Daily Archives: August 6, 2022

TikTokers divided on the concept of virtual reality metaversities – In The Know

Posted: August 6, 2022 at 7:54 pm

As the metaverse trend spreads online, universities are riding the wave to create metaversities. Several U.S. colleges plan to open virtual reality (VR) replications of themselves in fall 2022.

TikTok user Metaverse Cam shared this video briefly explaining the metaversity project.

Metaverse Cam explained that each participating school will digitally re-create its campus, including its buildings, statues and walkways. Students who opt into the metaversity learning experience will receive VR headsets that theyll use to attend online lectures. Its unclear whether the VR tuition cost differs from each colleges in-person tuition.

The idea is to make remote learning feel more personal with the VR campus interaction and to utilize the ability virtual reality gives us to present things in ways that are not possible in the physical world, Metaverse Cam explained.

The metaversity concept is a joint project between VR company Engage XR and VictoryXR, a team of VR education specialists. VictoryXRs website states that its VR college courses will have synchronous and asynchronous options. Each online class will be geographically agnostic, allowing students and educators to work together no matter how far apart they are in the world.

According to EdSurge, the Immersive Learning team at Meta (formerly Facebook) is funding the metaversity project.

We want to create an ecosystem for learning in the metaverse, Monica Ars, Metas head of Immersive Learning,toldEdSurge. We want to make sure that not only are we preparing the future workforce to interact with these technologies, but also to build them.

The universities confirmed by VictoryXR as participants for the metaversity project include:

Metaverse Cam closed his TikTok by asking viewers whether or not they believe metaversities could replace regular universities in the future; most commenters had adverse reactions to the concept of VR school, still not understanding the metaverse concept.

Oh, so college is getting even more devalued, a TikToker joked.

Watch them upcharge for tech fees and make it more expensive than actually going, another noted.

Theyre forcing this junk so hard, does anyone even use the metaverse? someone wrote.

Other TikTokers saw the potential of metaversities, intrigued by the possibilities they hold for the higher education system.

No doubt it will be a huge part of education in the near future, but the tech is still pretty early, give it 5 years, a TikToker commented.

As long as its cheaper, then yea bring it on, it will give soo many more people the chance they didnt have before, another said.

Despite the potential benefit of metaversities, many commenters were still concerned about the logistics behind the concept. TikTokers argued that certain aspects of the college experience would not make sense when transferred to a VR setting and vice versa.

Im not so sure about this one will you have to virtually walk across the entire campus to get to your online class? If so, Im out, lmao, a TikTok user said.

Didnt we see how completely virtual college absolutely ruins the experience? Except for convenience like travel time (which this includes so??), another user questioned.

College is more important for the social opportunities available. Friends helped me land jobs after graduation, someone commented.

More from In The Know:

Lady Phenix is creating art in the metaverse with a mission to preserve memory and inspire important conversations about identity

K-Pop choreographer Bailey Sok brings her moves to Spotify: As a Korean girl, I get so hype over it

College students compare their freshman dorm roommate experiences in 'ruthless' TikTok trend

Everything you need to know about BeReal: Gen Z's new favorite 'anti' social media app

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TikTokers divided on the concept of virtual reality metaversities - In The Know

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The James Webb footage is even more impressive in virtual reality – MIXED-news.com

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Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

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With Meta Quest 2, you can view the James Webb Space Telescope footage in cinematic virtual reality format and possibly discover new details.

On July 11 and 12, NASA, ESA and CSA presented the first images of the telescope, which is located at a distance of about 932,000 miles from Earth. The images reach deeper and farther back into the history of the universe than any previous images and provide new insights into the formation of galaxies.

Featured are the star-forming region NGC 3324 in the Carina Nebula (see cover image), a group of five galaxies called Stephens Quintet, and the Southern Ring Nebula, catalogued as NGC 3132, 2,500 light-years away.

