Category Archives: Evolution

POS systemshave been around for quite a while. The first one was invented in 1879 by an American shopkeeper James Ritty. When he noticed that his employees were pocketing money his business was making.

He called the system Rittys Incorruptible Cashier, which is perhaps a more catchy name unlike, todays IT tool which would commonly become known as a cash register.

The first computer-driven cash register, which resembles what we have today, was developed by IBM in 1973 and it marked the first commercial use of a computer-based system used by the restaurant industry.

Then in the 1980s, the first credit cards were introduced into society, and the evolution of POS terminals accelerated when they had to be updated accordingly to suit the business industry.

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McDonalds started rolling out POS terminals in its restaurants in 1984, Invented by William Brobeck. The model they used was one of the first microprocessor-controlled cash registers.

The POS terminal system increasingly sped up the food ordering process by including a physical button for every item on the menu. It was also the first time a POS could be connected to a multitude of other devices, allowing the fast-food chain to easily manage reports and receipts for the first time.

In more fine-dining establishments, the bulky POS systems would be hidden so that they were out of view of customers.

POS systems changed drastically two years later, when touch screen technology and colorgraphic monitors became more affordable.

ViewTouch, the first POS system solution on the Atari ST, was launched in 1986 by a New York-based restaurateur - Gene Mosher at Comdex in Las Vegas.whilst the inventor was on his honeymoonwith his wife. Nowadays it is offered for free under the GNU license and can be run on the simplest computer hardware such a Raspberry Pi.

As computers became more sophisticated in the 1990s, so did POS systems, with the first e-POS (Electronic Point Of Sale) system, Nisyst, launched in 1992.

That year saw Martin Goodwin and Bob Hendry together develop and release the IT Retail POS software system onWindows, leading to a variety of POS applications being developed for Microsofts increasingly popular OS, in addition to Unix-based operating systems.

In 1993, Europay, MasterCard and Visa unveiled the EMV standard for the credit card industry in Europe, which is still used in integrated circuit cards, POS terminals and automated ATMs.

Powerful computers and more advanced networks led to an evolution of the POS, which began to develop capabilities beyond sales transaction processing in the early 2000s.

As internet connections became faster, ePOS systems took tothe cloudand found popularity among businesses due to increased convenience and lowered cost.

Cloud-based POS systems transformed the landscape as any device capable of connecting to the internet could suddenly be used as a potential POS terminal.

That includedsmartphonesequipped with barcode scanners and NFC tech that effectively turned them into payment terminals andmobile credit card readers.

Shifting to the cloud, this also brought new security capabilities to the POS systems. The introduction of theSaaS (or software-as-a-service)model removed the need for businesses to manually update software and licenses, with it instead being automatically taken care of by POS software vendors.

Since 2010, modern POS systems have become increasingly sophisticated, allowing business owners to manage both front-end and back-end operations with ease. Integrated systems enable everything from inventory management tomarketing; stafftime management;accountingprocess; and customer information to be accessed, analysed, and controlled through a single (often touchscreen) interface.

Adoption of cloud-based POS systems accelerated during the decade. Through the utilization of technologies to store sales and customer data usingcloud storage, companies found it quicker and easier to access (and act upon) their sales and customer data than ever before. This made cloud-based POS systems particularly attractive for companies that ran a franchise model with multiple stores.

The rise of cloud-based POS has naturally coincided with new trends around mobile POS. Like the many business owners and workers began the POS systems on mobile devices from 2010, which became easier thanks totabletsand smart mobile phones with increasingly larger displays and better processing power.

Many vendors offer theirbusiness applicationsfor free and take a cut of each sale throughpayment processingfees. By using a mobile POS system, companies allow their employees to easily look up product information, search for answers to customers questions, and take payments whilst walking around the shop floor. Consumers are also able to benefit from the mobile, by buying goods and services on devices like their own smart phones with a tap, using technologies such as NFC and Bluetooth.

The POS System has come a long way, with great leaps made particularly in the past two decades.

Our current decade is likely to continue seeing a convergence in technologies, with POS systems becoming smarter and able to help businesses get even more value out of their data than they can today.

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The evolution of the POS system - TechRadar

LAS VEGAS Conor McGregor landed a two-punch combination in the first round of his rematch with Dustin Poirier in January and the crowd at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi roared as Poirier backed to the cage.

