipulator on the first day of his administration, he has refrained from doing so.

The highly anticipated U.S.-China summit was upstaged by U.S. missile strikes overnight against a Syrian air base from which Trump said a deadly chemical weapon attack had been launched earlier in the week. It was the first direct U.S. assault on the Russian-backed government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in six years of civil war.

The swift action in Syria could be interpreted as a signal especially to defiant nuclear-armed North Korea and by extension, its ally China as well as other countries like Iran and Russia of Trumps willingness to use military force. North Korea is developing missiles capable of hitting the United States.

Tillerson said Xi agreed with Trump that North Korea's nuclear advances had reached a very serious stage.

He said Trump also raised U.S.concerns about China's activities in the South China Sea. Beijing is building and fortifying islands in pursuit of expansive territorial claims in the strategic waterway.

(Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe in Washington; Writing by Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom; Editing by Howard Goller and Leslie Adler)

UNITED NATIONS/MOSCOW/BEIRUT Russia warned on Friday that U.S. cruise missile strikes on a Syrian air base could have "extremely serious" consequences, as President Donald Trump's first major foray into a foreign conflict opened up a rift between Moscow and Washington.

STOCKHOLM A truck plowed into a crowd on a shopping street and crashed into a department store in central Stockholm on Friday, killing four people and wounding 15 in what the prime minister said appeared to be a terrorist attack.

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This.Is.Progress. The Nets’ Steady, Subtle Improvement – NetsDaily

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Last week, I looked at the Nets March improvement. The teams defense improved vastly, and their offensive numbers saw an uptick as well. That improvement has carried over to the first week of April, with the Nets capping off a three-game winning streak with a victory against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night. As for the Orlando matchup...well, it happened.

This season is a stark contrast to previous years. The 2016-2017 season is about progress over playoffs, and foundation over quick fixes. This is Sean Marks and Kenny Atkinsons first full seasons as the top guys. Everyone knew that rehabilitating the Nets would be an arduous process. Even in the preseason, the Nets knew that this season was about incremental progress, rather than a playoff berth. In a preseason press conference, General Manager Sean Marks said the following

The season wont be measured entirely by wins and losses. Itll be measured by the progress thats made throughout the season. Our goals arent necessarily six months down the road goals. Its this next block of five games and asking did we improve from the last block of five games

After a brutal 1-27 stretch in mid-season, the Nets have shown the progress both Atkinson and Marks envisioned. The progress is a positive heading into the off-season for the entire organization. Heres the progress shown by a few Nets players this season

Brook Lopez Attacking off the dribble

Brook Lopezs excursion (or intergalactic voyage for a Star Wars fan) to the three-point line has been well documented throughout the season. Lopez has been shooting from deep all season, by design. But Lopez has complemented his perimeter game with new wrinkles as well.

Lopez shoots at a decent clip from three, 35.5%, per NBA.com. This forces defenders to respect his range. Lopez can pump fake and drive against defenders that are closing out, or simply drive past them if theyre too close. Here, Lopez receives the pass at the top of the key and takes the ball right past Thon Maker, drawing the foul and converting the bucket.

Lopez even shows solid vision when putting the ball on the floor. Previously, most of Lopezs assists came out of the post, where he would shovel passes to cutters that threw the entry pass, namely Bojan Bogdanovic and Sean Kilpatrick. Lopezs newfound ability to drive and kick adds another unexpected dimension from a 7-foot, relatively unathletic center. Lopez finds fan-favorite Jeremy Lin here after drawing in the defense with a drive.

Brook Lopez isnt just a standstill shooter and low post force. His game developed in unexpected, but welcome ways throughout the season. Lopezs newly dynamic offense is a welcome development for the growing Nets.

For a detailed analysis of Lopezs offensive improvement, check out my latest article for 16 Wins a Ring.

Sean Kilpatrick Defense

Sean Kilpatricks microwave offensive ability is well known. His ability to create offense carried the Nets in several games. But his defense caused some concern. Post All-Star Break, Kilpatrick is simply playing with more effort on the defensive end.

Above, Kilpatrick fights through a cross screen set by Kyle OQuinn on the sideline out of bounds play. Kilpatrick scurries across and contests his opponents shot at the free throw line, leading to a miss. Not bad!