Meta packaged the images into a virtual reality movie that shows the high-resolution images at various zoom levels. The widest format fills the Meta Quest 2s field of view. It looks like sitting in the front row of a movie theater and looking at a big screen. This allows you to immerse yourself in the telescopes footage and see new details that would be difficult to see on a smartphone or monitor.

You can find the VR movie on Oculus TV by typing James Webb into the search field.

If youre reading this article on a smartphone or computer, click on the appropriate Oculus TV media content and select Watch Later. The VR movie should then appear in Oculus TV under Saved.

For the best picture quality, you should download the VR movie. Heres how to do that:

Hungry for more? This video isnt the only way to explore space in VR.

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VR experience Puppets 4.0 takes you into puppet theater – MIXED-news.com

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Image: FIDENA

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VR experience meets puppetry: The German Museum of Puppet Theater and Puppetry shows puppets and figures in VR.

Admittedly, Ive had little to do with puppets so far. And so, my path would probably not have crossed the Museum of Puppet Theater and Puppetry in Bochum, Germany, anytime soon. But the VR experience Puppet 4.0 piqued my curiosity. I paid a visit to the virtual puppet museum and was pleasantly surprised!

The real puppets from the museums collection cannot be visited in reality at the moment. However, with an Oculus Quest, I can already view three-dimensional images of the figures in virtual reality. I can also move some of the dolls myself to get to know them better.

In the VR experience, I find myself in typical puppet theater scenarios. Picture a forest, a marketplace, or an oriental temple. Fritz Wortelmann, founder of the German Institute for Puppetry, appears in miniature as a puppet himself. Puppet Wortelmann provides information about each individual figure on display.

In five VR rooms, I learn about various aspects of puppet theater. In the first room, for example, I learn about puppets that were used by the Nazis for their propaganda in the 1930s. Or, did you know that because puppeteers were associated with sorcery by the church, they were considered dangerous in the Middle Ages? I didnt.

In other rooms, I look at stick figures from Asia and learn about wayang Indonesian puppetry. A few puppeteers move up to 30 figures at the same time. There were probably shadow play figures already on the island around 1500 BC.

From China, there are figures of hand puppetry from the 16th century. The figures are exact miniature representations of the performers of the Chinese opera at that time. One of the miniature heads on a wooden stick represents a 17th-century Japanese performer.

I can lift some dolls to look at them closely. However, the exhibits are rarely interactive. This is intentional, says Mareike Gaubitz from the museums documentation and research center. They want to remain a museum and not develop a VR game.

The programmers deliberately refrained from using VR controllers. I only use my hands to move through the computer-generated environment. The operation should be as simple as possible, both for children and for seniors, who are already somewhat skeptical about VR headsets, says Gaubitz, whose enthusiasm for the puppet theater is plain to see.

Strictly speaking, it is not called puppet theater, but rather figure theater, I learn from little Mr. Wortelmann. Because when you hear puppets, you immediately think of childrens programs and toys. But the world of miniature theater is more diverse than the classic childhood shows. Some figures transform or are split down the middle, for example when they are fatally struck with a sword by an Italian soldier in shining knights armor.

Those who want to immerse themselves completely in the virtual tour should set aside some time. It takes a good 90 minutes if you wish to watch and listen to everything. But its worth it: little Mr. Wortelmann can tell gripping stories and, as is usually the case in museums, you learn a lot in the process. In any case, the VR experience opened up a new world of puppet theater and puppetry to me.

The Puppets 4.0 project was funded by the federal government and the city of Bochum. The plan is to introduce more people to the world of puppet theater. On the one hand, we get VR enthusiasts to perhaps engage with the topic of puppet theater for the first time, says Mareike Gaubitz, on the other hand, puppet enthusiasts come and are fascinated by the possibilities of virtual reality.

For more information and tickets, visit the official website (You can select English language in the upper right corner).

