Monthly Archives: January 2021

What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? In a perfect world, we'd like to see a company investing more capital into its business and ideally the returns earned from that capital are also increasing. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Speaking of which, we noticed some great changes in Howteh Technology's (GTSM:3114) returns on capital, so let's have a look.

For those who don't know, ROCE is a measure of a company's yearly pre-tax profit (its return), relative to the capital employed in the business. The formula for this calculation on Howteh Technology is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.11 = NT$122m (NT$2.2b - NT$1.2b) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2020).

So, Howteh Technology has an ROCE of 11%. By itself that's a normal return on capital and it's in line with the industry's average returns of 11%.

See our latest analysis for Howteh Technology

While the past is not representative of the future, it can be helpful to know how a company has performed historically, which is why we have this chart above. If you want to delve into the historical earnings, revenue and cash flow of Howteh Technology, check out these free graphs here.

We like the trends that we're seeing from Howteh Technology. Over the last five years, returns on capital employed have risen substantially to 11%. The company is effectively making more money per dollar of capital used, and it's worth noting that the amount of capital has increased too, by 29%. The increasing returns on a growing amount of capital is common amongst multi-baggers and that's why we're impressed.

All in all, it's terrific to see that Howteh Technology is reaping the rewards from prior investments and is growing its capital base. Since the stock has returned a staggering 180% to shareholders over the last five years, it looks like investors are recognizing these changes. So given the stock has proven it has promising trends, it's worth researching the company further to see if these trends are likely to persist.

On a final note, we've found 4 warning signs for Howteh Technology that we think you should be aware of.

While Howteh Technology isn't earning the highest return, check out this free list of companies that are earning high returns on equity with solid balance sheets.

PromotedIf you decide to trade Howteh Technology, use the lowest-cost* platform that is rated #1 Overall by Barrons, Interactive Brokers. Trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds on 135 markets, all from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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What Can The Trends At Howteh Technology (GTSM:3114) Tell Us About Their Returns? - Simply Wall St

HOUSTON- KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR) announced today that it has signed an alliance agreement with Mura Technology Limited to offer Cat-HTRTM, an innovative advanced plastics recycling process.

Cat-HTR is a sustainability-focused, innovative technology that recycles end-of-life plastic such as thin plastic packaging, which would otherwise be combusted, sent to landfills or leaked into the environment. Cat-HTR converts these mixed plastics into an intermediate hydrocarbon feedstock that can be further refined to produce virgin polymers and chemicals. The technology is based on a patented hydrothermal upgrading process which utilizes supercritical water to produce stable hydrocarbon products from a wide range of mixed plastic waste.

Mura has invested over 10 years in the development of this technology and has proven its performance at a large-scale pilot plant inAustralia. Mura was awarded its first commercial license in 2020.

Under the terms of the alliance, KBR will be the exclusive licensing partner for Mura Technology and will provide studies, basic engineering, technical services, proprietary equipment and modules for the Cat-HTR technology to customers across the world.

"We are extremely excited to announce that KBR will offer Cat-HTR for license to clients so they can efficiently recycle end-of-life waste plastic and convert it into a reusable feedstock for plastics or other valuable chemicals production," saidDoug Kelly, KBR President, Technology. "This technology aligns with KBR's commitment to sustainability by reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and the volume of waste that enters landfills and the environment, while contributing to the growth of the plastic circular economy."

"We believe that aligning with KBR will make it possible to meet the strong global demand for a superior plastic recycling process," said Dr.Steve Mahon, CEO,Mura Technology. "Cat-HTR offers an innovative advanced recycling solution to one of the largest global pollution issues we face today, and we look forward to the commercial roll-out of our game-changing technology with KBR."

KBR has been a leader in petrochemical plant design, construction and technology development for more than 50 years.

Mura Technology's Cat-HTR technology is at the center of their global ambition for 1,000,000 annual tons of plastic recycling in operation or development by 2025.

About KBR

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 28,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in 40 countries.

KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visitwww.kbr.com

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KBR Furthers Sustainability Commitment with Innovative Plastics Recycling Process in Alliance with Mura Technology - waste360

The Netherlands physician Mark Post showcased the cooking of a hamburger using beef grown in his laboratory in London in 2013. An exponential increase in efforts to produce lab-grown meat followed, with some 60 companies currently engaged in it.

