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The Ambiguity Of Buying From Temu: How To Stay Safe Ahead Of The Festive Retail Season

Let's learn about via these 30 free stories. They are ordered by most time reading created on HackerNoon. Visit the to find the most read stories about any technology. Smart Home /Learn Repo 1. 5 Most Pointless Smart Life Devices to Stay Away From A selected review of the most frustratingly pointless smart life devices available today. 2. How Smart are our Homes Getting? Smart spaces will become an essential part of our lives, he says. Smart homes are changing our lives in the same way as wearable devices. 3. All You Need To Know About UX Design In The Ambient Computing Era Ambient/Ubiquitous computing is a concept that circumscribes many terms together. It can be considered as a magnificent amalgam of software, hardware products and user experience with a major component of human-machine interaction and learning, all of these things becoming the aim of using a computer or any internet-enabled device, without necessarily deliberately using it. 4. Best Ways to Conserve Electricity and Save Money with Household Tech You just can't put enough information into one article to elucidate the processes of going green with solar electricity, so we're getting to break it into three steps. This first article is "Step One, Determining your Current Use." In it, we'll check out the way to determine what proportion of energy you employ at the present and the way to lower your consumption. 5. What the New CHIP Standard Means for Smart Home Startups When most people hear the word “chip” in the context of a smart home, they immediately imagine the microchips at the heart of their smart devices. But whereas chips power the brains of an individual smart device, CHIP will power the brains of an entire smart home. CHIP will offer huge conveniences to consumers, but its openness may make it harder for hardware startups to build ecosystems and defend against inexpensive knock-offs. 6. How to Build An Alexa Home Automation System How to make an IoT-based Smart Home with Arduino IoT Cloud & Alexa using NodeMCU ESP8266 to control 4 home appliances with voice commands. 7. How to Connect Your Soundbar to External Components It only takes a few minutes to connect your soundbar to your TV and get it running. But what if you want to set it up for another device, such as a gaming console or a Blu-ray player? Here, we go through the details such as the cables you need and settings you may have to change in your TV’s menu. 8. Big Tech Is Acquiring Access to Your Health & Home SMART HOMES: THE FINAL FRONTIER 9. Detecting Humans in Smart Homes with Computer Vision Learn more about OpenCV, how you can use it to identify and track people in real-time, and what challenges you can meet. 10. The Internet of Things will Transform these 7 Industries The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects, including vehicles, medical devices and home appliances, that use sensors and APIs to connect to one another and exchange data over the internet. 11. No Safety Nets in the Real World The Dark Side of the Smart Revolution 12. What Are The Cybersecurity Risks Associated With Personal Devices? Let's look at some of the most significant risks posed by your personal digital devices, and what we can do to boost your security. 13. How IoT And Edge Computing Influence Various Industries From healthcare to lifestyle, everything is being influenced by emerging technologies like IoT and edge computing. Moreover, as data remains the foundation of today’s economy, businesses can use these emerging technologies to offer a more personalized experience to their customers. 14. Using IoT to Solve Housing Problems and Improve Safety IoT can help manage air quality and emissions at industrial sites, improve control over electricity, water, and heat meters, and more. 15. Self-Isolation and Electricity: 3 Problems That May Arise Quarantine has drastically affected our routine. Companies have switched to remote work, employees have no choice but to work from home and get used to a new rhythm of life. Now as never before we all rely on uninterrupted Internet access. Sudden power outages reduce our productivity and affect the work schedule. 16. Smart Home Technology Sales Projected At $317 Revenue By 2026 Housewares have become more intelligent than ever, and the sales of smart home technologies are on the rise. 17. Technology To Make You Feel Safer Online Cybercrimes continue to be rampant and most people continue to wonder about their safety and that of their information. 18. How Technology Changing Our Homes Do you remember the pre-technology homes? Hard to recollect, right? Technology has changed our lives most remarkably and it is still transforming at a rapid space. 19. Smart homes are getting mainstream: 85% of Americans bought a smart device in 2020 According to the Safewise study, 85% of Americans bought a smart home device in 2020, and three-quarters of them were 44 or younger. 20. 12 Ways To Enforce IoT Security In Your Smart House IoT security in home automation is critical to avert data theft & infiltration of devices. Here are some ways that can help you out. 21. Smart Home Technologies that Will Raise the Value of your Home Smart homes are rapidly becoming popular across different demographics, and all for good reasons. For starters, smart security systems can detect break-in attempts and alert the authorities even in your absence. Some smart detectors can detect smoke, moisture level, carbon monoxide among other factors that can harm the home. Smart devices save money and allow convenience and efficiency in a huge way. In addition, smart home devices are easy to install. You only need the right tools and instructions to get started. 