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Tim Crouch on his virtual-reality themed riff on King Lear: ‘It’s about the last two-and-a-half years’ – The Scotsman

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Last year, when the festival was half in and half out of lockdown, the actor and playwright Tim Crouch gave a talk as part of the online SHEDx programme. His theme was the future of the Edinburgh Fringe and the possibility of making it better after the pandemic.Thinking about the festival's inordinate size, he made an analogy with industrial farming. He compared the millions of cobs of corn being harvested from the fields near where he grew up with the thousands of shows ripe for the picking in August. "The industrial scale of the Fringe now makes it difficult for delicate organic material to thrive," he said. "The deeper nutritional value is denied us by the pace of the market."

He hoped the festival would benefit from the fallow period imposed by the pandemic and would return with healthier produce. Today, though, he wonders if his optimism was not misplaced. "A lot of people are trying to will it back to how it was and it can't be how it was," says Crouch when we meet in the Royal Lyceum's rehearsal room. "If we have these last two years and don't actually change from it I worry that we haven't taken this opportunity."

His own contribution to this summer's 3,171-show harvest is a one-man play, Truth's A Dog Must To Kennel. Like so much of Crouch's work, it is as bold in concept as it is simple in execution. Take, for instance, his 2005 play An Oak Tree, in which one of the characters was played by an actor who had never seen the script. Or consider 2009's The Author, in which the actors sat among the audience as they talked about a play they had supposedly performed in.

Then there was 2019's Total Immediate Collective Imminent Terrestrial Salvation for the National Theatre of Scotland, in which the audience sat in a circle reading a book that foretold the fate of a messianic cult leader and his acolytes. "The form is as central to the play as the story," he says.

Similarly stripped-back in presentation, Truth's A Dog Must To Kennel requires Crouch to spend much of the time wearing a virtual-reality headset, a portal to action happening elsewhere. That action is taking place in an altogether grander theatre where a production of Shakespeare's King Lear is in progress.

"It's the idea of one thing inside something else this other theatre inside this theatre," he says.

Crouch is fascinated by the scene in King Lear in which Edgar pretends to take his blinded father Gloucester to the edge of a cliff. Edgar's description, and the old man's leap of faith, is like an act of theatre: it is not real but the audience implicitly agrees to believe it. "That's a piece of virtual reality without any digitalisation whatsoever," he says. "It's using a mind, words and imagination. That's where the root of theatre exists for me."

He says it is not necessary to have a knowledge of King Lear to follow Truth's A Dog Must To Kennel, but he is fascinated by the play's modern-day parallels. For some of the time, he takes on the part of the Fool, a character who departs from King Lear before the interval and misses the tragedy's bleakest moments.

"The Fool disappears from a world that is increasingly becoming unliveable," he says. "It has the potential of a civil war, the dismantling of governance all those things that feel acutely contemporary. If I write about the schism in Lear the deposing of a leader and the arrival of a lawless, ego-driven, reckless tyranny we're quite close to that now."

In the Fool's early departure from the play, he also sees a connection between all those in the performing arts industry, from actors to carpenters, who were forced to make an exit when the pandemic threatened their livelihood. "This is about leaving," he says. "It's about the last two-and-a-half years, wondering what we're doing, how we carry on, how we re-engage, how difficult everything is, where is theatre in all of this and the invasion of the digital. This play celebrates the fact that we are all together and that in each one of us sits an alternative one of us."

Tim Crouch: Truth's A Dog Must to Kennel, Royal Lyceum, Edinburgh, 628 August.

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Why a Hartlepool virtual reality gaming centre is to close after less than a year – Hartlepool Mail

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It was hailed as the biggest virtual reality gaming centre of its kind outside of London.

The hospice created it after looking for imaginative new ways to generate income for its care services after being hit hard during lockdown.

It also aimed to introduce more younger people to its work.

But Alice House has today (Friday, August 8) announced that NEVRlabs is to close for business on Sunday, August 14.

Despite regular custom and partnerships with schools and businesses, the hospice says the centre was unable to attract the level of income needed.

The ongoing impact of Covid and the cost of living crisis have been blamed, together with the forthcoming end of the Governments Kickstart Scheme in September which funded many of the staff.

Ray Priestman, chairman of the hospice trustees, said: Like many organisations in Hartlepool and beyond, we must invest carefully and focus on our priorities.

