Should We Be Worried About The Trump Administration’s Science Priorities?

Advancements are made because of extensive and well-funded research and development studies and trials. It is the only way to innovate and improve our lives. Both the government and the private sector invest heavily in R&D for almost the same reason, with the latter openly doing it for monetary gain. Meanwhile, the government pushes forth these initiatives to improve the production and delivery of basic services and to perhaps discover better products or medical treatment to most diseases that have been plaguing mankind as of late.

In both cases, R&D is an investment in future capabilities and technologies that are aimed to uplift people’s lives and change the way we live (hopefully, for the better). A country like America has always been at the forefront of major technologies, advancements, and innovations that the world has been blessed with over the last century and that is still the case until now. However, we all know how politics affect these issues and the federal state’s science-related initiatives depend on who's sitting in power at that moment.

The White House released a four-page memo (pdf) this week detailing its science budget priorities for fiscal year 2019, citing U.S. military superiority, security, prosperity, energy dominance and health as its top five focuses. The document makes no mention of environmental science or climate change—both top priorities under Barack Obama’s administration—but it does include commitments to basic research and aging-related health.

It should come as little surprise the Trump administration’s science priorities emphasize investment in military might to the exclusion of climate and clean energy. But some saw this memo as a relatively positive development, including Obama’s former science adviser, John Holdren. “There is much more to praise to in this document than to complain about," he says. “The fingerprints of input from the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) are evident on this document.”

(Via: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-administration-rsquo-s-science-priorities-ldquo-better-than-feared-rdquo/)

It is a trying time for the United States given how unorthodox of a leader President Donald Trump is. Many are freaking out as to the various budget cuts he has implemented so far and the extreme travel bans and restrictions that have been in effect since he assumed office. For instance, he’s significantly reducing the EPA’s budget and may even ultimately get rid of the agency for good over time aside from signing the US out of the Paris Agreement, a rash decision considering that climate change is wreaking havoc with everyone right now.

Last summer, just weeks after being crowned the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump scored major political points by visiting flood-ravaged southern Louisiana. The flooding was America’s worst natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy, and yet, President Barack Obama had not yet interrupted his vacation to tour the damage. Hillary Clinton, the Democratic nominee, hadn’t visited either. Victims felt ignored. But some saw hope in Trump. “It just lets you know that somebody on the national level is doing something,” flood victim Sandra Bennett told the New York Times. The Rev. Bill Engelhart told the Los Angeles Times, “[Trump] really cares, and this is his way of showing it.”

A decision Trump made Tuesday, nearly a year to the day after his Louisiana visit, suggests otherwise: He signed an executive order that, among other things, rescinds flood protections for federally funded buildings and infrastructure. First reported by E&E News, Trump’s order undoes an Obama-era executive order that required new public infrastructure projects—like subsidized housing, hospitals, and fire departments—to be built a few feet above the “100-year floodplain,” or the height at which there is a 1 percent chance you’ll experience an enormous flooding event. The requirement accounts for future sea level rise predicted by “the best-available and actionable science,” the order reads.

(Via: http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/climate_desk/2017/08/trump_revokes_obama_era_environmental_building_standards.html)

There are two sides in every story. Well, three actually. There are each side’s story and the truth. Now, talking about bigger issues like the environment is undeniably complicated. Add to it the conflicting opinions of people makes reaching an agreement doubly harder. And when politicians insist on their own truth rather than hearing out everything regarding all the environmental issues affecting not only the country but the entire world today, it makes the entire nation wonder and worry at the same time as to what the future holds.

But despite his many flaws, President Trump still won the election fair and square and everybody should at least give him the benefit of the doubt and wait for him to bring to life his promise of making America great again. He may have issues with the environment and many others but surely he won’t get in the way of progress and development that is brought about by a well-funded and supported research and development efforts considering he is an entrepreneur himself.