What the fans in attendance, those watching on the pay-per-view broadcast around the world and most significantly McGregor did not know was how badly buzzed Poirier had been by that combination.

McGregor is one of the sports premier finishers and has the kind of ability sharks have to smell blood in the water. When an opponent is hurt and in danger, McGregor usually knows it, and fast.

This time, though, he did not, and the fact that Poirier was able to play possum significantly altered the course of UFC history.

Poirier went on to win that bout by second-round stoppage, and the lightweight stars will complete the trilogy on Saturday at sold-out T-Mobile Arena in the five-round main event of UFC 264.

This fight, which UFC president Dana White said has the most pre-buys this far out in the companys history, would not be happening if McGregor recognized he had Poirier hurt. Michael Chandler wouldnt have gotten the unexpected call to face Charles Oliveira for the lightweight championship.

It probably would have been McGregor against Oliveira for the title, and Poirier would have been trying one more time to rebuild from a crushing defeat.

But hell go into Saturdays bout as a -125 favorite at BetMGM to defeat McGregor and win the rubber match. And there is an argument to be made that with former champion Khabib Nurmagomedovs retirement, nobody has been more dominant over the last five years than Poirier.

Im a veteran and Ive had a lot of fights, Poirier said, explaining how he was able to survive. "Ive been hurt in fights. Ive had fights where everything went smoothly. But when something like that happens he hit me with two good shots in that last fight that hurt me you have to stay composed. Its important to be calculated. You have to weather the storms here and there.

Story continues

Fighting isnt a fight until there is something to overcome, so I expect adversity every time my feet hit that canvas. I dont think its going to be a smooth night any night. Its a fight.

Dustin Poirier reacts after his knockout victory over Conor McGregor at UFC 257 inside Etihad Arena on Jan. 23, 2021 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

Poirier said that as a younger fighter, when he was hit and buzzed, he felt a need to hit back, become even more aggressive and land something big. The wisdom hes gained from all those fights was the realization that its not always the best move to fire back.

Sometimes, it requires patience and time to let ones head clear.

Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesnt, Poirier said. Its a coin toss. But self-preservation is something Ive learned over the years, to step on the gas when I need to and to pull back when I need to. When someone hurts me, I want to hurt them back, so its a constant mental war in there dealing with those things.

What Poirier has done better than just about anyone active in the UFC over the last four-plus years is to win fights. And hes winning them against the best of the best, which makes the streak he is on even more impressive.

In his last nine fights, hes 7-1 with a no-contest. The loss was a submission in a title fight with Nurmagomedov, who retired last year with a 29-0 record.

Of those seven wins five were over current or former champions Anthony Pettis, Max Holloway, Justin Gaethje, Eddie Alvarez and McGregor as well as Jim Miller, one of the UFCs all-time winningest fighters, and Dan Hooker, who was top five at the time.

But its his humility that allows him to continue to be successful. Hes facing the best of the best and knows the fine line at the top level between winning and losing. He knows the danger in front of him and never enters the cage feeling invincible or untouchable.

Not at all [do I feel invincible]; I wish I did, he said, cracking a grin. I have a healthy understanding of the dangers that these guys, especially the guys Im fighting in the last 10 fights, that one mistake could be detrimental. I just know that Im a human being and I could make a mistake and get hit with a good shot or put in a bad position submission-wise. And if that happens I could be finished. I know that. I have a healthy fear for those things.

That fear has led to growth and development and has pushed Poirier to the brink of greatness, if hes not already there. If he beats McGregor, hell earn a shot at Oliveiras title.

And its all come because he appreciates all the dangers he faces every time he walks into the cage.

Who is worth more? McGregor or Poirer? Explore their earnings and more in augmented reality:

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'Its a constant mental war in there': The evolution of Dustin Poirier - Yahoo Sports

While many across the nation might view the Suns third-year center, Deandre Ayton, as a third fiddle of the scorching hot Phoenix roster, the Bahama native has placed a monument impact on the 2021 NBA Playoffs.

Even before Ayton officially became the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2018, it was predetermined by the masses that his name would forever be tied to fellow 2018 draft picks, Luka Doni of the Dallas Mavericks and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks. Even those in the valley would quickly declare Ayton a draft bust through his first two seasons, only averaging 17 points per game on 56% shooting, while Doni and Young were boasting near-herculean performances every other night.