From the fictitious restaurant Bistro In Vitro, established in May 2015 by the Dutch artist and philosopher Koert Mensvoort, that offers slaughter-free rare meat delicacies including those from extinct animals and human celebrities, we now have The Chicken, a restaurant in the Tel Aviv suburb of Ness Ziona, which is bracing to serve Hero chicken burgers prepared from meat grown in a bioreactor, visible to customers through a glass partition.

In the first week of December, Singapore became the first country to permit the sale of lab-grown meat by allowing the San Francisco-based company Eat Just to serve nuggets prepared from chicken meat grown in reactors. The company started serving the lab-grown meat on December 19 in the restaurant 1800. Lab-grown meat, also called in vitro meat and clean meat, is produced by cellular agriculture in bioreactors, starting from a small number of specialised stem cells collected using painless biopsy from animals.

For centuries, philosophers and preachers attempted to convert people to animal lovers, but slaughter of wild and domestic animals continued. Technology, more than empathy, has, however, come to the rescue of animals.

During the early 19th century, whale oil was the principal source of lighting around the world. Bedford, Massachusetts was recognised as the city that lights the world, because of its innumerable fleets that slaughtered thousands of whales in the high seas.

Animal lovers raised big concerns about the ruthlessness of the whalers. But it was the commercialisation of kerosene by the Canadian geologist Abraham Gesner in 1854 that saved the whales from extinction.

Similarly, technology saved the horses that were widely used for transport in the U.S. up to the late 19th century. The number of horses in New York City was so large that it was feared in the 1880s that the city would be buried under their dung and urine and would cease to exist in 100 years. Abuse of the equines led Henry Bergh to campaign for several measures for their protection, and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was established in 1866. However, it was Henry Fords automobile, not Berghs society, that saved the horses.

If lab meat crosses production hurdles and becomes acceptable as an alternative to animal meat, the world will surely be transformed into a more animal-friendly planet.

msaleemuddin47@gmail.com

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Bloodless coups of technology - The Hindu

With the Senate set to flip to Democratic control in the 117th Congress, albeit by a razor thin margin, the policy priorities for the upper chamber are likely to significantly change. In so doing, the various Senate committees will have new chairs, and their agendas will likely vary at least in part on the partisan make-up of the committees.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has a long tradition of bipartisan cooperation. Executive Sessions are usually not contentious; the final language of bills and amendments are usually thoroughly negotiated and eventually accepted by voice vote. That tradition of bipartisanship is unlikely to change with Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) swapping roles: Senator Cantwell will now chair the Commerce Committee, while Senator Wicker will be the Ranking Member.

The Commerce Committees agenda for technology and communications policy might not be terribly different under the Chair of Senator Cantwell than under Chairman Wicker. To be sure, Senator Cantwell will have her priorities as will the chairs of the Consumer Protection and Communications Subcommittees, likely Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) respectively and will likely emphasize issue areas and conduct oversight differently than Senator Wicker. But the big ticket legislative items for technology and communications such as a data privacy bill and section 230 reform will likely remain priorities under Senator Cantwells chair as they would have under Senator Wickers, though the substance and priorities of those efforts will be different. And given the thin margin of the Democratic majority and the Commerce Committees historical adherence to bipartisanship, the need to compromise and forge common ground will remain critical to pass such laws.

Privacy

Comprehensive federal privacy legislation will likely remain a top priority for the committee. Californias passage of the California Consumer Privacy Act and the European Unions General Data Practice Regulations spurned renewed interest in passing a federal law in the 116th Congress. Further actions at the state level will only increase a sense of urgency at least within certain sectors. Last Congress in late 2019, Senators Cantwell and Wicker introduced their versions of a privacy bill. Senators Schatz, Klobuchar and Markey joined Senator Cantwell in introducing the Consumer Online Privacy Rights Act (COPRA) at almost the same time as Senator Wicker circulated a staff discussion draft of the United States Consumer Data Privacy Act (USCDPA), which was later supplanted by the formal introduction of his privacy bill in September 2020. These two bills will likely serve as the starting point for negotiations on a privacy bill in the 117th Congress.