Should We Be Worried About The Trump Administration’s Science Priorities? Read more on: The SoulVisual Blog

source https://www.soulvisual.com/blog/should-we-be-worried-about-the-trump-administrations-science-priorities/

New Trends In Web Designs

The web is constantly changing. Technology is fast advancing that what we are using today may soon be rendered obsolete in the next few years. This is especially true when it comes to web design. Companies try to out-win one another with their clever tricks and online magic to boost brand relevance in a competitive market that has always kept everyone on their toes. You just need to remember that a good web design is more user-friendly and enhances the overall customer experience whenever they access your site. Hence, it pays to keep yourself updated on what’s in and what’s not, not only to make your website look good but more so to increase profit because you are running a business after all.

This is even more imperative now as the world becomes increasingly global where time and distance are no longer that big of a hindrance to people and businesses as it once was. At a day and age dominated by social media and smart gadgets, it is but a must to ensure you can immediately connect to people in a platform they love using. Entrepreneurs that succeed in building their brand into something even greater grasp the importance of establishing and maintaining a strong online presence but you can only do that with a web design that users won’t have any difficulty using that likewise delivers all the key concepts you want your consumers to know and understand.

In a time when Google and Facebook dominate web traffic and publishers are struggling to keep pace, pageviews have never been more important. But how can news organizations compete with the duopoly?

Apparently by going back to basics.

According to a study conducted by the Engaging News Project — an initiative of the Moody College of Communication at the University of Texas, Austin — redesigning a website's homepage could increase pageviews and the amount of time users spend on the page. But the results were mixed.

The study was conducted in conjunction with the launch of two major news organizations' redesigned homepages, one Canadian and one American. Around the same time, nearly 1,000 Canadians and 1,000 Americans participated in online experiments, in which they were randomly shown either the old homepage or the updated one, and then asked questions about their perception and recall.

(Via: https://www.poynter.org/2017/want-more-pageviews-this-study-found-testing-new-homepage-designs-could-be-a-good-place-to-start/469381/)

While most companies already have web pages of their own, it still pays to reach a bigger audience through social media and by meeting certain criteria of search engines so that the public are more aware of the brand even when they are browsing other sites or simply browsing their social media news feed. The world has become so much smaller and it can be a good thing for you and your business if you know what tools to use and how to use them right.

There are scores of website designing platforms that develop and design websites using simple means; however, the results do not match industry standards that are successfully set by large companies, who are ready to pay thousands of dollars for the services of website and graphic designers.

These factors have created a new demand for advanced technology requirement, where any website designer can create spellbinding websites using AI. Through the use of AI, web designers can create compelling websites through complex algorithms of codes and logics.

In this new AI technology, all one needs to do is to answer a series of questions that are asked by the AI assistant. This assists the system in evaluating key nuances of your business and its ultimate nature, along with blueprint of the website you require for your business. With scores of hours of algorithmic programs, it successfully suggests the perfect and ideal combination of layout, design, branding, and content, which will surely help your website attain large amounts of traffic as well as provide leads in the future.

(Via: https://www.businesszone.co.uk/community/blogs/danishmaniyar/artificial-intelligence-meets-web-design)

We all know that nothing is set in stone when it comes to technology. The ones we are using right now that seem mind-blowing will soon become obsolete as newer advancements are made as the days and years pass by. Web designers continue to develop and innovate better, easy to use, and advanced web designs that meet the requirements of businesses today and what the people are comfortable in using. You might gush over the web designs of today but you’ll sure be laughing at your silly self several years from now when more artificially advanced designs become the norm because they are already in the works now.

New Trends In Web Designs See more on: www.soulvisual.com

source https://www.soulvisual.com/blog/new-trends-in-web-designs/

Are Organizations Falling Behind Technology?

Organizations, big and small or private and public, must not shy away from using current technologies that make the world go round today if they want to stay relevant and connected to the public. We understand that some of these organizations are organized and led by much older people who are way past their prime and more likely not to be in touch with today’s technology, however, it should not be an excuse for their organizations to entirely bypass these advanced tools because they will lose a lot if they do so.

Businesses today know very well that to stay competitive, they have to make use of all available resources so they stand out from the crowd especially against their competitors. Some older businesses try to ignore and shrug off these technologies only to realize much later that it was the turning point for their businesses. It is the reason why big organizations that were known in the past suddenly perished into thin air. They failed to adapt to these changes. That’s the only explanation. Only those brands that had foreseen how powerful technology would become in running a business managed to survive the troublesome and risky transition of running a pen and paper company to that of a digital one.