While Young and Doni averaged more than 25 points, nearly nine assists, and a strong chunk of rebounds per game, Ayton seemed to struggle to find his place in the professional game. The youngster was sometimes visibly tired in the fourth quarter, lacked finesse and aggression in the post, and was manhandled by the veteran centers of the league across the floor.

This postseason, Ayton has gone toe-to-toe with some of the most aggressive and talented big men in the league over the past decade such as Anthony Davis, Marc Gasol, Andre Drummond, Demarcus Cousins, and the last two NBA MVPs, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic. Even if not all the names listed are elite talent, not only could Ayton keep up with every player he faced but he oftentimes outperformed them game-by-game.

Ayton has scored a double-double in 12 of his 17 playoff games. In games where he doesnt pick up a double-double, the Suns are still 4-1.

To see his growth, man, I get goosebumps seriously, Suns guard Chris Paul said after Game 4 against the Clippers. We had some heated conversations this season, especially earlier in the season but I genuinely love him. The person that he is and to see everything thats coming to him, national audience getting to see who he is and why hes the No. 1 pick, I couldnt be happier for him.

Throughout the year, Ayton has made it clear that future Hall of Famer, Chris Paul, has made an insurmountable improvement to the centers game this season. It is impossible to dismiss Aytons growth from game one of the 2020-2021 season up to the playoffs.

While Ayton plays with a new demeanor and talent level, those who only look at the stat sheet wont understand this seasons road to success. Statistically, 2020-2021 has marked the centers lowest career scoring average and he failed to improve his rebound, block, and assist averages from last year.

Regardless of what the stats say, Ayton has added a new set of post moves to his game, keeps the ball high and protected in the post, and has developed the ability to receive nearly any lobbed pass. No. 22 looks like an entirely new player compared to just one year ago both physically and mentally.

I love CP, man. Like I said, thats really the only teammate that really push me. Like big bro-type push. Knowing what I got and that I aint never thought that I had, Ayton said after Game 4 against the Clippers. I think he was the best thing that happened to my career. I can say that every day.

The 6-11 starter was a literal bully during his time at Hillcrest Prep in Phoenix as a seven-foot, 235-pound monster. Ayton received offers from San Diego State, Maryland, Kentucky, Kansas, and his eventual one-year home, UArizona.

In his lone year at the University of Arizona, Ayton maintained the ability to be a walking double-double. Ayton played in 35 games his freshman season and averaged 20 points alongside 12 rebounds and 2 blocks per game.

A 27-8 season gave the Wildcats the fourth seed in the NCAA Tournament South bracket but was annihilated by the 13-seed, Buffalo. Ayton only scored 14 points but pulled down 13 rebounds in the massive upset loss.

While the addition of Paul has made a colossal difference for Ayton, another major piece of his development has been his growth alongside fellow Phoenix star, Devin Booker. The duos chemistry has reached new heights as their talent levels rise as well.

Another part of Pauls game he brought to this Suns team is his experience as a leader and as a winner. While Paul still needed to get over the hump to become a champion, the 36-year-old was able to bring a new sense of communication and confidence to this young Phoenix roster.

Earlier in the year, there was some gray areas as to how to help those guys play together. I think those three deserve a lot of credit for the time that they spent after practice talking about certain environments, Head coach, Monty Williams, said. I would love to tell you that I orchestrated it all, but we have given them a system and then those guys talk about the angles of the screens and different ways to run plays that we have so that they can be effective. I just think its a lot of intentional conversations between those three and all of our guys.

Ayton has become an offensive rebounding machine for Phoenix, a category that the Suns fell short on, in early rounds. On five different occasions this postseason, Ayton has collected four or more offensive rebounds. Even when he is not the guy collecting off the glass, he has improved in tipping the ball to his fellow teammate as well.

They got to tell me something every day to click, Ayton said. Book always has something to say in a good way, just to get me going. I can just say they keep a consistent thing where they are always giving constructive criticism, and I take the best of it.

The only player with former Finals experience is a newcomer from the Miami Heat last offseason, Jae Crowder. The nine-year NBA veteran has brought the extra intensity and grit on the floor while Ayton, Booker, and Paul tally up the stat sheet. Through this playoff run, Crowder credits the willingness of those three stars to adapt en route to success.