The biggest sticking points, by far, as reflected in the two bills, are preemption of state law and a federal private right of action. COPRA explicitly does not preempt state law and has a federal private right of action, while USCDPA takes the opposite approach. Finding compromise on these opposing world-views, while difficult, will greatly improve the chances of passing a federal privacy law. Other issues areas on which Members will have to negotiate include the scope of the bills coverage, prescriptiveness and flexibility for compliance, duty of care on the use of data, and algorithmic decision-making. While not easy, these issue areas should be relatively amenable to bipartisan compromise.

Section 230

In communications, the appetite for section 230 (of the Communications Act) reform displayed at the end of the 116th Congress will likely carry over into the 117th. In a November hearing at which the heads of Google, Facebook, and Twitter testified, Members on both sides of the dais expressed interest in reforming the law. However, Democratic and Republican Members want to amend section 230 for different reasons. Democrats largely assert that social media platforms have been slow to crack down on misinformation and hate speech. Many Republicans claim that social media platforms are biased against conservative viewpoints and stifle legitimate political speech. Amending section 230s liability protections afforded to online platforms that host third-party generated digital content would alter the incentives on how such platforms treat posted content. Both sides of the debate will likely validate their narratives by pointing to the contentious 2020 election and the subsequent actions taken by President Trumps campaign and his Administration, Members of Congress (on vote certification), and rioters at the United States Capitol, as well as Facebooks and Twitters decision to ban President Trump from using their services.

Broadband

Broadband access will likely remain a priority in the 117th Congress. Any infrastructure bill Congress considers almost certainly will have broadband buildout provisions. President-elect Bidens plan for rural America includes $20 billion for rural broadband buildout. Provisions for better broadband access in underserved communities both rural and urban are likely to be priorities for Democrats. If such broadband provisions are included in a legislative infrastructure package under budget reconciliation rules (in order to avoid Senate procedures requiring 60 votes for cloture), the Senate will not be able to contemplate broadband access policy, only spending levels. However, the Commerce Committee could consider regulatory matters in separate proceedings. For instance, given the recent events in Nashville, in which a bomb badly damaged an AT&T facility, the Commerce Committee may explore the resiliency and redundancy of the nations communications system.

Spectrum and Wireless

Furthermore, spectrum policy, as was the case in previous Congresses, will likely be a hot topic in the Commerce Committee in the 117th. Senator Cantwell has expressed concerns with the Federal Communications Commissions (FCCs) decision to auction spectrum (24 GHz) for commercial use over the objections of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Both agencies voiced strong concerns over possible interference with weather forecasting. Senator Cantwell expressed similar concerns over the FCCs decision to re-allocate a slice of spectrum (5.9 GHz) dedicated to vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure transportation safety for shared unlicensed purposes, such as WiFi services. In general, Senate Democrats may be more inclined to reorient the FCCs tilt towards the commercial use of spectrum and will be more receptive to the concerns expressed by government agencies and public interest groups.

The incoming Biden Administrations consolidated federal policy on the development and deployment of 5th generation mobile networks will likely shape the Commerces Committee oversight and policy activities on 5G. In the past, Senator Cantwell and committee Democrats have expressed concerns over the security of 5G networks and the lack of a national strategy. The Commerce Committee may explore ways to maximize 5G network and supply-chain security, such as the adoption of an interoperable, software-driven open radio access network (ORAN) architecture as opposed to a more traditional cellular architecture.

Network Neutrality

Lastly, the 800 pound gorilla: network neutrality. How the Senate and the Commerce Committee will proceed on net neutrality will largely depend on what a newly constituted FCC will or wont do. In December 2017, the FCC voted to repeal the Commissions 2015 Open Internet order which reclassified broadband Internet access as telecommunications services under Title II of the Communications Act, thus allowing the FCC to impose restrictions on network practices such as throttling, blocking and paid prioritization. Both the 2015 and 2017 Commission votes were 3-2 and along party lines. Last March, Senator John Thune (R-SD), then chair of the Communications subcommittee, announced that he still intended to work on bipartisan net neutrality legislation, an effort that extends back to 2015, when he chaired the full Commerce Committee and pushed for legislation codifying principles of net neutrality that was unable to gain bipartisan traction. Whether the Commerce Committee will seek to pass similar legislation in the 117th Congress, bringing certainty to the marketplace notwithstanding the vicissitudes of the political make-up of the FCC, is unclear. The Department of Justices (DOJs) lawsuit against the state of Californias net neutrality law could also affect Congressional deliberations. While a Biden Administration DOJ may withdraw its complaint, the separate suit filed by industry groups will continue to work its way in federal court in the Eastern District of California.