Former President John F. Kennedy once said, “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” If change is the law of life, it’s certainly the governing force of business.

Yet, in the business world, demand for change too often outpaces technological capabilities. While Kennedy had the resources of a nation behind him, organizations do not have the same luxury. Just13 percent of executives said they’re very prepared to meet the challenges on digitally disruptive technologies, including analytics, cloud environments and machine learning. Despite these struggles, taking advantage of emerging digital changes must be top priority for organizations hoping to engage today’s consumers.

(Via: http://sdtimes.com/digital-changes-passing-organization/)

Wise men said that only death and taxes are constant in this world and we just can’t argue with that logic and wisdom. Everything else changes and you have to act while the iron is hot if you want to emerge as one of those brands at the top. Many successful businesses today all started as nothings but look at where they are now. They even managed to tap a different market like what Amazon did – from an online bookstore to a mega e-commerce brand and so much more. Those who failed didn’t make it to today’s market. For instance, Nokia that has been an institution in the mobile phone industry was overtaken by Apple and Samsung and all their efforts to survive and come back fell on deaf ears of the consumers who fell in love with the innovative iPhone and Android products.

"You have to spend money to make money" is one of the oldest clichés in business. Enterprises are following that advice in how they build their sales teams, according to a recent survey of 400 sales executives.

A new "SalesTech Report" from CITE Research, on behalf of SugarCRM, found that 80 percent of companies spend at least $1,000 on technology annually per sales representative to equip them with the right tools to do their jobs effectively. Furthermore, nearly one-half (49 percent) of the respondents said they spend at least $2,000 per sales employee.

While building an effective sales team requires a great deal of investment in both hardware and software, the good news is that respondents said technology is helping their sales team be more effective. These days, sales professionals use a wide array of tools. A CRM system is the most frequently used and the most valuable tool to the sales team. A majority of respondents rated 11 common tools, everything from smartphones to CRM to data enrichment services as "valuable" or "extremely valuable."

(Via: http://news.sys-con.com/node/4133789)

Spending a minimum of $1000 each year is a minor price to pay for brand recognition and the consequential success and profits you’ll earn once people notice your brand. The world is so cluttered right now that you need to do something extraordinary all the time or at least make sure you are always at the back of their minds, so the public thinks of you first when they need a product or service that is related to your line of business. That’s how businesses achieve success despite the overwhelming competition that is all competing for the consumer’s attention and money.

Technology may be a lot to take in especially for those who have been born at a time when everything was simpler but they do serve its purpose. It is simply a must to incorporate it in the way your business works or better yet, hire a pro to do it for you. By now, most brands already utilize various tech tools and only a handful remain as they are, mostly small, traditional businesses that have been around since time immemorial. You have more to lose by avoiding technology than embracing it, so grow your brand and take it to the global market with just a click of a button.

The following article Are Organizations Falling Behind Technology? is courtesy of www.soulvisual.com

source https://www.soulvisual.com/blog/are-organizations-falling-behind-technology/

AI In Daily Life

By now, almost everyone in the world uses some sort of technology or another except those minor tribes and groups of people who managed to evade progress by living off-grid in far-flung areas devoid of the perks of technology and rapid globalization. But for the rest of us, our daily grind is mainly comprised of a delicate balance of work, family life, and play. Where does technology come in? It is in all of those three, subtly intertwined and makes our world go round. However, would you believe it if you were told you are already using AI technology in your daily life right now? Perhaps no, right?

Well, sorry to burst your bubble but the technology is already here even if you aren’t aware you are now using it in your daily life. After all, the very definition of artificial intelligence means any technology that simulates human behavior that is similar to what most commonly sold smartphones and smart gadgets now do. With the help of light sensors, camera, and other sensors resembling the human senses, computers perform a variety of functions that ordinary people normally do. Even a phone’s face recognition feature is already considered an AI technology. We can now also do many of these things with other gadgets and appliances that can be found all over homes and offices in the world.