"As most people know, these are hard times for families, businesses and charities.

We have made the difficult decision to close NEVRlabs and move all virtual reality services back to Alice House, returning the project to its original focus of offering entertainment and wellbeing support to Hospice patients.

He added: As the economy heads towards further uncertainty, we have reviewed our commitments and this is the most financially responsible thing to do, in order to help protect the future of the Hospice, which remains our entire reason for being.

"We would like say a special thank you to all the staff at NEVRlabs for their hard work, effort and enthusiasm we wish them every success in the future and hope that they leave us with new skills and some happy memories.

Finally, thanks to everyone else that supported us throughout this journey; we hope that your warmth towards Hospice care will continue and that we will see you again soon.

Resources from the centre will either be repurposed in the hospice, based in Wells Avenue, Hartlepool, or sold.

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Why a Hartlepool virtual reality gaming centre is to close after less than a year - Hartlepool Mail

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How Will Virtual Reality Help Spains Tourism Industry? – The Leader Newspaper

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Technology like virtual reality (VR) has taken the travel industry by storm as travel agencies, airlines, and tourism boards embrace the growing interest in virtual travel. By 2030, the global virtual tour industry is predicted to generate $6.5 billion, and similar growth patterns are happening in other industries that have adopted virtual technology, such as the real estate industry.

With virtual tourism, people from around the world can visit Spains top museums,such as the Prado Museum and the Dali Museum, in an online and immersive space.According to Head Out, virtual international visitors can also walk through Spanish cities like Barcelona using video and virtual reality to visit landmarks such as Sagrada Famlia.

Even though Spain is one of the most visited countries in the world, recording more than 80 million tourists in 2019, travel is set to change next year with ETIAS. Because of this, the countrys embrace of virtual tourism may pay dividends.

Since Spain is a country in the Schengen Area, travelers visiting from a visa-free country starting in 2023 will need to get an ETIAS to visit the country for stays of up to 90 days. Some visa-free countries, as perETIAS Visa, include Canada, the United States, and Mexico.

While the ETIAS application is quick and easy, and all you need is a valid passport and debit or credit card to pay the fees, it may be a hurdle in someones travel plans. Plus, since the ETIAS will be a new system, there could be processing issues and other problems that follow the launch of new ideas and procedures. If an international traveler cant go on their trip, there are dozens of virtual tours they can take.

Then again, Spains embrace of virtual tourism may be a sign of the times rather than a helping hand since virtual tourism has reached all corners of the world. You can tour some of the main attractions at Yellowstone National Park in the United States and go on virtual safaris in Africa on the same day. Or, you can wander freely around the gardens of the Palace of Versailles in France.

Live entertainment has become an integral part of our lives, so its no surprise to see travel, another form of entertainment, join the film and gaming industries. The gaming industry, in particular, has embraced the idea of using digital, virtual, and live technology to replicate and transport players to another place, such as traditional land-based casinos.

For example, The Hippodrome Casino in Londons Leicester Square is regarded as one of the most famous casinos in the world, built at the turn of the 20th century. Recognizing its global popularity, the land-based Hippodrome launched its digital partner,Hippodrome OnlineCasino.

This online casino platform has replicated the history and atmosphere of its land-based sibling, allowing international players to experience the closest thing to being at the London venue from their home countries.

Technology has improved our lives in many ways, and its advantages are now seeping over to the real estate and travel industries as virtual showings and tours skyrocket in popularity.

In Spain, virtual tourism may be useful when the ETIAS launches in 2023, but even then, the growing virtual tourism market is a sign of the times. We get most of our entertainment like games and movies virtually, so why not travel that way too?

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Industry Trends: Map D and ARway Make Augmented Reality a Reality for Events – TSNN Trade Show News

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Have you ever heard someone say, If it weren't for tomorrow, it'd be the future today or The future is unwritten?" Well, dear readers, when it comes to the use of augmented reality (AR) technology in the events space, that future is now!