22. How to Take an Advantage Of Home Automation A couple of weeks ago I created an automation to change the light in my living room for when I played video games. 23. Major Reasons Why You Have Wi-Fi Dead Zones In the event that you have certain rooms or regions in your home where the Wi-Fi signal is moderate or nearly non-existent, you may have a Wi-Fi no man’s land. Does it take everlastingly to stack a page on the PC in your room? Is it practically difficult to watch Netflix in the cellar? No man’s lands and moderate zones can cause your gushing sticks, PCs, and savvy home gadgets to run ineffectively, conflictingly, or in some cases, not under any condition. 24. The Rapid Fire Adoption of Smart Home Tech A look at the smart homes and smart devices of the future, lead by Millennials and Gen Z generations. 25. DIY Tutorial: How to Create Motorized Shades for Your Smart Home Inexpensive motorized shades are a holy grail for DIY smart home enthusiasts. Many have tried and failed to produce a product that is comparable to the market. 26. Ajax Interacting With Security Systems Champion: Type 5 Certification Scheme Type 5 Certification Scheme is the most ruthless quality control in the security industry. Learn how Ajax smart wireless alarm goes through it 27. Connecting to Schlage's New WiFi Locks Is Not Easy I like Schlage’s smartlocks, and have used them for years. Built by a company with a long history of making reasonably secure, reliable locks, I’ve used several of their Z-Wave locks over the years, but Z-Wave is…Z-Wave. Proprietary until recently, a PIA to troubleshoot, and while the technology held a lot of promise on paper, in reality it’s been the cause for many a swear word to erupt from my mouth (I realize this is partially due to the controllers I’ve used over the years). 28. Top 10 Innovations in IoT, HealthTech, Fraud Prevention and More While 2020 might not have gotten off to the best of starts, hope lies in the future as we prepare for a new and exciting list of technology and software development yet to come. Tech companies across the world have been working tirelessly to provide consumers with an exciting array of innovations that will shape the world. 29. Home Gadgets that Drive Adults Crazy The HN team discussed their favorite smart home gadgets and what developments they wish to see available on the market. 30. Energy Savings Strategies for Smart Homes Let’s explore some energy-saving strategies for smart homes that you can deploy today and make your homes green and energy-efficient. Thank you for checking out the 30 most read stories about Smart Home on HackerNoon. to find the most read stories about any technology. Visit the /Learn Repo

30 Stories To Learn About Smart Home

Where is Netflix headed in 2023 under the direction of co-CEOs Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters? On January 19, Reed Hastings, arguably the most important and influential person in the rise of New Hollywood, , having shared the position with Sarandos since 2020. Hastings, who remains executive chairman, made an impact on the entertainment industry that will be felt for years to come. Now Sarandos and Peters, who had been Netflix’s chief operating officer, are calling the shots. stepped down from his role of CEO They’re taking over at a time when Netflix is storming into 2023 with guns blazing. In its , Netflix said it added 7.7 million paid subscribers for the quarter. This figure easily surpassed the 4.57 million Wall Street expected. Revenue also slightly exceeded Wall Street’s expectations. fourth-quarter 2022 earnings announcement This is the second consecutive big quarter for Netflix. Its stock price is gradually rebounding from a freefall in 2022 following a harsh year that rocked the streaming industry. With the wind at their backs, Team Sarandos/Peters will likely not rock the boat and instead will stay the course – for the most part. Even so, many questions and hot button issues loom. Here are three big questions the company faces in 2023: How Soon Will Netflix Expand into Cloud-Based Gaming? -- which is too big for Netflix to ignore. So, in November 2021, the company games for mobile devices, available to Netflix subscribers in an ad-free format. (Mobile accounts for 86 percent of the global video gaming market, .) Gaming is a $300 billion market launched according to Statistica Since then, the company has built a portfolio of 50 games and acquired four game studios. The company will expand its offerings in 2023. According to Vice President of Gaming Mike Verdu, Netflix is “ ” beyond mobile. very seriously exploring a cloud-gaming offering so that we can reach members on TVs and on PCs A potential move into cloud gaming is important because the global cloud gaming market size is expected to reach $20.94 billion by the year 2030, according to market research store . Research and Markets What are Netflix’s chances of growing profitably in gaming overall? On the one hand, Netflix can offer well-known entertainment titles that lend themselves to games and an audience that is receptive to gaming. According to Karol Severin, lead gaming analyst for MIDiA Research, 46 percent of Netflix’s weekly active users play games on mobile devices and 33 percent play on consoles, “ .” which over-indexes significantly compared to the consumer average Indeed, Netflix’s most recent letter to shareholders noted, “In the fourth quarter of 2022, the company launched season four of the unscripted series Too Hot to Handle, which