Here, Kilpatrick is matched up against C.J. McCollum. McCollum runs a quick give-and-go play with Meyers Leonard, with Leonard acting as a pseudo-screen. Kilpatrick maneuvers around Leonard and closes out on McCollum. Kilpatrick prevents McCollum from driving to the rim, forcing him towards the corner. McCollum rises for a jumper but Kilpatrick contests the shot beautifully, raising a hand right in C.J.s grill. McCollums shot hits back rim.

Kilpatricks defensive metrics have improved as a whole. Prior to the All-Star Break, Kilpatricks defensive rating was 109.9, one of the worst marks on the team, per NBA.com. Past February 23, his defensive rating jumped to 103.3, tied for fourth best on the squad. His net rating improved from -8.5 to +3.2 as well.

Prior to the All-Star Break, opponents shot 50.6% against Kilpatrick, the worst mark for Nets that played over 10 games. Since then, opponents have shot 43.4%, per NBA.com/stats. Kilpatrick has shown his value as an offensive creator all season. Now hes proving that he can defend consistently as well.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson Confidence

I know. Confidence cant be measured quantitatively. But for NBA players, it could be the difference between superstar and twelfth man. Just look at the career of former Net Anthony Bennett. At UNLV, Bennett was confident, challenging defenders at the rim and playing with attitude. The former number one pick also looked great in International competition, prompting Kenny Atkinson to take a flyer on him. But as a pro, Bennett looked tentative and unfocused. The Nets tried to rebuild Bennetts deflated confidence before ultimately releasing him in January.

Now, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson may not be Anthony Bennett, but building his confidence has been a point of emphasis for the Nets coaching staff through the season. Kenny Atkinson said the following of his young power forward to the New York Posts Brian Lewis a few weeks ago

Hes starting to get some confidence in his game. Hes doing a better job of being a little bit more even-keel, more resilient. Young players, when things dont go their way, they tend to get down on themselves. Thats one of Rondaes areas of improvement that hes got to keep steady.

YES Networks Ian Eagle and Donny Marshall also spoke of Hollis-Jeffersons confidence, alluding to RHJs emotional nature and perfectionist mentality. Of course, winning helps in building confidence. But even through losses, positivity and encouragement can do the same for young players, from both coaches and veterans. Thats a cultural aspect that differs from previous regimes. Players should be responsible for slip-ups, but also need encouragement. Its a tight balance, but Atkinson and his staff seemingly have the right formula.

Although RHJ may still make questionable decisions, hes looked more comfortable lately. The awkwardness of his game is slowly being refined, and his frenzied energy, focused.

Heres one example...

Heres another...

Post All-Star Break, RHJs numbers have jumped in every area, going from 7.8 to 10.1 points per game, 5.1 to 6.8 rebounds, and improved offensive and defensive ratings. Like in many aspects of life, confidence is key. RHJ is carving his niche.

Are those the only player improvements?

Those are just three wide-ranging examples of the Nets individual improvements. Several other players also have shown marked growth this season. Joe Harris grew confidence with the ball in his hands. Spencer Dinwiddie and Isaiah Whitehead are now competent floor generals. Trevor Booker has found a niche as an energy player. ANd Caris LeVert just had his career high Thursday night. Seemingly, everyone on the team has grown throughout the year.

As Keith Smith reported, the Nets have been optimistic through adversity, and are proud of how far theyve come as a team. Progress is slow, but evident. Heading into the off-season, the Nets seemingly have established the foundation for success. Were getting there. Its just a slow elevator ride to the top.

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Profiles of Progress MN 2017 honorees Finance & Commerce – Finance and Commerce

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Click the image to read the 2017 Progress Minnesota digital edition.

Now in its sixth year, Finance & Commerces Progress Minnesota event showcases the entrepreneurial spirit and economic development occurring across the state. More than two dozen individuals, companies and organizations were selected for this years honor by an independent panel of judges.

The 29 honorees were feted April 6 at the Minneapolis Events Center. Gov. Mark Dayton issued a proclamation to celebrate April 6 as Progress Minnesota Day.

Since the first Progress Minnesota event in 2012, attendees have told us how impressed they are by the strength and creativity in Minnesotas business community.

In this magazine, youll read about the efforts of well-known companies, such as Xcel Energys commitment to renewable energy and Ryan Cos. US Inc.s revitalization of Minneapolis Downtown East.