Although many think artificial intelligence, or AI, is still the stuff of books and film, it’s actually used in a number of products and apps that most of us use multiple times a day.

Dr. Miguel Garcia-Ruiz, a professor of computer science at Algoma University said, “We use practical and effective AI applications every day and we often don’t notice it, from checking the weather forecast on a cellphone to washing clothes in a washing machine.

“Currently, social networks such as Facebook use AI techniques for finding new contacts and people online, not to mention showing ads according to our preferences and Internet usage.”

(Via: http://www.saultthisweek.com/2017/08/07/machine-learning-has-issues-but-ai-here-to-stay)

Like any other technology, AI isn’t a perfect science and there have been flaws that even cost people their lives especially when using vehicles with smart features but it is constantly improved and developed for a better user experience. Certain safeguards must be put in place especially that many humans now rely on these AI-like features on gadgets they use in their day-to-day that can have a big impact on their lives. Even everyone’s favorite social media platform, Facebook, utilizes artificial intelligence today with many users totally unaware of this fact. And we can only expect for bigger things to come in the near future as computer scientists continue to improve the technology and incorporate more of it into our daily lives.

"The bottom line is no matter where you look in the world, people understand and appreciate the value that AI technology is delivering and what it might deliver in the future. As a result, they want it stitched much more deeply into their digital lives. This tells me the killer-robot scenario is fast being relegated to the cutting-room floor and the outlook for AI is good," Simon Segars, CEO, ARM.

The study found that the number one most appealing application of AI is for diagnosing medical illnesses, traffic controls that alter lights in real-time to cut congestion, as personal companions or assistants and for fully autonomous vehicles.

Further, those surveyed believe that the top three jobs that AI machines can do better than humans included heavy construction, package delivery and piloting public transportation.

(Via: http://www.thedrum.com/news/2017/07/23/global-consumers-reaching-better-understanding-artificial-intelligence-and-its)

Artificial intelligence evolves at a pace many of us can barely keep up with. While there are lots of perks that come with AI use aside from the sheer comfort and convenience offered by complete automation, security issues are the primary concern of users especially when they think of how much control they lose their lives in the hands of robots. By nature, we are afraid of the unknown and this is a major challenge for AI developers to overcome and prove to the world that artificial intelligence isn’t the end of humanity after all despite what is shown on TV shows and in the movies.

AI In Daily Life was first published on https://www.soulvisual.com/blog

source https://www.soulvisual.com/blog/ai-in-daily-life/

Social Media’s Fight Against Terrorism

If there’s one thing that defines today’s era, it is the dominance of technology especially that of the Internet. As the web continues to flourish, platforms like social media became household’s name all over the world. Even countries plagued by poverty have room for social media in their lives. It has even become an addiction for many who can’t last a day without tinkering with their smart gadgets and browsing their social media news feed not to mention posting their latest selfie for the day.

Aside from the rise of technology, one thing that has captured our attention for years now is the spread of terrorism in various parts of the globe. These religious extremists are often Muslim rebels who cause havoc and terror using their religion as a lame excuse. Millions have died and been displaced because war continues to ravage countries like Syria, for instance. For people living far from the war-zone, we wonder how we can put an end to terrorism without necessarily fighting these extremists in actual combat. Is it possible to use today’s technology against them?

Some of the world's biggest social media and tech companies are joining forces to remove terrorist content from their platforms.
Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft say they will share technical solutions in what they're calling the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism.
TheUK Prime Minister recently accused prominent social media companies of allowing terrorists to spread their message and plan attacks online.
A G20 meeting inGermany next week will also discuss how to pressure the companies to do more to help investigate terror suspects.
So, are these social media and tech companies really doing enough to detect and block extremist content?

(Via: http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2016/s4692415.htm)

There’s now such a thing as online extremism. It’s actually how the terrorists themselves recruit new Jihadist fighters from far-away nations like in Southeast Asia where the Islamic State seemed to have a growing list of supporters fighting for them and brazenly raising their flags to insult the government. If they can use technology to their advantage, we can certainly make it work for us too to possibly put an end to the threats of terrorism once and for all.