They have done a great job of just being who they are, but at the same time, trying to mold themselves into whatever that series or that team is forcing us to be as a team, as individuals, Suns forward, Crowder, said. I think its not a surprise to me that theyve come out and performed the way theyve performed the first few rounds.

In a world of stretch-fives and three-point shooting centers, the 250-pounder is proving that it is still possible for centers to thrive in the paint. While Ayton doesnt admire the term big-man and has a versatile set of shooting skills, his domination inside the arc has been a substantial part of the Suns success. Even when the Clippers attempted to shut down his efficiency in the post with double teams, sneaky rotations, and great coverage, Ayton still managed to leave his footprint on the series averaging 18 points with 14 rebounds.

[Ayton has] just locked into the role, Williams said. Sometimes when you tell a player he has a role, they tend to think that youre limiting their ability. I dont think DA thinks that. I think he understands his role and how he can affect winning on both sides of the ball. It certainly helps to have Chris and Book creating opportunities for him, but hes done a really good job of understanding the angles and screens and where to be in the pocket to finish around the basket. Hes just a presence down there.

Only Ayton and Atlanta Hawks center, Clint Capela, have not shot a three-pointer in the postseason, with a minimum of 60 shot attempts. From an advanced analytics perspective, Ayton has the highest amount of win shares of any player in the postseason. Add that alongside being tied for the most rebounds in the playoffs, the Bahamian very well could be looked back on as the most important player on the floor throughout the Suns first postseason appearance in 11 seasons.

I think Deandre Ayton, the way hes worked all season long, he took it to a whole nother level during the playoffs, Paul said.

Regardless of the NBA Finals outcome, expectations for the third-year youngster continue to rise as Aytons stats continue to draw comparisons to all-time greats. No longer can the naysayers heckle the center or deem him a bust. Ayton has become a face of the Suns franchise and is on his way to becoming a staple of their history.

Hes just learned how to embrace the grind, Williams said. The day-in, day-out work and then hes starting to see it pay off on this level. Its one thing to see it pay off in the regular season; its totally different to see a guy dominate series after series after series and see all the work thats put in and all the things that they do every single day.

I think thats what Ive seen from him. Hes embraced the work. Hes embraced being a part of the scouting report. Hes embraced coaching. He understands that were trying to call him up, not out, and how much we care about him. Hes embraced it all. At first it wasnt as easy, because he didnt know me and I really didnt know him and there was a lot of new stuff coming at him, and then he had the pressure of being No. 1 pick. Once he got all of that out of his mind, I think he just embraced his role and embraced the grind of trying to be a really good NBA player.

The Suns look to take a 2-0 lead over the Milwaukee Bucks Thursday night in Game 2 of the NBA Finals. Coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. Arizona time on ABC.

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Ayton Evolution: How DA Has Placed a Lasting Impact on the Suns' Postseason - Sports360AZ

Creativity and ingenuity are not enough: nowadays, to produce a supercar you need a real team of experts. The days when only skilled craftsmen were involved seem long gone. But cars are getting faster and faster and, above all, safer. Here's how production methods have changed and how the supercars of the Motor Valley are born.

There was a time when making supercars was much simpler. There were no extreme technologies, complex regulations, or even marketing. Production was mainly entrusted to craftsmen and good old "elbow grease." One of the most important figures in this process was the "battilastra," whose name explains exactly what they did: beat steel. They created the shapes of the car by literally beating the steel plates until the final result was achieved.

Today, getting a car out of the factory is much more complex. It always starts with a sketch, but not so much on paper as on a personal computer. Designers, however, have limits on their creativity.

In the course of their work, they have to interface with many other experts. The shapes of the car, in fact, must comply with precise rules on safety and also be studied to accommodate all the components and electrical connections in the car.

Once past the embryonic stage of the project, the car literally starts to come to life. From a file on a PC, we move on to a clay prototype and wind tunnel testing.

Pininfarina Battista

An aerodynamically efficient car is faster and uses less fuel. This last aspect will be increasingly relevant in the future, when the goal will be to increase the performance and range of electric cars. Ferrari and Lamborghini, in fact, have already announced that in the coming years we will see their first full electric models.

Once the "static" tests have been completed, we move on to the "marriage" between the bodywork and the powertrain. Following this, there are thousands of miles of road tests, rigorously camouflaged to "disorientate" fans and the media.