The natural fit between AR and events is something to be explored and celebrated. AR is so well suited for expos, trade shows, conferences, and festivals. Basically, anywhere large groups of people come together in a flexible space, AR can make a difference. It adds big value to event management software by providing wayfinding meta maps, engaging spatial experiences, and deep location intelligence. It is making groundbreaking new experienceswith no programming required.

A Total Package for Event Management Solutions

Event management companies of all sizes are turning to Map D and ARway, both from Nextech AR Solutions, to make their trade shows, conferences, festivals, and other events sizzle. Map D, which has long been a well-respected product for association event management, has blossomed when combined with ARway. ARway is advanced AR technology that makes creating rich experiences easier than ever.

In one recent case, Restaurants Canada (RC) used Map D and ARway to manage its event, which is one of North Americas largest hospitality industry conferences. They were able to add delicious layers of richness to the attendee experience. So how big was the team and how did they do it? Oh, just two people with a smart phone.

Just as the use of AR and other advanced technologies for events and tradeshows has evolved over the past few years, so has Map D. It was once a niche product tailored mostly to association events and tradeshows, festivals, and expos that needed an easy way to sell booths online. Now, with the development of new features needed to optimize and enhance complex contemporary events, it has matured into the total package for event management.

No Special Equipment or Expertise Required

Some of the key features in Map D that event managers are coming to depend on are attendee ticket sales, interactive floor plans; online booth sales, real-time event updates; management tools for exhibitors, sponsors, speakers, and sessions; location-based content and notifications; and (of course) the ability to easily create compelling AR experiences.

ARway is the secret sauce behind creating those experiences. Its a no-code spatial technology platform that allows anyone to tap into the creative potential of the metaverse. Creators and users alike enjoy the powerful potential of the technology. People stay engaged with AR content longer than any other type. More than a billion people use AR on a regular basis, a number that will only grow. For events, AR is a game-changer. It opens the door to so many critical capabilities - from virtual signage, to wayfinding, to location-based popup information. While its easy enough for anyone to create these experiences, custom development offers an even wider array of rich experiences and services.

Sponsored byMap DandARway

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These Two Latina Money Coaches Are Helping the Immigrant Community Break Financial Barriers. This Is What They Want Immigrants to Know – NextAdvisor

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Fresh out of college and ready to start her first job, Maribel Franciscos new employer asked her what she wanted to be paid. With no idea where to begin, she said $40,000.

She soon realized that was less than what she was worth, but when she asked for more, the employer wouldnt budge.

Its a situation Francisco, the first generation of her family born in the United States, hopes to help others avoid. After working as a financial analyst in the entertainment industry, she launched Our Wealth Matters, a platform to help immigrants on their financial journey in the U.S. by coaching them on saving, investing, and retirement planning.

Shes not alone. Delyanne Barros, a Brazilian-born U.S. citizen, launched her brand, Delyanne the Money Coach, after an unsatisfying career as an attorney. She found investing as an opportunity to work toward financial independence without owning property, and hopes to help others, particularly Latinos, achieve their own version of financial freedom.

Language barriers and a lack of trust in the financial system, Barros and Francisco say, are among the factors that make it difficult to find financial stability in a new country, especially for Latin American immigrants. With the number of foreign-born people in the U.S. rising currently at an historical high of 44 million, 50% immigrating from Latin America a growing number of people are in need of foundational advice on how to navigate the American financial system.

Barros says overcoming these types of hurdles is one of the first steps toward financial stability for this population, which she defines as the ability to walk away from situations or walk towards situations that are going to increase your happiness.

Heres what Barros and Francisco think are the biggest barriers to financial stability for immigrants, and how to begin the process of overcoming them.

Financial stability for new immigrants can look different depending on each persons goals. Getting on the grid establishing credit and opening up a bank account for the first time is a good first step. It is essential to start building your credit score and credit history as soon as possible, according to Barros.

Established credit will make it easier to qualify for loans, credit cards, a mortgage, and better interest rates for all of these. Established credit is also crucial for leasing an apartment, as many rental companies check credit reports.