was a top 10 title for us globally for three consecutive weeks. Simultaneously, we debuted our Too Hot to Handle game, which has been our biggest game launch to date and is another encouraging sign in the long-term opportunity to entertain members with Netflix intellectual property (IP) across different mediums.” Gaming creates the potential for revenue through features such as in-app purchases, a model that Fortnite has mastered – should Netflix choose to go down that path (which it currently is not). But the company has a long road ahead. In 2022, only 1.7 million Netflix subscribers out of 220 million were playing one of its games on any given day, – although it must be said that even if daily active usage is low. according to Apptopia downloads of Netflix games have been improving It’s too early to say yet how much value gaming will deliver to Netflix from the standpoint of growing and keeping subscribers and generating revenue. That said, the potential value cannot be denied. Kevin Westcott, who leads the U.S. technology, media and telecommunications practice of Deloitte, The Los Angeles Times, “The more entertainment services that are on a platform, I believe it will make it much more sticky and reduce churn.” told Reducing churn, or subscriber loss, is important at a time when analysts are concerned that the streaming industry is over-statured. The Los Angeles Times noted that many consumers prefer not to pay for mobile games and instead play free ones that are supported by ads, or that charge for additional gameplay or bonus items. This suggests that gaming will be more valuable as a customer retention strategy, not an acquisition strategy. In 2021, Netflix Epic Games, TikTok, and YouTube as rivals for customers’ screen time. Keeping people engaged is important to Netflix. The company , which is all about viewer retention. cited counts total streaming minutes of any program as a key performance indicator for successful content Adam Levy of The Motley Fool , “The way I view Netflix's foray into games is as a moonshot. The biggest mobile games seemingly come out of nowhere and go viral (think Wordle). The same thing happens with some of Netflix's biggest shows (think Squid Game). The more shots the company takes, the more likely it's going to find a hit. And it has the resources and experience to capitalize if and when it finds that hit. That could result in stronger subscriber retention and monetization down the road. concluded So, while games have been disappointing so far, there's no need for Netflix to give up on them anytime soon.” An expansion into cloud-based gaming makes sense for Netflix, and I predict that’s exactly what Netflix will do in 2023. Cloud gaming involves streaming games off the internet instead of outright downloading them. It’s a more natural experience for Netflix subscribers and keeps Netflix’s audience locked into its own platform more easily. In 2022, the appearance of multiple Netflix for cloud-based gaming positions fueled speculation that the company would go in this direction -- as did Mike Verdu’s about cloud-based gaming at TechCrunch Disrupt in October 2022. job postings bullish comments In doing so, Netflix enters a crowded field that includes the likes of Microsoft’s Game Pass, Sony’s PlayStation Plus, and NVIDIA’s GeForce Now. Google made a run at cloud-based gaming . Before the advent of cloud-based gaming, Disney tried to launch video gaming and also before instead of trying to do all the heavy lifting of creating games in-house. and failed gave up licensing its properties to gaming companies Neil Barbour, an analyst at Kagan, , “While Netflix does have the infrastructure set up to stream video as well as an existing consumer base, there is a pretty deep chasm between video streaming and game streaming. Microsoft and Nvidia have been working for years at this and are just now approaching usable experiences for the average consumer.” said Netflix has a major advantage: the ability to develop games based on its marquee shows. After you’re done watching , with cloud-based gaming, you can play the game without having to fuss with downloading. This depends on Netflix quickly developing games that capitalize on the popularity of its content – and, of course, games that appeal to gamers. Gaming is a different experience than passively watching television. (At TechCrunch Disrupt, Verdu did not say whether  Netflix would build its own game controllers like Google did for the unsuccessful Stadia service; he did say that the titles wouldn't rely on TV remotes for input.) Stranger Things Stranger Things This is why Netflix has been fast tracking its growth by acquiring gaming studios. Even still, Netflix has its work cut out for it. How Successful Will Content Monetization Be? Reed Hastings must be relieved he is stepping back from his CEO role now that Netflix has launched its own ad-supported tier. During Netflix’s glory years when seemingly no one could touch the company, he was a content purist – insisting on building a business by creating great content that drives subscriber growth. But he eventually changed his thinking as his competitors grew their ad-supported offerings and Netflix’s subscriber growth showed signs of slowing before 2022. By 2022, he was , “Every major streaming company excluding Apple has or has announced an ad-supported service. For good reason, people want lower-priced options.” admitting to shareholders And so, under his watch, Netflix launched its own ad-supported tier in November 2022 – just as Disney+ unveiled its own. Netflix has not released any performance numbers on its ad-supported offering, but it looks like