Social media giants Facebook, Google's YouTube, Twitter and Microsoft said on Monday they were forming a global working group to combine their efforts to remove terrorist content from their platforms.

Responding to pressure from governments in Europe and the United States after a spate of militant attacks, the companies said they would share technical solutions for removing terrorist content, commission research to inform their counter-speech efforts and work more with counter-terrorism experts.

The Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism "will formalize and structure existing and future areas of collaboration between our companies and foster cooperation with smaller tech companies, civil society groups and academics, governments and supra-national bodies such as the EU and the UN," the companies said in a statement.

(Via: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-internet-extremism-idUSKBN19H20A)

Facebook already started with this initiative after being pressured by politicians to remove extremist propaganda used by Jihadists in the online recruitment of new members. It was shortly followed by Google that likewise removed violent terrorist posts on Youtube. Then, Twitter accounts that promoted terrorism was also suspended in an attempt to cripple terrorist propaganda and prevent them from orchestrating more terror attacks that target innocent civilians.

This counter-terrorism forum will make social media technology unfriendly to extremist groups, so they lose a cost-effective and efficient platform to reach out to twisted people like them. The forum will also adapt to the changes in terrorist activity especially that terrorists will eventually find another way to communicate with one another outside of these social media channels. Many are hoping that this move can significantly impact terror groups, so they have fewer resources to plan their terror attacks and commit violent crimes against humanity.

The post Social Media’s Fight Against Terrorism was first published on The SoulVisual Blog

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Chinese Supercomputers Wow The World

China is the second biggest economy in the world next to that of America. Despite being clouded in mystery and remained in isolation until several decades ago, the Chinese were able to catch up fast with the rest of the world and become a force to reckon with that it is today. Not only does China have one of the biggest land space and highest population on the planet, many of the products sold in other countries are actually “Made in China” too.

The Chinese definitely are competitive and they don’t stop just by being a big economic giant. They continue with their quest to develop innovative technologies that can make a big impact on human lives someday. And knowing that computers are at the heart of any technology, China has just recently launched the fastest supercomputer in the world that only uses local chip technology and even hardware (semiconductors). The decision to use and create exclusive Chinese materials is partly influenced by the US move to ban the exportation of high-performance computing chips to the Chinese just the previous year.

China is developing a third prototype exascale computing machine — also known as a super supercomputer — and plans to launch it by June next year.

The Sunway exascale computer prototype is being developed by the National Research Center of Parallel Computer Engineering and Technology and the National Supercomputing Center in Jinan, the capital of east China’s Shandong Province.

The NRCPC was behind the Sunway TaihuLight, the world’s fastest computer at the 2016 and 2017 International Supercomputing Conferences in Frankfurt, Germany.

An exascale computer is able to execute a quintillion calculations per second, around eight times faster than the Sunway TaihuLight.

The increase in speed will advance research in climate change, space science, medicine and oceanology among others, developers said.

(Via: http://english.eastday.com/Business/u1ai8573069.html)

Supercomputers are actually vital in carrying out scientific researches and in promoting national safety and security and often perform a variety of tasks that only a supercomputer is capable of doing. It can even be an effective medium to finally address cybersecurity issues, nuclear technology, and other big data applications – sensitive yet timely issues faced by our modern world today.

China only started producing its first computer chips in 2001. But its chip industry has developed at an awesome pace.

So much so that Chinese-made chips power the world’s most powerful supercomputer, which is Chinese too.

The computer, known as the Sunway TaihuLight, contains some 41,000 chips and can carry out 93 quadrillion calculations per second. That’s twice as fast as the next-most-powerful supercomputer on the planet (which also happens to be Chinese).

The mind-boggling amount of calculations computers like this can carry out in the blink of an eye can help crunch incredibly complicated data – such as variations in weather patterns over months and years and decades.