As the 117th Congress commences and the Senate Commerce Committee kicks off its work on technology and communications policy, ML Strategies will report on such activities and provide insight and analysis.

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Action Items on Technology and Communication Policies in front of the Senate Commerce Committee - JD Supra

The external fund manager backed by Berkshire Hathaway's Charlie Munger, Li Lu, makes no bones about it when he says 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital.' When we think about how risky a company is, we always like to look at its use of debt, since debt overload can lead to ruin. Importantly, Unimicron Technology Corp. (TPE:3037) does carry debt. But should shareholders be worried about its use of debt?

Debt is a tool to help businesses grow, but if a business is incapable of paying off its lenders, then it exists at their mercy. Ultimately, if the company can't fulfill its legal obligations to repay debt, shareholders could walk away with nothing. However, a more common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. Of course, plenty of companies use debt to fund growth, without any negative consequences. When we examine debt levels, we first consider both cash and debt levels, together.

Check out our latest analysis for Unimicron Technology

The image below, which you can click on for greater detail, shows that at September 2020 Unimicron Technology had debt of NT$39.5b, up from NT$35.9b in one year. However, it does have NT$23.4b in cash offsetting this, leading to net debt of about NT$16.1b.

We can see from the most recent balance sheet that Unimicron Technology had liabilities of NT$38.8b falling due within a year, and liabilities of NT$28.8b due beyond that. Offsetting this, it had NT$23.4b in cash and NT$18.7b in receivables that were due within 12 months. So its liabilities outweigh the sum of its cash and (near-term) receivables by NT$25.5b.

Given Unimicron Technology has a market capitalization of NT$146.6b, it's hard to believe these liabilities pose much threat. Having said that, it's clear that we should continue to monitor its balance sheet, lest it change for the worse.

We measure a company's debt load relative to its earnings power by looking at its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and by calculating how easily its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) cover its interest expense (interest cover). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses.

Unimicron Technology has a low net debt to EBITDA ratio of only 1.3. And its EBIT easily covers its interest expense, being 19.4 times the size. So we're pretty relaxed about its super-conservative use of debt. Another good sign is that Unimicron Technology has been able to increase its EBIT by 23% in twelve months, making it easier to pay down debt. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Unimicron Technology's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you want to see what the professionals think, you might find this free report on analyst profit forecasts to be interesting.

Finally, a company can only pay off debt with cold hard cash, not accounting profits. So we clearly need to look at whether that EBIT is leading to corresponding free cash flow. Looking at the most recent three years, Unimicron Technology recorded free cash flow of 31% of its EBIT, which is weaker than we'd expect. That's not great, when it comes to paying down debt.

Unimicron Technology's interest cover suggests it can handle its debt as easily as Cristiano Ronaldo could score a goal against an under 14's goalkeeper. But truth be told we feel its conversion of EBIT to free cash flow does undermine this impression a bit. Taking all this data into account, it seems to us that Unimicron Technology takes a pretty sensible approach to debt. While that brings some risk, it can also enhance returns for shareholders. There's no doubt that we learn most about debt from the balance sheet. However, not all investment risk resides within the balance sheet - far from it. For example, we've discovered 3 warning signs for Unimicron Technology that you should be aware of before investing here.

At the end of the day, it's often better to focus on companies that are free from net debt. You can access our special list of such companies (all with a track record of profit growth). It's free.

PromotedIf you decide to trade Unimicron Technology, use the lowest-cost* platform that is rated #1 Overall by Barrons, Interactive Brokers. Trade stocks, options, futures, forex, bonds and funds on 135 markets, all from a single integrated account.

This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. *Interactive Brokers Rated Lowest Cost Broker by StockBrokers.com Annual Online Review 2020

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.