Lamborghini Urus refresh spy photos

After the official presentation, it's time for the production of the first examples and the delivery to the lucky owners. In short, Italy's famous Via Emilia is not only the "fastest road in the world," but also a real laboratory of innovations and technologies.

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From Beater To Hi-Tech: The Technological Evolution Of Supercars - Motor1

This week Throwback Thursday visits the Student Publications media offices at Western Kentucky University, remembering the printed weekly editions of the College Heights Herald and the annual Talisman yearbook. Home of these two media outlets, plus the Cherry Creative Agency and Student Publications Advertising, the Student Pubs office functions similarly to a modern news hub.

Producing the Herald and Talisman gave students real life newsroom experience to sharpen their journalism skills with reporting, editing, meeting deadlines, and even finding advertising revenue streams to keep the paper or yearbook in print.

The first Herald was printed in 1925, and the student-led newspaper became the campus trusted news. Winner of 18 Pacemakers, the Herald is nationally-celebrated for its excellence, especially in these last dying days of daily and weekly print media as readers choose digital news over the tangible ink-smeared bylines. The Herald ceased printing its weekly paper last year, and has transformed into a daily e-newsletter sent to more than 25,000 emails with a busy social media presence. The only edition of the Herald being printed this year is a monthly newsmagazine with more in-depth investigative stories.

The same fate has been sealed for the Talisman. First published in 1924 as an annual feature of student life and campus activities, Talisman has won 21 Pacemakers to date. In 2016, the annual yearbook print ceased, and morphed into a semi-annual magazine with a sharp eclectic online presence.

Director of Student Publications Chuck Clark says the College Media Association has applauded these changes, featuring WKU Student Publications in educational sessions highlighting student media departments around the country for leading the way during this evolution of journalism and the way news is consumed.

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Throwback Thursday - The Evolution of WKU Student News Media - wnky.com

Judges are human. It is only natural that, like others in society, judges may have and are indeed entitled to their own personal views and beliefs. However, a judge must decide cases objectively and professionally, independent of his own personal views or beliefs, political or otherwise

- The Honourable Chief Justice Andrew Cheung

Introduction

The use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) in Courts to render justice has been theorized in science fiction since the dawn of the digital age. In an age where impartiality of judges is often challenged, it is easy to understand why humanity might opt to surrender difficult decisions over to A.I. which are devoid of emotion.

As with any application of technology to a specific task, there are of course advantages and disadvantages.

What is A.I.?

According to John McCarthy, the famed computer and cognitive scientist whom had been credited with coining the term artificial intelligence, A.I. is defined as:

allowing a machine to behave in such a way that it would be called intelligent if a human being behaved in such a way

- John McCarthy

Integral to operation of A.I. is therefore the availability of big data (e.g. collated judgments, etc.) and the ability to process such raw big data into actionable knowledge. In short, A.I. is:

Collection of Big Data Processed into Knowledge-Action through Logic Engine

As we enter into the new decade, access to big data is very much a reality. Quantum computing that will enable actionability of knowledge gleaned from such collected big data is also very much a reality.

Application of A.I., Big Data & Knowledge in Computer-Assisted Courts

It is trite that the administration of justice means the delivery of justice on a case by case basis. Each matter brought before a Judge must be decided on its individual facts and merits. Regardless of the subject matter in question, the work of a presiding justice is to process the information that the parties bring before a Court.

It is noteworthy that not all decisions which require the exercise of judicial powers are complex. Default judgments requiring the declaration of the Court (e.g. Order 19 rule 7 applications) and summary judgment and summary judgments are all matters which can be dealt with without the need of an actual hearing. Where the matter is overly complex, such applications will have deemed inappropriate and dismissed in any event (a process which can of course be undertaken by logic engine).

Conversely, A.I.s application in simple criminal cases (e.g. traffic violation, etc.) where fixed penalty are the norm can similarly be handled by A.I. (subject to human review if the situation so warrants).

It cannot be stressed enough that technology have much potential to ease the backlog of cases in our judiciary as well as achieving judicial economy with cases.

Existing Technology

It should be noted that the application of A.I. in judicial practice has already taken shape in various parts of the world. For example, in a recent research done in the European Union, A.I. prediction of verdicts of cases heard at the European Court of Human Rights had been able to achieve an accuracy range of 79%. The technology therefore already exists!