(Via: http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170621-meet-the-worlds-most-powerful-computer)

The Chinese government is steadfast in its efforts to end reliance on foreign or imported technology and develop their own ideas and innovations using materials designed and created by the Chinese themselves. Not only will they be able to customize the materials they need but likewise reduce costs since everything will be done locally. While the US initially tried to bully China by denying it of access to resources they need to pursue their tech ambitions because of allegations of nuclear testing activities, the Chinese were quick to get back on their feet. And now, it seems that their move actually backfired on them as China is taking the lead in the field of supercomputers and have learned to be independent of Western influence in procuring needed materials like computer chips, etc.

The US is not even close to creating a technology nearly similar to what China has accomplished so far. Everyone in the tech world is quite impressed with this latest Chinese supercomputer that is also followed by another Chinese supercomputer in the second lead. The US has a lot to catch up on and by the time they do finally catch up, the Chinese could possibly develop a far more superior technology that equals no other.

Chinese Supercomputers Wow The World was initially published to https://www.soulvisual.com/blog

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Cyprus: New Home To Europe’s Largest Casino

Casinos have been around for years as the wealthy and the elite’s way of destressing and unwinding that often also involves a lot of cash. Ordinary people can’t easily step inside these posh casinos if they don’t have the cash to burn. It’s like an adult playground for adults who can afford to pay the hefty price of admission and of the pricey chips too. Casinos basically exist because of the various games of chance and the lavish hotels, posh shopping centers, lighted fountains, entertaining musical shows, etc. are just additional features that help in attracting people to come and make the gamble of their lives.

Only a handful of patrons come out rich from casinos. Most people lose a lot of money, even millions, and they would keep on coming back for the chance to win their lost money back. The casino or the house is the only sure-fire winner in every game because of their statistical advantage that is known as “vig” or the rake but it all depends on what game is played and how much the bets are. Big spenders are given comps or free goods or services that can be anywhere from free hotel rooms, show tickets, dinner, limo service, etc. as a reward. The casino façade itself is often mind-blowing with famous replicas of global landmarks that make for picture-perfect locations for people who want to have a good time.

Cyprus signed a deal Monday for the construction of what officials say will be Europe's biggest casino.

The small Mediterranean island nation's government backed proposals from a consortium made up of Hong Kong-based Melco International, the U.S.'s Hard Rock and local firm CNS Group to build the casino resort in the coastal town of Limassol.

The proposed casino will include 136 gambling tables and 1,200 gambling machines, while the adjoining luxury hotel will have a 500-room capacity, a health spa and 1,500-seat concert hall.

According to Cyprus' Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, the resort will cost more than 500 million euros ($558 million) to build and will create around 4,000 new jobs during construction. He said another 4,000 jobs will be created once the resort is up and running.

Lakkotrypis predicted that the project will attract around 300,000 additional tourists to the east Mediterranean island annually.

(Via: https://www.dailystar.com.lb/Business/International/2017/Jun-26/410897-cyprus-signs-deal-to-build-europes-largest-casino.ashx)

Casinos make big money, bigger than other industries out there. It seems to keep on flourishing despite the fluctuations in the economy and problems faced by many traditional businesses both big and small. And Europe is set to enjoy a bigger gambling playground once the casino resort in Cyprus becomes a reality. It’s the perfect location for any year-round getaway because it is not just a casino but a resort with many other amazing attractions that the entire family can enjoy.

A casino complex is a key part of the current government's plans to stimulate the island's recovering eurozone economy with the creation of nearly 4,000 jobs to build it.
And a super casino is expected to add another 300,000 tourists annually, bolstering the already three million-plus arrivals.
"Our goal, of course, is to improve incoming tourism by increasing arrivals, average stays and average per capita spending," said the minister.
It is estimated revenue of around 100 million euros per annum could fill state coffers from the casino operation.

(Via: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/cyprus-signs-deal-for-europe-s-largest-casino-minister-117062600971_1.html)

This new European attraction is a big gamble in itself as the industry faces fewer patrons from the majority of the younger generations (Millennials) while their loyal patrons are all aging and becoming more sickly to come out at night and play. Casino owners are trying to find ways to lure people back to play at the tables and slot machines. The new casino in Cyprus is expected to bring some new energy back into the dying industry and invite more people to give gambling a chance while at the same time having the time of their lives in this big and lavish resort.

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