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Is Unimicron Technology (TPE:3037) Using Too Much Debt? - Simply Wall St

By: Stephen M. Hahn, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs and Colin Rom, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner

Remember in-person meetings? A year ago, would you have thought our world, our homes and offices would be upended and changed so rapidly? Seemingly overnight businesses were adapting to a new reality. We at U.S. Food and Drug Administration adapted as well we had to. Our mission is so critical, we couldnt fall behind because too much was, and still is, at risk. At the start of this 21st year of the 21st Century, businesses, manufacturers, the FDA, and patients, are all adjusting to the changing times and adopting new trends. For the day-to-day work of the FDA those changes are focused on advanced manufacturing technologies, digital industry and Industry 4.0.

Advanced manufacturing technologies are being adopted by both small businesses and large corporations in ways that are changing the industry and regulatory landscape. The FDA has dedicated significant effort over the past several years to establishing both research and regulatory programs for advanced manufacturing, computational modeling, and other emerging technologies. These efforts have led to updated regulatory processes, guidance documents and dozens of peer-reviewed research publications to identify characteristics of advanced manufacturing processes that can provide regulatory evidence of quality, safety and efficacy. The FDA also encourages use of advanced manufacturing through involvement in new standards development and industry outreach.

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that the existing manufacturing structures, with a small number of facilities fed by long and complex supply chains, can be disrupted. This has also been demonstrated in the aftermath of hurricanes in recent years. This can elevate risk and create shortages in the U.S. The reality is that it isnt enough to just respond to the current pandemic. The FDA and industry have to accelerate the adoption of advanced and smart manufacturing technologies to strengthen the nations public health infrastructure. To this end, the FDA is creating a new collaboration with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This MOU is intended to increase U.S. medical supply chain resilience and advanced domestic manufacturing of drugs, biological products and medical devices through adoption of 21st century manufacturing technologies. These include smart technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, and emerging manufacturing processes. The MOU signals alignment between senior leadership at both institutions in recognition of the importance of modernizing regulatory frameworks as well as industry practices to meet public health needs in the U.S.

We envision that this partnership will leverage the complementary skills of the FDAs regulatory expertise and NISTs precision characterization and standards. The FDA has unique insight into the broad landscape of medical manufacturing and the regulatory science opportunities presented by emerging technologies. The agency also has expertise in evaluating the quality, safety and efficacy of a wide array of drugs and medical devices. NIST is a globally recognized source of world-class measurement and testing facilities, many of which focus on the processes, controls, and modeling used in modern manufacturing. They have advanced capabilities encompassing a wide range of areas that include precision measurement, computer science, mathematics, statistics, and systems engineering. NIST also works closely with a variety of industry stakeholders through their Advanced Manufacturing National Program Office, which coordinates the 16 Manufacturing Innovation Institutes of the Manufacturing USA Network and the Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program (MEP) a national network of technical assistance centers and offices located in every state.

The MOU establishes direct points of contact between senior leadership and collaborative links between subject matter experts to accelerate development and implementation of best practices for advanced manufacturing. These include many technologies that are poised to transform industry. For instance, modularization of unit operations entails breaking manufacturing down into parts that can be plugged into each other and still function, much like train cars can connect to any engine. With modularized processes, one has the potential to switch production from one pharmaceutical or regenerative medicine product to another in days or hours, using the same facility. Another example is adaptive process controls for manufacturing, which use artificial intelligence and computational models to monitor a manufacturing line and tweak settings to boost efficiency or schedule maintenance to reduce downtime.

The FDA has also expanded our commitment to advanced manufacturing by starting several new initiatives. These new initiatives supplement ongoing efforts such as the Center for Drug Evaluation and Researchs (CDER) Emerging Technology Program, the Center for Devices and Radiological Healths (CDRH) Case for Quality, and the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Researchs (CBER) Advanced Technologies Program.

The FDA has encouraged deployment of advanced technologies in manufacturing and encouraged the renewal of manufacturing assets in the U.S. for many years. This need has been made even more evident by the COVID-19 pandemic and related challenges to critical supply chains. We feel strongly that existing regulatory frameworks and ongoing enhancement programs support this effort, but improved coordination and alignment of programs within the agency, communication with innovators in industry and public-private partnerships and understanding of practical challenges and opportunities in real world manufacturing will further support extension of the innovative practices that have so successfully brought medicines to market.