Hong Kongs Lag in Legal Technology Adaptation

As mentioned above, in order for A.I. to work properly, big data is a condition precedent. One of the hurdles that Hong Kong will undoubtedly encounter is the fact that much of our legal professional are still paper based. The digitization of our judicial process is therefore essential if we are to have an environment that will be accommodating to A.I. adaptation.

The Need of a Human Heart

Worlds governed by artificial intelligence often learned a hard lesson: Logic Doesnt care. Yin-Man Wi

- Quote from the Sic-Fi Series Andromeda

Whilst an A.I. assisted judiciary will undoubtedly have much value to assist in the way justice is rendered, it should be noted that the beauty of Common Law lies in the emphasis on equity and conscionability.

Whilst the outsourcing of justice to A.I. may have its attractiveness on hind sight, overly stringent application of the law is also known to have caused injustice. The acquittal of O.J. Simpsons for example have often times been criticized that whilst procedural justice was achieved, the same cannot be so certain in respect to moral justice. The fact remains, the human heart will always remain as the last bulwark for justice. Many judges will often agree:

sentencing is the most difficult part of the job

Further, given the fact that A.I. is still, as of this moment of writing at least, a novel technology which remains to be proven, caution dictates that it is better to have an A.I. assisted judiciary (which we should be encouraged to do everything to strive for) rather than a A.I. presided judiciary.

Conclusion

To take things to the next step, we must therefore be mindful of what A.I. can do for us in the decade of 2021:

Thisarticleisco-authoredbyJoshua ChufromONC Lawyers

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The Evolution of the Judiciary in the Age of Technology | Artificial Intelligence and the Delivery of Justice - Lexology

State of the Candy Industry: 2021 brings innovation, evolution, uncertainty for candy sector | 2021-07-07 | Candy Industry This website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more. This Website Uses CookiesBy closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Learn MoreThis website requires certain cookies to work and uses other cookies to help you have the best experience. By visiting this website, certain cookies have already been set, which you may delete and block. By closing this message or continuing to use our site, you agree to the use of cookies. Visit our updated privacy and cookie policy to learn more.

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State of the Candy Industry: 2021 brings innovation, evolution, uncertainty for candy sector | 2021-07-07 - Candy Industry

A week ago, Bella Hadid arrived in Paris for Haute Couture Week wearing a lace camisole and yoga pants circa 2007. But the most eye-catching part of the ensemble wasnt its throwback nature: it was that her stretchy flared leggings bore two cut-outs that exposed the oft-hidden area around her pelvis. On social media, her hip-baring bottoms, I.AM.GIAs Carrie pants, were swiftly pegged ovary pants, and dubbed the next big thing. Days later, the trend was solidified into the zeitgeist when Kim Kardashian debuted a lace dress by Barragn while visiting the Vatican in Rome. The floor-length frock left her pelvic area exposed, a fact that apparently didnt break the locations strict dress code.

As a result, searches for pelvic and hip cutouts spiked on global fashion shopping platform Lyst, growing respectively by 23% and 19%.

Pelvic pants are but one of many 2021 trends that revolve around peek-a-boo sartorial moments, ranging from subtle side cut-outs to full-on holey. In fact, in the last month alone, Lyst reported a 39% increase in searches for cut-out pieces in general, a number that will likely continue to rise as more and more brands take the Edward Scissorhands approach to their collections in the name of fashion. But why are we all of a sudden so obsessed with showing skin, so much so that wed put our bellies, ovaries, backsides, underboobs, and more on display for the world to see? And who is to blame for driving us to do so?

When spring 21 collections were presented last September, hardly a cut-out was in sight, the closest approximations being an orange spaghetti-like skirt at Salvatore Ferragamo and a purple naked dress at No. 21. Consumers wanted to cover up and hide from both the world and themselves their only company during lockdown doing so with baggy silhouettes and stay-away-from-me shoulders.

Six months later, when designers debuted their fall 21 offerings, everything had changed. Jonathan Simkhais collection featured leather pants with cut-outs beneath the belt loops that left going commando the only viable underwear option. Other pieces in the collection included dresses with rib, shoulder blade, and upper-ab holes. At Cult Gaia, hardly a garment left something to the imagination, with under-arm, hip, and side cut-outs appearing throughout the 39-piece collection.