Youll also learn about economic drivers outside the Twin Cities metro area, like Carlos Creek Winery, which drew nearly 115,000 visitors last year to its Alexandria lakes-area vineyard and tasting room, and Life Fitness, which in February completed a $33.5 million, 150,000-square-foot addition to its Owatonna Cybex facility.

This magazine also highlights the economic vitality of Duluth, which has been bolstered in part by the efforts of the College of St. Scholastica, all-weather outdoor furniture designer and manufacturer Loll Designs, and the Duluth Seaway Port Authority, which helps drive economic growth at one of the largest ports in the U.S.

Youll find out about companies that bring Minnesota sensibilities to high-tech industries like IT company Atomic Data, lighting manufacturer aspectLED and Tech Dump, which gives people and electronics a second chance.

Inside youll also read tributes to individuals whove been boosters for Minnesotas economy, including a posthumous recognition for Todd Klingel, former CEO of the Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce. Klingels emphasis on partnerships and collaborations has left its mark across the metro area in projects large and small, including influential regional economic development agency Greater MSP.

Minnesotas economic growth and potential is impressive, and the people, companies and organizations honored here make the future seem even brighter.

David Bohlander, Special Sections Editor, Finance & Commerce

Blake Huffman |Journey Home Minnesota

Todd Klingel |Minneapolis Regional Chamber of Commerce

Julie Nelson |Small Business Development Center

Alex Tittle Sr. |Minnesota Super Bowl Host Committee

Alliance Machine Inc. |Elk River

aspectLED |Arden Hills

Atomic Data |Minneapolis

Bellwether Enterprise |Minneapolis

Buddys Kitchen Inc. |Burnsville

Carlos Creek Winery |Alexandria

Cemstone Cos.|Mendota Heights

The College of St. Scholastica |Duluth

Duluth Seaway Port Authority |Duluth

Eutectics Consulting LLC |Minneapolis

Hennepin Theatre Trust |Minneapolis

Horizon Roofing Inc. |Brooklyn Center

King Technology Inc.|Hopkins

Latino Economic Development Center|Minneapolis

Lennar Multifamily Communities |Minneapolis, Edina and Bloomington

Life Fitness|Owatonna

Loll Designs |Duluth

Minnesota Technical Assistance Program |Minneapolis

Runnings |Marshall

Ryan Cos. US Inc. |Minneapolis

Select Comfort Corp.|Plymouth

Sherman Associates|Minneapolis

Tech Dump and Tech Discounts|Golden Valley

WomenVenture|Minneapolis

Xcel Energy |Minneapolis

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Profiles of Progress MN 2017 honorees Finance & Commerce - Finance and Commerce

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Progress MN: WomenVenture – Finance and Commerce

Posted: at 8:51 pm

Mission: Nonprofit helps women attain economic self-sufficiency through the creation and growth of profitable and sustainable businesses Based: 2021 E. Hennepin Ave., Suite 200, Minneapolis Founded: 1977 Executive director: Elaine Wyatt Employee count: 16 Website: http://www.womenventure.org/index.html

In 2016, WomenVenture helped women launch or strengthen more than 600 businesses, producing $47.5 million in gross sales and creating or retaining more than 1,300 jobs.

Perhaps the most significant number is the median wage of more than $27 an hour that those jobs paid, Women Venture executive director Elaine Wyatt said.

The wages that the women are paying themselves and their employees, thats one of the places where we feel like we really stand out in the market, Wyatt said. Our goal for every woman that comes to us no matter what her business idea, her education or her income level is that whatever business that she creates really is going to pay her a living wage.

With a view of using business ownership as a pathway to wealth, WomenVenture offers classes, consultation and networking opportunities. WomenVenture in particular aims to serve low-income women and women of color, who have accounted for 60 percent and 40 percent of clients, respectively, so far in 2017, Wyatt said.

WomenVenture also provides access to capital. Last year it lent nearly $600,000 to 20 new business clients and partnered with local banks to help clients access more than $5 million in capital. A special interest is helping women who have had credit problems or lack assets to obtain financing, Wyatt said.

They may be struggling because they need some capital to hire an employee, buy a piece of equipment or go into a space, whatever it is thats holding their business back, Wyatt said.

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Progress MN: WomenVenture - Finance and Commerce

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Gators get chance to show their progress Friday – Daily Commercial

Posted: at 8:51 pm

Robbie Andreu @RobbieAndreu

GAINESVILLE Gator Nation is cynical, and justifiably so. Because it happens every spring.