The FDAs steadfast focus, collaboration and communication on advanced manufacturing is helping to connect government agencies, decrease regulatory uncertainty, and increase industry adoption of technologies that can address issues raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to prepare the U.S. to face the rest of the 21st century with a modern and resilient system for pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, medical devices, and vaccines.

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Accelerating the Adoption of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies to Strengthen Our Public Health Infrastructure - FDA.gov

CES 2021 highlights of products designed for human health include:

To help build upon those efforts, Eyesafe is expanding a line of patented screen filters to reduce blue light on electronic devices. Designed with input from doctors, these aftermarket screen filters address the legacy market of devices that do not have built-in Eyesafe technology. For more information, visit Eyesafe Filters.

The CES 2021 Eyesafe Exhibition comes in the wake of significantdata from across the globe, indicating rising levels of screen time by consumers. Consumer behavior has shifted, perhaps permanently, to a society where people live, work and play online. In turn, Eyesafe, along with its partners in consumer electronics and healthcare, are focused on providing research, education and solutions to mitigate the potential health impacts of high-energy blue light. Together, these companies are helping define the future of electronics and vision health.

About EyesafeEyesafe is the worldwide supplier of Eyesafe Technology, Eyesafe Display, and Eyesafe Standards, a suite of pioneering products and services that are shaping the consumer electronics industry's understanding of device usage, screen time, and the impacts of blue light-emitting devices. Eyesafe Technology and the associated intellectual property portfolio was developed by a world-class team of eye doctors, engineers, and scientists with decades of experience in electronics, display materials, and light management. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Eyesafe works to develop technologies and standards in conjunction with leaders in health care. Please visit Eyesafe.com for more information.

1*Based on HP's internal analysis of displays marketed to consumers as of Jan 2021. Display's plastic enclosure made with 85% post-consumer recycled plastic content consists of 5% ocean bound plastic materials by weight. Eyesafe certified website (https://eyesafe.com).

SOURCE Eyesafe

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Health at the Forefront of Technology Announced at CES 2021 - PRNewswire

While fitness tech has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world since 2016, the pandemic might just have triggered the sharpest growth in the industry yet. In the months before the pandemic, fitness enthusiasts were starting to team their wearables with at-home fitness and outdoor workouts like cross-functional training, kickboxing, piloxing, and a variety of other new ideas.

Fitness providers were also beginning to identify the demand for virtual training and recognise the potential of online services. The pandemic and resulting lockdowns pushed both to quickly embrace these technology-driven alternatives, giving rise to an era of technology-driven fitness in India.

In 2021, as the pandemic wears away, technology will unlock ways for the industry to boost both its online and offline offerings. Here are some of the trends that will become more prominent in the months to come:

Wearables were the top trend of 2020 and will likely maintain their hold on the fitness sector in the coming year if not emerge stronger. This trend stems from precise health information these devices collect, allowing fitness seekers to design their workouts to address specific concerns and meet carefully identified goals.

With the increased focus on at-home fitness, users will team their virtual workouts with a range of devices, including fitness trackers, smartwatches, heart rate monitors, and GPS trackers. Furthermore, the advent of smart clothing like vibrating leggings and biometric shirts shows that innovation in the fitness wearables space has only just begun.

The focus will also be on data collected from fitness wearables that, coupled with artificial intelligence, opens a range of possibilities for the industry. Considering that wearable apps have already permeated through almost all verticals of the fitness industry, the future will likely see a growth in data-driven holistic workouts, highly personalised coaching, and Virtual Reality sports and training programmes. AI-based solutions are also likely to find greater adoption in 2021.

Fitness apps integrated with AI and machine learning, for example, can now provide virtual assistants who, much like human trainers, educate people on correct postures and provide efficient one-on-one feedback.

Similarly, AI-powered intelligent footwear and yoga suits can monitor movements and alert users on incorrect postures. Fitness apps are also innovating with artificial intelligence consistently to create products like smart assistants for gyms and studios or diet planners that account for individual calorie requirements based on user lifestyle.

The concept of virtual fitness is now well past being just a method to traverse the challenges presented by COVID-19, and has established itself as one of the top emerging trends of the post-COVID world. It is attracting both sports and fitness fans, for whom the market now has abundant mobile apps and social media channels that provide on-demand libraries of virtual workouts and even remote coaching services. Patrons are also reaching out to their gym chains and boutique studios to provide virtual fitness options.