Story continues

The trickle-down effect from Fashion Week led to a stripping-down effect on social media, where apparel that appeared shredded by the Hulk or better yet, a character on Teen Wolf became a mainstay for celebrities like Dua Lipa and Kylie Jenner (both wearing Poster Girl). Brands like Rui Zhou, Merritt Meacham, and Noush also got in on the ubiquitous tearing-at-the-seams look.

From there, we witnessed a whale tail comeback that, unlike the early-aughts version, now included pants with upper-butt cut-outs that only gave off the illusion of an exposed G-string. Next was a rise in visible underboobs on the red carpet, with highlights including Zendaya, Andra Day, and Vanessa Kirby at the Oscars. And finally, there was the introduction of floss fashion, or clothing thats made up of mostly strings that you tie this way and that until something akin to a garment appears.

Essentially, fashion has taken a turn for the naked, with the oversized suits and nap dresses of 2020 being replaced with something a little (or a lot) more revealing now that pandemic restrictions have lessened and lockdowns have been called off in the U.S. Finally, we can go out again, and in the process, show off the bodies we spent the last year-plus of COVID life protecting and learning to love. Cut-outs provide an easy way to do so. They also make showing off varying degrees of skin an option, with wearers being given the option to subtly display their shoulders (a great option for vaccine appointments!) or collarbones, or go all the way, leaving their entire midriffs or ovaries exposed. Pick your poison.

And if todays vast range of cut-outs doesnt show enough skin for your post-quarantine wardrobe, theres always the naked dress.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Curious Case Of The Fashion Cutout

Welcome To Midriff Season

So You're Thinking Of Wearing A Visible Thong

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From Whale Tails To Visible Ovaries: The Evolution Of The 2021 Cut-Out Trend - Yahoo Lifestyle

Choice is good, right?

Surely, we want the most number of options possible whenever we have a decision to make?

Well, the apparently-obvious may not always be the case particularly when it comes to the way in which the world does its collaborating.

Todays menu is certainly extensive.

WhatsApp, Slack, Teams, plus a myriad of other collaboration platforms are all capable of serving us up a feast whenever we want it (and sometimes when we dont).

Whilst all of that choice feels empowering, is it really serving us well?

And, critically, is there a NextGen innovation in the wings just waiting to take flight?

The communications sector is nothing if not evolutionary (add an r too if you wish, obvs!)

But the smartest thinkers are already musing over what the future of UCaaS might (or more importantly SHOULD) look like.

You CAN have too much choice, and ironically thats where the opportunity lies, says Scott Bleasdell, Vice President of Product at fast-growing cloud telephony innovator net2phone.

As one of those new, leading thinkers, Bleasdell is constantly looking forward as he plots a route to ever-increasing efficiency for his partners and customers.

He believes true, Artificial Intelligence-powered unification will be the next comms game-changer: tech once again responding to our insatiable demand for better.

Theres no longer a huge technological leap required for smart UCaaS to evolve, adds Bleasdell.

Instead, the future of UCaaS will be shaped by how we leverage AI and how organisations grapple with the many different comms channels at their fingertips.

Simplifying that choice by bringing those channels together will be how we improve efficiency, productivity and user experience.

One thing is for sure, those three criteria on which businesses base their procurement choices are unlikely to change, regardless of what the future delivers.

So how might new-found simplification manifest itself?

At the moment, we might get several different messages about the same thing from several different people via several different channels, says Bleasdell.

AI can help us correlate multiple forms of related communications and will enable people to focus and streamline responses in a more intelligent way

For example, someone sends you an email with an attachment and then follows that up with a text message because its urgent. A smart communication platform will understand these two forms of communication are related and present both together to you so full context is understood without you having to hunt and find the related information.

Its about making the platform smarter and more integrated so that people dont have to work as hard and so they can have smarter conversations.

Barriers to any utopian new state exist, of course.

The software is likely to be the easy bit.

Cost and connectivity always the two factors upon which real transformation most depends are likely to limit the pace of change.

Human behaviours, too, cannot be discounted: the i-phone has remained the most expensive smartphone on the planet since its launch in 2007 but, illogically, its popularity has never waned.

And desk phones are likely to endure in one form or another too their complete demise surely a step way too far even for the most trailblazing of innovators.

But businesses WILL push on and UCaaS vendors WILL evolve rapidly, says Bleasdell.

We are experimenting with NextGen solutions now that I have no doubt will change everything.