Netflix is delivering promising results. , daily subscription signups rose by more than 50 percent during the first few days the ad-supported tier was available. Ampere Analysis said that almost 10 percent of new customer signups are now for the ad-supported tier. According to Ampere Analysis Peters and Sarandos say they are going to push the ad model forward full throttle. They believe the model is succeeding already. Peters , “We have knocked this thing outta the park. We literally went from zero to get this thing launched in six months. And then we were within this much of what our predictions were. We’ve got a crap load of work, there’s no doubt. We're gonna be busy building this out for years to come.” He predicted its growth trajectory as follows: “Think about it as zero two months ago [when the service was launched in November 2021] and then about mid-single digit billions of dollars in three years” by catering to price-sensitive consumers. assured Bloomberg recently In its letter to shareholders discussing Q42022 growth, Netflix was equally sanguine about its prospects: While it’s still early days for ads and we have lots to do (in particular better targeting and measurement), we are pleased with our progress to date across every dimension: member experience, value to advertisers, and incremental contribution to our business. Engagement, which is consistent with members on comparable ad-free plans, is better than what we had expected and we believe the lower price point is driving incremental membership growth. Also, as expected, we’ve seen very little switching from other plans. Overall the reaction to this launch from both consumers and advertisers has confirmed our belief that our ad-supported plan has strong unit economics (at minimum, in-line with or better than the comparable ad-free plan) and will generate incremental revenue and profit, though the impact on 2023 will be modest given that this will build slowly over time. Advertising doesn’t tell the whole story about Netflix’s aspirations for monetizing content. The company for years. has been quietly building a merchandising operation as well For example, in 2019, Netflix and bike maker Mongoose agreed to offer a limited edition Mongoose based on a fictional bicycle used in , which was followed by the licensing of more -inspired bikes. Netflix also launched , including those with , , , and Stranger Things Stranger Things 75 co-brands Burger King Coca-Cola H&M Nike. These relationships — hybrid in-show product placements plus real-world merchandising — offered a glimpse of how Netflix would monetize its titles more broadly. Notably, the tie-in capitalized on the growing popularity of , which was a turning point for Netflix’s commitment to monetizing the value of its titles. Stranger Things Selling licensed products is a massive revenue opportunity. Global sales revenue generated by licensed merchandise and services grew to $315.5 billion in 2021, a 7.75 percent increase over the $292.8 billion generated in 2019, according to the by Licensing International, a trade group. In 2020, Netflix hired Nike and Disney veteran Josh Simon to lead its Consumer Products division. Since, then, the company has merchandized its content in a number of ways, including: most recent study of the industry A to distribute Netflix-inspired clothes, toys, beauty supplies and housewares on the . Initially this was an online operation, but the two companies recently said they’re . (It’s not clear what the Hubs actually look like – a row of merchandise? A kiosk? A store within a store?) In addition, Walmart is making available a Netflix Streaming Gift Card, exclusively at Walmart. The low-priced Netflix Streaming Gift Card gives customers a chance to use the streaming service without having a credit or debit card. Walmart will also offer Concession Kits to help fans create a movie theater-style couch-watching experience with themed items like popcorn, confections and collectible cups. partnership with Walmart Netflix Hub expanding the Netflix Hubs across  2,400 Walmart stores Distribution deals beyond Walmart. For instance, and sell Netflix-inspired merchandise. Target Amazon The launch of the , an online store built with Shopify to nimbly create merchandise based on the popularity of series like Squid Games. Netflix Shop Pop-up stores in major markets such as and . Los Angeles New York A for a live experience for Pat McGrath Labs’ collection. partnership with YouTube shopping Bridgerton makeup The Walmart relationship is intriguing because Walmart has a deal in place to offer a competing streaming service, Paramount+, to members of the Walmart+ premium service. Nevertheless, I predict Netflix and Walmart will double down on the Netflix Hub by rolling out more Netflix Hubs across all 10,500 stores globally -- especially because global markets are essential to Netflix’s growth. Walmart offers Netflix: An in-store, web-based, and mobile distribution channel to millions of Walmart customers. . . Its website is the . The company is the world’s largest retailer Walmart’s app is the most popular shopping app in the United States most visited eCommerce and retail site in the world Insight about how its shoppers behave – what they buy, when, and where. Walmart has mastered the science of collecting and analyzing first-party data, or the information people share with Walmart about themselves when they shop in store and online. First-party data has helped Walmart launch its successful Walmart Connect ad network, one of  many such retail-based networks emerging in recent years. Brand strength. Netflix is a newcomer to merchandising. Walmart gives