For fitness enthusiasts, the trend opens the possibility to plan training programmes, monitoring, and even inspiring to stay fit at their pace and for a lower cost. Virtual options are, hence, likely to gain ground among budding fitness fans as they work on gaining confidence and knowledge.

Furthermore, the industry expects that people who have adapted to digital workouts and online fitness classes will stick to their newly-formed habits, which are saving their resources, the time spent on workout preparation, and related travel.

One-on-one training motivates users to exercise regularly, both at home and the gym, and allows them to track the progress from each session precisely. Similarly, trainers can also review the trainees progress, and make recommendations in a highly personalised manner, making the whole process incredibly fruitful.

It is no surprise, then, that 2020 saw fitness enthusiasts make extensive investments in at-home exercise equipment. In a recent study, McKinsey noted a 12 percent increase in at-home exercising in the US.

The trend is also prominent in India and is highly likely to become more popular as the countrys fitness demands continue to rise steadily. As a result, at-home gyms will be the new normal of the post-COVID world and emerge as a significant trend in the coming year. Industry experts expect this trend to drive a sharp spike in demand for highly-trained fitness specialists who implement a holistic approach to wellness, and are capable of coaching users remotely.

In 2021, gym chains and boutique studios will adopt technology faster to boost their services with modern equipment. Leveraging smart, cloud-based technologies, these intelligent fitness products will help gym owners and trainers improve member performance and enhance their workout experience by combining their expertise with real-time data.

Technology will also provide solutions for hygiene concerns that have stemmed from the pandemic. For example, some fitness providers have begun using contactless or low-touch check-ins, facial recognition-based attendance tracking, and touchless payment options thus minimising the physical contact environment.

These solutions will not only help fitness entrepreneurs to bolster their digital presence at a time when online fitness is fast emerging as a lucrative growth area, but also improve communication and services delivered to the end-customer.

This year will create a new benchmark in the role played by technology in the fitness industry. Beyond wearable accessories, AI-powered tech solutions will revolutionise how users approach fitness and significantly personalise services on offer, including workouts, virtual reality gamification, diet management, and even selection processes for coaches and training programems. This digital leap is unlikely to stifle as the pandemic fears ebb, and will play the primary role in defining fitness trends for years to come.

(Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of YourStory.)

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4 fitness technology trends that will be popular in 2021 - YourStory

Congress needs a new committee that focuses exclusively on information technology, Rep. Bill FosterGeorge (Bill) William FosterHillicon Valley: WhatsApp delays controversial privacy update | Amazon hit with antitrust lawsuit alleging e-book price fixing | Biden launches new Twitter account ahead of inauguration Illinois Democrat calls for new committee focused exclusively on information technology Working together to effectively address patient identification during COVID-19 MORE (D-Ill.) said Thursday at an event hosted by The Hill.

Foster,a member of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, told The Hill's Steve Clemons that the growing IT sector means Congress needs more resources so that it can be nimble in its responses to issues facing the industry.

Information technology has now just passed financial services as a fraction of the economy. And yet, there is no congressional standing committee on information technology, Foster saidat The Hills Advancing Innovation: Technology Leading the Way event.

Foster is also a member of the House Financial Services Committee, where he leads a special task force on artificial intelligence.

The Illinois Democrat on Thursday suggestedrevivingthe Office of Technology Assessments, a congressional entity that provided lawmakers with objective analyses of technology until it was shuttered in 1995.

He also called for a sort of fundamental reorganization of the way Congress works so that we can actually respond in real time with the depth of knowledge, thoughtfulness, and focus that information technology is going to need."

.@RepBillFoster: In congress, we have to organize ourselves better to deal with technology than we have #TheHillTech https://t.co/Q92PsiWh3O pic.twitter.com/BZGe393YOV

Foster also discussed some of what lies ahead for the U.S. government under the Biden administration, particularly with regard to technology and trade.

I think our focus should not be so much at worrying specifically about any one country but worrying about the free world. I am more concerned with having our information technology infrastructure sourced in countries that we can trust rather than not having them built in China or other specific countries, Foster said at the event sponsored by the Information Technology Industry Council.

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Illinois Democrat calls for new committee focused exclusively on information technology | TheHill - The Hill