The Gators flash explosive and exciting signs that maybe they are about to pull themselves out of this seemingly endless offensive slump. Then, of course, they dont.

Spring growth fails to turn into fall production. Every. Single. Time.

Its been going on like this since Tim Tebow and his special gifts left town following the 2009 season.

So, will the Gators follow the same sad story line in 2017?

Theyve orchestrated the first phase of it, flashing all kinds of positive signs this spring. Now, its a matter of where the offense goes from here.

Some potential slump-ending pieces seem to be in place.

An experienced front has been playing with more energy and aggression under new offensive line coach Brad Davis, whose No. 1 priority this spring was to make the big nasties nastier.

There are proven playmakers (and more of them now) at receiver, tight end and running back.

And there seems to be an overall shift in attitude.

They have a chip on their shoulder, UF coach Jim McElwain said.

Yes, they do. But do the Gators have a quarterback capable of leading them out of this offensive wilderness?

Many have tried over the past seven seasons, but all have either failed or transferred.

McElwain and offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier are now in the process of trying to determine who is next in line either Feleipe Franks or Kyle Trask. Or maybe even former starter Luke Del Rio, out for the spring following shoulder surgery.

The next big test in the quarterback quest is Fridays Orange & Blue Debut in The Swamp.

Its another opportunity. Is it the end all? Absolutely not, McElwain said. We have a body of work, plus what we do over the summer and into fall camp. There again, its another opportunity and thats the way its got to be approached. I will say Im excited how theyre playing. Its been good, weve been able to stretch it really good.

Theyve done a great job, and yet, I kind of expected them to.

Franks and Trask, both redshirt freshmen, have made great strides in the year theyve been here, Nussmeier said.

Franks made so much progress in the fall that McElwain even considered pulling his red shirt and playing him.

A lot more confidence, a lot better understanding of just the passing game overall in general, Nussmeier said of Franks. Theres a different learning curve for each and Feleipe has done a great job of buying into what weve asked him to do and really improve in the classroom side of things.

The thing about Kyle is hes deadly accurate. The biggest thing with Kyle is just getting repetition, getting in the game and playing. He may overanalyze a little bit. In our second practice he threw a couple balls in the dirt. Its uncharacteristic of him because he is so accurate. Its about letting it flow, letting it play, and thats just repetition.

The competition between Franks and Trask for the starting role has been close throughout the spring. But McElwain said earlier this week that there has been some separation. Although he would not reveal who has pulled ahead, Franks appears to be the guy based on his recent increase in reps with the No.1 offense early in practices.

A third quarterback also is in the mix. Although true freshman and early enrollee Kadarius Toney is not necessarily competing for the starting role, his ability as a dual-threat QB has likely earned him a package of plays to run in the fall.

Their teammates express confidence in all three quarterbacks.

"All the quarterbacks are doing well, center T.J. McCoy said. Feleipe and Kyle, and even Toney, are all doing great. There's a lot of competition going on between the three and I'm happy with any of the three. We can trust all three quarterbacks.

Feleipe and Kyle, a lot of the knowledge of the game has grown for them. They're getting the plays off a lot quicker and that's making us a better offense.

Whoever's the QB, that's the leader. When Kyle's in the huddle, I'm listening to Kyle. When Feleipe's in the huddle, I'm listening to Feleipe. Both of them are great leaders. I believe that we're in good hands with both of them."

Both have come a long way since last years spring game, especially Franks, who flopped a year ago, throwing three interceptions before coming in late to lead the offense to a touchdown.

My command has grown a bunch since last spring, Franks said. And it's really fun for me now just to be out there and actually just play the game, play what I've been playing my whole life and not have to stress about, 'What am I doing this play? What am I doing this next play?' Now, that I've settled in and know the playbook I can go out there and have fun. It's really fun."

It certainly will be interesting to see how the quarterbacks perform Friday. And even more interesting to see where they (and the offense) go from here.

Weve got a chip on our shoulder, junior wide receiver Tyrie Cleveland said. Back in the years they had Tebow, the offense was explosive. Were trying to get back to that offense, making plays, so we dont have to rely on the defense as much.

There are some spring signs that the offensive slump could end in the fall. But, well, Gator Nation has seen this before.

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Gators get chance to show their progress Friday - Daily Commercial

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