Gaining financial stability means starting with the basic American financial building blocks. Once these building blocks are in place, that is when financial stability starts giving you choices. You can leave an employer that doesnt value you, negotiate a better salary, or leave an unhealthy relationship with the confidence that you can support yourself financially, says Barros.

Getting started on the path toward financial stability can be daunting, though. There are aspects of the U.S. financial system and the immigration experience that often make this path even less attainable for the immigrant community.

Every immigrants story is different, but some aspects of the U.S. financial system present common difficulties for new Americans. Here are a few, and how to navigate them.

One of the largest hurdles for immigrants who want to be financially independent is accessing information in their native language. Financial products can be complicated. Thats true for everyone, but its especially true for those whose primary language isnt English. There can be serious consequences if you arent clear what youre getting into. The language is purposefully intimidating, Barros says.

Through educating the immigrant community in personal finance (in both English and Spanish), Francisco says she tries to boost their awareness of the possibilities available to them. Its why she decided to produce bilingual content: posting everything in English first, and publishing the exact same content in Spanish the next day. This is how she does her part to combat the language barriers that face Spanish-speaking immigrants. This also helps the families of her audience: She says many will share the Spanish-language versions with their parents and loved ones.

Immigrants bring with them parts of their home country, like language, culture, and values. Some bring with them a fear of financial institutions, rooted in distrust of their home countrys system. There are more protections in the United States than many other countries and youre actually hurting yourself by not engaging with the financial system, says Barros.

The U.S. financial system offers several safeguards for consumers. For example, banks that are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) protect up to $250,000 per account in the case of theft or bank failure. Additionally, government agencies like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau hold banks accountable and can punish them for breaking the law. All consumers can access the CFPB complaint database, which allows for transparency between banks and customers when it comes to violations of federal regulations and laws.

It can be hard for immigrants to find someone who understands their situation. Theres very little representation [of immigrants] in the financial industry, Barros says. This often causes immigrants to feel marginalized and can be a deterrent for those who are already distrustful of banks and investing.

Many immigrants who dont have a Social Security number believe that investing is out of their reach. This is a huge misconception, Francisco says. An individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN, allows immigrants to do much more than pay taxes. ITINs can be used for opening up bank accounts, savings accounts, credit cards, and applying for loans. Immigrants can also put money into a 401(k) with an ITIN and receive an employer match. The same goes for immigrants who have work permits through their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status, Francisco says.

An individual taxpayer identification number, or ITIN, allows immigrants to open up bank accounts, savings accounts, retirement accounts, credit cards, loans, and also to pay taxes without a Social Security number.

If youre looking to begin your journey toward financial stability, here are a few basic steps to help you get started.

Franciscos first step with her clients is pushing them to define their why. This can range from wanting to retire early, support their family, buying a house, starting a stable career, or simply having a secure lifestyle. Defining a why is crucial because it may be the only thing that keeps you from giving up during financial difficulties. If you have a strong enough why, thats gonna get you through those hardships, Francisco says.

Your credit score will consist of several factors, primarily your payment history (paying your credit accounts on time) and credit utilization (how much of your available credit youre using). There are other factors that go into a credit score as well, including the length of your credit history.

There are a few ways to start building credit if you are brand new to the credit system, Barros says. The first way is to find a family member or close friend who is willing to add you to their account as an authorized user. Becoming an authorized user means that you have access to funds, but the owner of the account remains responsible for paying all bills on time. Another way to start building credit is to get a secured credit card. Secured credit cards have relatively low limits, but once you show that you are a responsible user and you pay your credit card off on time, your bank can convert your secured credit card to an unsecured credit card, and your credit limit will increase.

One of the most important steps toward financial stability is opening a bank account. This may be overwhelming since there are tons of banks out there, so Barros recommends doing your research. A Google search will tell you if a bank has been involved in fraud or some other sketchy behavior. You can also browse the CFPBs Consumer Complaint Database to learn about complaints made against a specific bank.