the company visibility and legitimacy. As with gaming, merchandising is an early-days effort for Netflix. The company has not disclosed how much money it actually makes from merchandising, and based on earning reports, the mount must be immaterial for now. Disney sets the gold standard in this area, but streaming levels the playing field. Even Disney is still just figuring out how to develop synergies between Disney+ and Disney brands such as its theme parks and stores. Walmart is Netflix’s ace in the hole. Will Netflix Rethink Movie Distribution? For years, Netflix has locked horns with the major theater chains because Netflix has refused to give its movies a wide theatrical release before taking its films to streaming. AMC and Regal have flat-out boycotted Netflix’s films. The conflict eased up in 2022 when, for the first time, Netflix distributed one of its titles through three major Old Hollywood theater chains, AMC, Cinemark, and Regal. , the sequel to the hit Knives Out, was distributed to 600 theaters on November 23. The movie ran for one week, followed by a blackout period, and then a streaming premiere on Netflix on December 23. Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery Netflix didn’t release financial results for , . By contrast, Disney’s Thanksgiving release was on track to make about $24 million during Thanksgiving Week – but the movie was distributed across 4,174 theaters. Glass Onion but it’s estimated to have raked in $14.5 million during its one-week showing in only 638 theaters Strange World It’s been widely discussed that Netflix should have exhibited longer in theaters and cashed in on an opportunity to make much more money – especially because Netflix paid a reported $450 million for two sequels to . Box office analysts it could have earned four times as much if it had been released in more theaters and perhaps hundreds of millions if it had stayed in theaters longer than a week. Glass Onion Knives Out said Jeff Bock, a senior media analyst at Exhibitor Relations, , “This is probably one of the biggest gaffes in modern film release history in terms of bungling what could have been made at the box office with ‘Glass Onion.’ In my mind, they left hundreds of millions of dollars at the table. If they can afford that, that’s great, Netflix — but any other studio in town is just shaking their head at this decision because any other studio in town would have loved to have this film in the marketplace right now.” told The Los Angeles Times Sarandos countered, “There’s all kinds of debates all the time back and forth, but there is no question internally that we make our movies for our members, and we really want them to watch them on Netflix. Indeed, a short theatrical run for did exactly what Netflix had hoped for: build buzz for its streaming release. turned out to be the fourth most popular movie in Netflix’s history. As the company reported in its Q4 letter to shareholders, “We believe people typically sign up for a streaming service because they’ve heard about a title ‘you simply must watch’ from a friend, seen the excitement on social media or read about it in the press.” Glass Onion Glass Onion That was then. This is now: Sarandos and Peters are operating in a wary-to-hostile investing climate. The movies were expensive to acquire. And movies are enormously risky: unlike TV shows, which build buzz over multiple episodes, movies have only one shot at generating fan love. Knives Out And surely Sarandos and Peters are watching what their competitors are doing. A number of films enjoyed huge, extended, box office runs followed by successful streaming premiers in 2022: earned $750 million globally before Warner Brothers premiered the film the HBO Max streaming service. then enjoyed a first-week viewership of an estimated 4.1 million households (per Samba TV) – the second best first-week for a theatrical release on HBO Max. The Batman The Batman One of the biggest movie success stories of 2022 (or any year), , took to arrive on its studio’s streamer (Paramount+), which didn’t stop it from immediately becoming the service’s . Top Gun: Maverick seven months No. 1 offering banked $842 million globally during an 82-day run in theaters – and then . Black Panther: Wakanda Forever became the most-watched Marvel premiere on Disney+ based on hours streamed within the first five days I predict that Netflix will loosen up even more and allow a longer theatrical run for its titles (which it should do for the upcoming , starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston). Murder Mystery 2 The company can still cater to subscribers by releasing movies in theaters and then versions exclusively for streamers, as Peacock did following the movie’s successful box office run. And Disney+ often includes the standard and the IMAX versions for Marvel movies, plus often commentary tracks and a ton of extras, like you’d get on a DVD release. has a 90-minute making-of documentary. by streaming two versions of Jurassic World Dominion West Side Story New Hollywood is learning it can have its cake and eat it, too, by exhibiting movies in theaters as a way to maximize revenue and also build excitement for their streaming releases. What does Netflix have to lose, besides money on the table? Big Shoes to Fill Netflix is looking at a much brighter year than it did in this time last year. Reed Hastings’s legacy is secure, and Netflix has re-asserted its role as the leader of New Hollywood. Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters have big shoes to fill. Gaming, monetizing content, and rethinking Netflix’s movie distribution strategy are three ways to do that.