Organisations and businesses will respond positively because helping their customers and their workforces to be better at what they do will always be their top priorities

It seems the future is set to simultaneously challenge AND deliver as it leads us further down our evolutionary road.

That means having a smart hand to hold is about as important as it gets.

To learn more about net2phones UCaaS offering, visit http://www.net2phone.com

simon

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The Evolution of UCaaS - UC Today

WHEN Nat Fyfe arrived at Fremantle at the end of 2009 as a skinny, shy but talented draftee, he immediately struck new teammate Matt de Boer as a player with an "anti-authoritarian streak" who was going to challenge the norms.

With a desire to be the best as soon as he could, it was that tendency to push boundaries and question the way things were done that initially rubbed some teammates up the wrong way.

But 12 years and 199 games on, it is a trait that has shaped the champion midfielder's career and allowed him to become a superstar of the competition and a unique leader of a young team.

"He was clearly in a hurry to make a mark," de Boer recalled ahead of Fyfe's 200th game on Saturday.

"He was shy with a bit of anti-authoritarian about him, and he was happy to push boundaries.

"He thinks differently and wants to do things in his own way, whether it was weights or touch, he would have his own take on it. But that was always coupled with a team element and a will to win."

De Boer describes his close friend as "anti-normal" in the way he thinks deeply about why things are done and then takes the actions he believes are needed to improve, rather than falling into line out of habit.

He had a clear plan from an early age to be the game's best player, de Boer said, which would lead him to do his own research and seek out his own specialists when they were needed.

"The fact that he always had a purpose to not just get better but to be the best, that was the difference between him and other players," de Boer said.

"He aimed high and wanted to be the best, which took him to another level."

Michael Barlow is another former teammate who remains close with Fyfe and recognised the anti-authoritarian and challenging side of his personality early on.

"That's exactly the way he is wired," Barlow said. "To challenge normal essentially and do things his own way in the confines of an elite program and team sport."

Barlow believes Fyfe is different to 99 per cent of AFL players in the extent of his professional ambition.

He is motivated by team success but is also acutely aware of the role he can play in that if he reaches the pinnacle individually, as he did twice as a Brownlow medallist in 2015 and 2019.

"This is not to put pressure on him, but he would sit there and think 'I can be the greatest of all time'," Barlow said.

"He would be driven by the team success but also the involvement and significance of his own individual performance.

"He is top one per cent in his field. He's one of the outliers in terms of performance and expectation, and with that comes a fair bit of behaving differently and finding different edges."

Barlow left Fremantle at the end of 2016 before Fyfe was made captain the following season, but he saw the midfielder's leadership style emerging.

The Werribee VFL coach has also remained in touch with the 29-year-old, sharing ideas on leadership, where Fyfe again brings a unique style.

"He's tapped into a little bit more about personal relationships and finding a little niche with every player," Barlow said.

"He might do a gun club with Brett Bewley once a week, and then he'll do surfing with James Aish, but each individual is different, and it might be 15 minutes a week where he invests in each individual in different ways.

"He has genuine care in people and he is very direct and invested in your life. It's a pretty special element of his character."

Former Docker Brady Grey has become a regular training partner for Fyfe in the off-season after the pair struck up a close friendship during their recoveries from injury in 2016.

He has watched Fyfe grow as a captain and believes his desire to be the best player is now matched with his desire to be the best possible leader of a young Fremantle team.

"It's starting to reflect in the way Freo are playing and how everyone accepts him for who he is and how he leads," Grey said.

"He's worked out who he wants to be a leader and he is bring the young guys along with him and really embracing that everyone is their own individual.

"His ability to connect with different generations and different players has made him a better player and a better leader."

Grey, who will join Fyfe up and down the WA coast for training stints, or in-land at the star's Lake Grace home, can still see the three-time All Australian's desire burning to be the best player in the competition.

Goalkicking issues have prevented him reaching those heights in an otherwise excellent season, but there have been performances in 2021 that show the champion Docker still has that level in him.

"Something that has been a constant is that he is not complacent about being good or great he wants to be the best and I don't think that's changed," Gray said.

"There's a reason why he's played 200 games and had the success he's had as an individual, but he always comes back to how can we win a premiership?

"He knows that if he's in that position where he's the best player in the comp then Freo can achieve something special."

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The evolution of Fyfe: From 'anti-authoritarian' kid to inspirational leader - AFL