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

source https://www.soulvisual.com/blog/social-medias-fight-against-terrorism/

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.

The post Cyprus: New Home To Europe’s Largest Casino is available on www.soulvisual.com

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The Struggles Of Going Solar

It is as if we are not facing enough problems today but the growing threat of dwindling energy resources is something we can’t just put off any longer. Efforts to fund and transition to the use of more environment-friendly power sources should be put into effect right now while we still have a lot of time on our hands. It may be costly and require a lot of work but we should look into these options now before we face a crisis in our midst that we won’t be able to handle.

The most logical solution to this energy issue is to tap into renewable energy resources. The funny thing about this somewhat lapse of judgment on our part is that our ancestors have been using them since the beginning of time we all wonder where humanity has gone wrong through the years. The sun, the wind, and the water have fueled ancient civilizations of the distant past but why can’t all of us follow their lead? Man is still to blame.

Britain’s solar industry is facing devastation and consumers could see energy bills rise after the Chancellor Philip Hammond refused to listen to pleas to cancel a planned tax hike of up to 800 per cent on rooftop solar schemes.

The Solar Trade Association described the Government’s refusal to bend over the increase – due to come into force in April – as “nonsensical” and “absurd”.

Bizarrely, state schools with solar panels will be forced to pay, while private schools will remain exempt.

Mr. Hammond barely mentioned the energy sector in his speech – apart from a promise to help the oil and gas industry “maximise exploitation” of the remaining reserves in the North Sea.

According to the Government’s own figures, solar power is expected to become the cheapest form of electricity generation sometime in the 2020s.

And outrageous laws like this make the transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy like solar power an unpleasant thought for many consumers throughout the globe. It is as if the actual work itself in equipping a home or institution with solar panel isn’t challenging enough. Mind you, solar panels are expensive too and consumers should receive incentives for making such an environment-friendly move to harness solar power instead of getting penalized with hefty tax increases.

(Via: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/solar-industry-budget-2017-800-per-cent-tax-increase-green-renewable-energy-a7618191.html)

Installing solar panels on the roof of your home is a big project – but it can pay dividends in more ways than one. There’s the obvious environmental benefit, but for many homeowners, the joy comes with a dollar sign attached.

If the government does not appreciate your efforts, Mother Nature does. Take advantage of lower prices for these panels now and lower your home’s energy consumption and carbon footprint in the process.

The solar energy market is growing because the average price for solar energy systems has fallen so much – 54% between 2010 and 2016, according to GTM Research. While your solar panels may not produce all the electricity you need, they are becoming a good investment to lower your bill.

(Via: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/mar/01/solar-panel-home-installation-energy-environment-explainer)

No matter how much progress states like California and New York had made in increasing solar energy use, it may take a sharp blow from the government itself with budget cuts in different sectors that President Trump does not consider important.

President Donald Trump’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2018 can be read as a political document, a statement of his administration’s policy priorities. Many of these proposed cuts won’t get passed by Congress, but it’s a look at what Trump values.

And what’s clear is that Trump wants the US government to pull back sharply from any effort to stop global warming, adapt to its impacts — or even study it further. Under the proposal, a wide variety of Obama-era climate programs across multiple agencies would be scaled back or slashed entirely.

That includes eliminating much of the work the Environmental Protection Agency is doing to research climate impacts and limit emissions. It includes scaling back the Department of Energy’s efforts to accelerate low-carbon energy. It includes cuts to NASA’s Earth-monitoring programs. The proposal would also eliminate the Sea Grant program at NOAA, which helps coastal communities adapt to a warmer world. The document dubs this a “lower priority.”

(Via: http://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2017/3/16/14943826/trump-budget-proposal-climate-change)

The world is suffering because of man’s neglect. We abuse many of its resources for years now and it is high time we start taking measures to protect and save it from further harm and degradation. Over time, it is us who will suffer once nature unleashes its fury on us as global warming and climate change intensifies the effect of common calamities like drought, hurricanes, flooding and more.

Installing solar roof panels may be insignificant for some because it just augments your household energy needs but its benefits can be enjoyed over time. We have to think of the bigger picture. Let us preserve the planet we now have for the benefit of the future generations.

The following blog post The Struggles Of Going Solar is available on SoulVisual

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Co-Parenting After Divorce

A parent’s life changes once kids come into the picture. It is no longer just about yourself but about that cute and tiny human being whose entire life now depends on you. Your kid becomes the center of your world and you try to parent the child the best way you know how.

While most households are made up of a father, a mother, and the kids, many families right now are led by single parents. Divorce is no longer as controversial as it once was but just as traumatic for any child. But parents must learn to set aside their differences if they truly love their child and will put his / her best interest in mind. Co-parenting is not easy. It means you have to deal with (or even be friends with) the person who used to be your lover but became your worst enemy (most likely). You have no choice but to do that for the sake of your child.

Children are the ones most affected by this sudden uprooting of family dynamics, said John Chirban, licensed psychologist and Cambridge Counseling Associates director.

Children will often hide their feelings and lie to adults when asked how they feel about their parent’s divorce.

Whether they are toddlers or preteens, children are more in tune with their surroundings and their family than one might think, Chirban said.

As this survey showed, children often lied and only said what they thought parents wanted to hear, he said. Some children may internalize the problem and see themselves as the cause of the stress.

Parents should be careful in not letting their frustrations with each other spill into their relationship with their children, Chirban said. Conflict may cause serious strain and seriously negatively impact children, which may not easily be fixed.

About 70 percent of children who went through therapy because their parents were divorcing said they did not find it helpful at all, he said. It’s an awkward thing for any child, and sometimes, the connection between the counselor and child is not there.

“Many kids feel like their childhood ends — and often it does,” Chirban said. 