Three Questions for Netflix’s New Co-CEOs

More often than not, marketers rely on a simple concept to create products designed for women, “ ”. This strategy involves taking an everyday product, paint it pink, and making it smaller: razors, clothing, earbuds, technical gear, toolsets, notebooks, pens, etc. Then we have , gender-based price discrimination where identical products are priced differently based on the targeted gender. pink it and shrink it the Pink Tax compared different industries, such as toys, clothing, personal care products, or health care products, and discovered immense discrepancies between prices. A side-by-side comparison of a scooter showed that a red scooter cost $24.99 and a pink scooter, identical in all ways but color, cost $49. This study As a satire of the pink tax, the adult party game released a special edition, , the same as the base game, except that it was $5 more expensive and pink. This special edition of the Cards Against Humanity was held in support of electing female pro-choice Democratic candidates to office. Cards Against Humanity Cards Against Humanity For Her Anecdotally, I started to notice the pink tax while shopping for my daughter’s clothes. For example, in an international retailer shop, the same jogger pants were x euro for boys and x + 1 or 2 euro for girls. Now multiply this difference with items sold in a day across all shops across all cities across all countries. And this difference would be for one type of item sold in one day by only one company. As we all know, not only pink is a strong gender identifier. Although men or boys are wearing pink more frequently (with a notable mention for ), blue is the default color for male babies. Imagine the shock would ensue if adults gifted pink clothes to a young baby boy. I know this firsthand as I still remember the perplexed looks when I referred to a baby dressed with blue accents as my daughter. the pink kits of football players So, when and how did colors become associated with genders? To answer these questions, we would have to go back in time. Until the late 19th century, young boys and girls were traditionally dressed in white dresses until five or six years. White was easy to bleach and launder, with no color fading, and cheaper to buy than dyed clothes (at least until ). Caregivers chose dresses for practical reasons: it was much more accessible to change dirty cloth diapers in dresses than pants. Also, dresses were easier to adjust to children’s rapidly growing needs. cheap chemical dyes were invented Franklin Roosevelt, US president, when he was a toddler. Image credit: Wikipedia It’s not unusual to hear modern people describe Victorian babies as being dressed like girls; this is an error. To its own parents and grandparents, a child wearing the traditional white dress looked like ‘a baby.’ This convention could be explained in practical terms of diapering, hand-me-downs, and laundering, but that is a partial truth. An equally important explanation is that gendered dress was considered inappropriate for young children, whose asexual innocence was so often cited as one of their greatest charms. Jo B. Paoletti, Pink and Blue: Telling the Boys from the Girls in America In those times, pink and blue did not hold any gender connotations. That would change as Freud and other psychologists’ theories about child development appeared. Parents began to differentiate between girls and boys, with each gender wearing clothes associated with either men or women from a younger and younger age. Around the 1920s, magazines started to advertise pink for boys and blue for girls aggressively. The generally accepted rule is pink for the boys, and blue for the girls. The reason is that pink, being a more decided and stronger colour, is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl. - June 1918 article from the trade publication Earnshaw’s Infants’ Department But why would magazines care about gender colors? Perhaps if parents followed such color schemes, they would have to buy different wardrobes and baby accessories if they had boys and girls, rather than reusing the same gender-neutral color set. , manufacturers and retailers shifted perceptions again, with pink for girls and blue for boys. Stores found that people were buying pink merchandise for girls and blue for boys. Supposedly, this might have happened because in Nazi Germany, prisoners identified by authorities as gay men were branded with during World War II. Around the 1940s a pink triangle As such, pink, “a more suitable color for boys”, became unpopular and was transferred to girls. Or this change happened because Mamie Eisenhower, the First Lady of the United States in the 1950s, was very fond of pink, . launching a national trend for pink clothes, houseware, or bathrooms Paoletti discovered a short wave of unisex clothing that happened around the 1960s – the 70s, perhaps not coincidentally around the time of . For example, the Sears Roebuck catalogue displayed no pink toddler clothes for two years. the women’s liberation movement This movement didn’t last long (notice a trend?). By the 1980s, gender-oriented clothes