Some other things you should be looking for are banks with minimal fees and penalties for transferring money between accounts and also banks with accessible customer service.

At a minimum, confirm the bank is FDIC insured or, if youre banking with a credit union, be sure that it is NCUA (National Credit Union Association) insured. You can do this by searching a bank name through the FDICs BankFind feature or for a credit union using NCUAs Research a Credit Union

Finally, Barros suggests you look for banks that are catering to a specific minority. This is the best way to ensure that your bank will be empathetic to your situation and cater to your specific needs. For example, if your primary language is Spanish, it will be helpful to find a bank that has Spanish-speaking customer service representatives. Generally, this information can be found on a bank websites homepage or on their customer service page.

Look for tools at the top of the homepage that allow you to translate the entire website, or look more specifically at whether they have Spanish language options on their customer service page.

Informed Immigrant is a trustworthy tool to help find local immigrant-serving organizations, clinics, legal help, and other nonprofits. Local organizations like the ones found through Informedimmigrant.com may be able to provide educational resources or translation services if English is not your primary language.

Growing up as a child with an undocumented father, Francisco was never sure who could be trusted and, as a result, says she and her family simply avoided talking about personal finances with others. To her, finding community is gonna be key. Her advice is to find others who talk openly about finances. Some community centers or churches will offer personal finance workshops that can be beneficial for those who dont know where to start.

The best way to find trustworthy communities is through diligent research, Francisco says. She advises immigrants to reach out to families they know who have been in a similar situation or search for community centers that are specifically servicing the immigrant population. If youre on social media, find and follow people who are openly talking about the topic youre interested in, she says. While immigration is a sensitive topic to speak about openly on public platforms, there are influencers doing it on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube. Those who are willing to share their stories are usually out to build a community, Francisco says.

You may also be able to find nonprofit organizations in your community that help immigrant groups. Community Development Financial Institutions, or CDFIs are financial institutions that prioritize serving communities and populations that typically lack access to financial products and services. Outside of providing financial services, CDFIs often offer courses and programs to help underserved communities develop financial literacy You can find a CDFI near you using the CDFI locator tool.

The FDIC also offers an educational program, Money Smart, aimed toward people who want to improve their financial literacy and skills.

Both Barros and Francisco warned that one of the biggest mistakes they see is when people allow fear to prevent them from taking action. For example, Barros says she sees frequently that fear of being charged interest keeps people from using their credit cards [and] keeps people from building their credit score. Francisco refers to this fear as analysis paralysis. She says that she often has clients who are so overwhelmed by the amount of information floating around, they end up stuck in a place of inaction. This mistake can be avoided by doing your research and asking questions.

The same can be said for investing. Yes, investing can be risky, but according to Barros, we reduce the risk by investing over a long period of time. So, its important to start early. The best strategies to invest for the long-term include investing regularly and consistently, and investing in broad index funds. Barros says investing and financial stability can be the difference between having to work until the day you die versus you being able to retire with dignity in your older years and not having to put a ton of strain onto your children.

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These Two Latina Money Coaches Are Helping the Immigrant Community Break Financial Barriers. This Is What They Want Immigrants to Know - NextAdvisor

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Treasurer Sprague recognizes August as ABLE to Save Month – The Paulding County Progress

Posted: at 7:52 pm

COLUMBUS August is ABLE to Save Month, and Ohio Treasurer Robert Sprague isusing the occasion to tout the importance of STABLE accounts andhighlight the programs record-setting growth. ABLE to Save Month is anational campaign that shines a light on ABLE programs across the nationand how they enhance financial independence for people living withdisabilities.

Since January 2019, Ohios iteration of an ABLEprogram, STABLE Account, has seen overall participation grow three-fold,with total enrollment nearing 30,000 active accounts.

ABLE toSave Month is the perfect time to promote the financial empowerment andindependence that STABLE accounts provide for people living withdisabilities, said Sprague. These accounts are life-changing as theyhelp individuals to save and invest money, while also staying in theworkforce. Were proud to continue the growth of STABLE Account and lookforward to empowering more Ohio families.