(Via: http://www.theshorthorn.com/life_and_entertainment/stress-from-divorce-impacts-children-s-lives/article_d57644e2-02e7-11e7-9478-0700dade408f.html)

That just goes to show how affected kids are in the case of a divorce. Parents should swallow their pride and not deprive their kids of a chance to spend time with the other parent no matter how hard it may be.

Should parents have shared, 50-50 custody (or close to it) after a divorce? A new study says yes.

The status quo relative to child custody proceedings now in the United States is that children — especially young children — should have a “primary parent” (usually the mother) after a divorce, visiting with the “noncustodial parent” (usually the father) typically every other weekend. However, recent studies suggest that children, even infants and toddlers, benefit from as close to equal time as possible with each parent after a divorce.

“Good quality relationships with parents in young adulthood predict better stress-related physical and mental health for the children later in life,” said William Fabricius, lead author of the new study and an associate professor of psychology at Arizona State University. “So in a real sense, this [parenting time for young children after a divorce] becomes a public health issue.”

Regardless of how the relationship ended, both parents must make an effort to co-parent for the child’s sake. While mothers often get custody, a child’s relationship with his/ her father can also determine how well the child turns up in life.

Said Brennan, “While many recognize fatherlessness as a top social issue in America, legislators are just learning the degree to which family courts contribute to this problem. Using the low estimate, family courts create a fatherless child every 60 seconds, and fatherlessness is linked to every major social pathology in children including: violent crime, drug and alcohol abuse, truancy, unwed pregnancies, psychological disorders and even suicide.”

Asked how we should improve laws governing our family courts, Brennan said: “We’ll improve the outcomes for children when we treat family separation in the same manner we do other social pathologies: by listening to the experts. We now have a very strong body of research showing shared parenting is best for children and the backing of a significant number of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, child development experts and domestic violence practitioners. Yet because these issues play out in a court of law, rather than listening to these experts, the issue becomes political, and lobbyists hired by state bar associations advocate to grow family law as a business, rather than do what’s best for kids. It’s time expert voices take precedence over the legal establishment.”

(Via: http://www.lifezette.com/momzette/shared-parenting-after-divorce-gains-new-attention/)

Children will grow up according to how they are raised. And how a child turns up as an adult is a shared responsibility between both parents even though they have already parted ways. A lot of conflict among the teens and young adults right now could have been avoided if their parents were able to establish a healthy and close relationship with them as a child. Divorce shouldn’t have stopped them from being good parents and role models to their children.

The post Co-Parenting After Divorce was initially published on SoulVisual

source https://www.soulvisual.com/blog/co-parenting-after-divorce/

Charity Floods Grenfell Tower Victims

The world is far from perfect and this social injustice makes living in an imperfect world doubly harder. Simply surviving is not that easy because it is a challenge to even afford food, shelter, and even an education for many people in the world today. And things become even more difficult in the face of disaster when people lose everything that is familiar in their lives – their home, personal belongings, and even personal space where they can relax and feel comfortable. One of the worst things humans can face is a fire accident. They say it’s better for you to be robbed 10 times but not be ravaged by fire not even once because you’ll lose everything important to you in a snap. That’s how disastrous fires can be.

The most controversial fire-related incident that happened lately is that of the Grenfell Tower in London. It was just several weeks ago when the 24-floor residential tower was ravaged by fire and eventually displaced several families and killed 79 unfortunate individuals. It’s a good thing that help came fast. The survivors received all sorts of help in the various drop off points when many of London’s communities united to support everyone affected by this terrible disaster. Even religious and preservation organizations stepped up and offered support despite the differences in their beliefs and traditions.

SAJID Javid, the communities secretary, has announced that the government is providing £1m to support the charitable response to the Grenfell Tower disaster.

This recognises the extraordinary efforts made by many smaller charities and not-for-profit organisations following the tragic fire.

Javid said: “The residents of Grenfell Tower have been through some of the most harrowing experiences imaginable and the response from local charities and volunteers has been remarkable. This funding will mean that smaller charities and community organisations can continue to make a huge difference.”

(Via: http://www.cityam.com/267376/charities-assisting-grenfell-tower-receive-extra-funds)

The victims chose from various items of clothing, food, toiletries, etc. on the streets given by generous and compassionate people to help them rebuild their lives. Many charitable institutions and NGOs were among the first to offer support and the victims will be receiving even more monetary help from the government.

Sajid Javid, the communities secretary, said: "The residents of Grenfell Tower have been through some of the most harrowing experiences imaginable and the response from local charities and volunteers has been remarkable.

"This funding will mean that smaller charities and community organisations can continue to make a huge difference. The first payments are in the process of being made and the government will continue to do everything we can as fast as we can to support those affected by this terrible tragedy."

David Warner, chief executive of London Funders, said: "We are delighted that the DCLG has responded with vital funds to provide immediate support to community groups in Kensington and Chelsea who are supporting those directly affected by the Grenfell fire.

"London Funders, along with a consortium of trusts and foundations, is making sure the money gets to those groups that can best use it as quickly as possible. We have now put in place the processes to make that happen."

(Via: http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/government-makes-1m-available-grenfell-tower-charities/policy-and-politics/article/1437775)

These charities have set up various ways to collect fund and continues to encourage people to donate. Many heeded the call and came with loads and loads of food and clothing soon after the incident happened but weeks after, they say that it’s better for the public to donate in cash because it can make a big difference as the victims start anew. Each family is also set to receive £20,000 in cash courtesy of the government to help them turn a new chapter in their lives and no longer feel like the helpless homeless people that they are ever since the fire broke out - £10,000 of which is to be given right away for those who sustained injuries and the other half to help them start a new life.

Charity Floods Grenfell Tower Victims is available on SoulVisual.com Blog

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