became once again fashionable. Paoletti believes that prenatal testing was a significant reason. Expecting parents found the gender of their unborn child and prepared the nest accordingly. Pink and blue became default colors for sleepers, cribs, diapers, strollers, car seats, toys, etc. Once again, consumerism was in full bloom, with pink decorations for a girl and another spending on blue if the next child was a boy. “The more you individualize clothing, the more you can sell”, Paoletti says. Only this time, as retailers became more and more international, the pink versus blue divide spread like a fire across cultures and countries. Perhaps this explains why there is still a color separation four decades later. Nowadays, although there is demand again for gender-neutral children’s miscellaneous items, we still abide by the fashion rules. To show how perfidious these rules are, next time you are invited to a boy’s birthday party, try to gift him a pink birthday card and pack his gifts in pink paper. There is a slight uncomfortable feeling, isn’t it? This blue versus pink trend highlights how quickly something can become the new truth. Parenting in the 21st century is undoubtedly more evolved than parenting centuries ago. But we can learn from those times, when children were not dressed as girls or boys, but simply children. So, why not let children enjoy all colors of the rainbow, with less stereotyping, sexism, or prejudice? And if a girl wants to wear pink or blue, so be it. And if a boy wants to wear pink or blue, so be it. Previously published at https://www.roxanamurariu.com/when-colours-are-biased-the-pink-versus-blue-debate/

Colors and Gender Bias: The History Behind 'Pink it and Shrink it'

Netflix, the company that symbolizes New Hollywood, has adopted an Old Hollywood approach for generating revenue: merchandising. Recently, Netflix the launch of , an eCommerce operation that sells limited edition apparel and lifestyle products based on Netflix shows. Netflix.shop is the natural evolution of a direction Netflix . If this sounds like a familiar approach, well, it is. Disney created the blueprint for merchandising movies . But Netflix.shop has already made its mark by taking an openly inclusive approach through its partnerships with product designers. Let’s take a closer look at how and why Netflix is selling merchandise through its own digital retail storefront. announced Netflix.shop has been taking for the past few years in the 1920s How Netflix.shop Works Netflix.shop, built with Shopify, is a straightforward eCommerce operation. Since going online June 10, the site has featured T shirts, hoodies, and caps inspired by different Netflix shows. As of June 2021, the inventory is limited but well curated. Items debuting in June include streetwear and action figures based on anime series Yasuke and limited-edition apparel and decorative items inspired by in collaboration with the Musée du Louvre. In an announcement, Netflix emphasized not inventory but designer cachet: the company has taken an inclusive approach by collaborating with up-and-coming Black designers Kristopher Kites, and Jordan Bentley to introduce a collection of anime-inspired collectibles; and Nathalie Nguyen, a Vietnamese artist who immigrated from France to the U.S. when she was six. Lupin Netflix.shop takes a storytelling approach by featuring interviews with each designer, who share their personal stories and approach to their work. Jordan Bentley’s Hypland brand makes available streetwear inspired by , a based on a who reached the rank of samurai under the rule of Oda Nobunaga in seventeenth-century Japan. As Bentley notes in a video interview on Netflix.shop, “There’s never been an even representation for African American characters in the anime I love,” which is why he is inspired by . He explains how his passion for representing a Black warrior reflects Hypland’s inclusive and multicultural nature since its founding years ago. Yasuke Netflix anime series real-life African warrior Yasuke Jordan Bentley Kristopher Kites, from the south side of Chicago, shares how his dad took him to a comic store that stocked anime movies, which were his gateway to a world that inspired him. He also creates personal wear based on (Kites specializes in links and charms). Yasuke “We are like the modern day Black samurai,” he says, commenting on Black creatives. Kristopher Kites Nathalie Nguyen discusses how, as a 6-year-old immigrant who spoke no English, she communicated through art, often inspired by anime. She aspired to become a painter. But after learning 3D programming from scratch at a tech startup, she gained a following because of her 3D designs that she posted on social media. She has the inquisitive soul of an artist, constantly tinkering with designs through 3D modeling to find different ways to express the aesthetic of Netflix shows. Nathalie Nguyen Netflix’s inclusive embrace of emerging designers reflects the company’s culture. For example, Netflix’s marketing arm Strong Black Lead is committed to hiring people of color and supporting their voices. (Read more about Strong Black Lead .) In 