STABLE accounts are529-like specialized savings and investment accounts for people livingwith disabilities. Accountholders can save up to $16,000 without losingfederal assistance, and they can save an additional $12,880 each year iftheyre employed. Earnings on STABLE accounts grow tax-free if they arespent on qualified expenses, which include housing, transportation,living expenses, healthcare, assistive technology, and more.

TheSTABLE Account program was launched in 2016 following passage of thefederal Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act. Prior to the ABLEAct, individuals with disabilities could only save $2,000 before losingmeans-tested benefits, such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income(SSI). Additionally, asset limits hindered opportunities to join theworkforce. These regulations made it difficult for many people to work,save, and invest, creating barriers to financial independence.

Inrecent years, the Treasurers office has partnered with several privateand public sector employers across Ohio to enable eligible employees tomake recurring deposits into STABLE accounts directly from theirpaychecks.

Through STABLE Account, Ohioans living withdisabilities can enjoy a higher quality of life and build a strongfinancial future. Signing up for a STABLE account takes about 20 minutesand can be done online from home. For more information about STABLEaccounts and to sign up, visit http://www.stableaccount.com.

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Treasurer Sprague recognizes August as ABLE to Save Month - The Paulding County Progress

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Are stock trading and betting just two sides of the same coin? – Times Square Chronicles

Posted: at 7:52 pm

Investing in the stock market successfully can be a way to make big money by leveraging your knowledge but, as the golden rule goes, the value of your investment can always go down as well as up. Betting on sports and casinos, meanwhile, can also be a way to use strategy and knowledge to run a profit, and it also comes with an element of risk. Putting these facts side by side, a lot of people will be tempted to say that there isnt a lot of difference between stock trading and betting. So the question should at least be asked. Are they that different? Or are these speculation methods just two sides of the same coin?

If youll pardon that unfortunate and accidental pun, its time to apply some analysis to the argument. While one of the two is considered more respectable than the other, weve seen over the years that a respectable reputation is absolutely no guarantee of respectable behavior or success. So we wont be comparing the two on that metric, because conventional wisdom is often not worth the paper it is written on. Instead, well look at the elements they share, and see whether theyre alike on anything more than a surface level.

There is always an element of risk

While its comforting to tell yourself that your stock investment is more valid than a sports bettor, who are using bonuses and offers at sites listed at oddsninja.com to place a sports bet, the truth is that thats a hard argument to justify on the numbers. Your stock trade has the potential to gain in value only because the possibility exists that it will also lose value. The market forces that drive value up can also work in reverse. And while some investors make enough money to retire in their late 20s with their financial independence assured, they are in the minority. Some traders also see their kids college funds wiped out in a weekend of market turbulence.

Sports betting is more prone to emotion

One way in which the markets and gambling do diversify is that sports betting is not just a case of numbers going up and down. Its people on a court, a field or any other playing surface, sweating and bleeding until they win or lose. And if youre a sports bettor, youre likely to also be a sports fan, which makes it hard to divorce emotion from the process.

Even if your team is not involved, its hard not to bring a bias into play when you bet for long enough. You may be a fan of Barcelona, and resolve never to bet on them because emotion and investment should not mix. But how far does that go? Do you also not bet on Real Madrid, because you hate them? Or on Manchester City, whose coach once coached your team? Betting emotion-free is a tricky thing to do.

Analysis and predictive tools exist for both

Its easy to point to the graphs and charts that make up market analysis and say that investment is based in real, verifiable data. Its harder to keep making that argument after ten minutes talking to any sports fan about stats. They can tell you how many games their quarterback has won in games on the road during the month of December in each of the last five years. And usually, they can tell you what the weather was like in those games. The existence of value betting is based in its entirety on analyzing where bookies have made a misstep. There may be many differences between betting and investment, but those differences are usually a lot shallower than we like to tell ourselves they are.

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Are stock trading and betting just two sides of the same coin? - Times Square Chronicles

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