2020, Netflix it was allocating up to $100 million of its cash holdings into financial institutions and organizations that directly support Black communities in the United States. In 2021, Netflix published its first-ever , which assessed the company’s journey toward being more inclusive. As an outcome of the report, Netflix a $100 million investment to improve the diversity of its content, including better representation of LGBTQ+ people. The company will fund organizations that help underrepresented communities find jobs in TV and film. Netflix.shop also delivers on this commitment to making the world more diverse and inclusive. here announced social impact report announced A Logical Evolution for Netflix Netflix has been in the – just not through its own branded website. For instance, in 2019, Netflix and bike maker Mongoose agreed to offer a limited edition Mongoose based on a fictional bicycle used in , which was followed by the licensing of more -inspired bikes. Netflix also launched , including those with , , , and merchandising business for a few years now Stranger Things Stranger Things 75 co-brands Burger King Coca-Cola H&M Nike. These relationships — hybrid in-show product placements plus real-world merchandising — offered a glimpse of how Netflix would monetize its titles more broadly. Notably, the tie-in capitalized on the growing popularity of , which was a turning point for Netflix’s commitment to merchandising. Stranger Things But even then, Netflix merchandising and co-brands as a way to gain exposure Netflix shows as opposed to being a serious revenue stream. At the time, CEO Reed Hastings that Netflix did not want to "get distracted with alternative revenue sources," because its subscriber engine is what drives revenue, Hastings said in the earnings interview. viewed said "The core focus is, create all these merchandising opportunities, tie-ins, touch points, so that you feel the 'Stranger Things' energy so that more people join," Hastings said. "We do monetize all that. It's just we're monetizing it through our giant engine rather than through little sidecar vehicles." But that’s not the case now. In 2020, Netflix hired Nike and Disney veteran Josh Simon to lead its Consumer Products division. Since he , Simon has tripled the size of the Consumer Products team and arranged distribution deals with Walmart, and to sell Netflix-inspired clothes, toys, beauty supplies and housewares, Walmart inspired by Netflix’s . -branded merchandise is a . came aboard Target Amazon sells merchandise Over the Moon Stranger Things common sight at Target Simon that Netflix.shop will operate as a boutique, with Netflix instead focusing its efforts on more deals with store chains and fashion brands. “Practically speaking, the revenue will come more from those partners around the world in terms of sheer footprint and number of locations and magnitude,” he said. told The New York Times But Netflix.shop gives Netflix a way to tap into the popularity of fast-rising shows and drop merchandise faster than it could working with a retailing partner. This way, Netflix can stoke the fires of cultural relevance with its content and brand. For instance, when Netflix sees it has a trending show like on its hands, the company can quickly move to sell merchandise on its own site rather than through a partner such as clothing company Phenomenal, by selling merchandise such as sweatshirts. If Netflix sees a show trending on social media, it can move nimbly – an approach Nike is taking by building its . Bridgerton as it did recently Bridgerton Nothing But Gold site The need for speed influenced Netflix’s decision to work with Shopify to run Netflix.shop. Shopify President Harley Finkelstein, told that Shopify understand how to handle big merchandise drops ranging Taylor Swift albums to sneaker releases,  “We’ve been battle-hardened around some of the largest flash sales on the planet,” he said. The New York Times Publicly traded Netflix does not break out how much it actually earns from merchandising, but it’s probably a small amount – for now. As of 2021, , but we’re still in the early going with merchandising. subscription fees constitute its main source of revenue Why Netflix.shop Now? Why did Netflix decide to make a more serious run for a merchandising operation especially after Reed Hastings downplayed its role only a few years ago? A few reasons stand out: . After enjoying a subscribership surge during the pandemic, Netflix a sharp decline in growth for its most recent quarter. The company’s stock value is doing just fine. But the company needs to satisfy investors who worry about the slowdown in subscriber growth. Netflix has resisted pressure to introduce an ad-supported tier as other streaming services have done. Relying on subscription fees alone is increasingly a tough strategy to sell. Netflix needs to monetize its subscriber base reported . Selling licensed products is a revenue opportunity too big for a content creator to ignore. Sales of licensed products tied to shows, films and characters were about $49 billion in the United States in 2019, and $128 billion globally, the most recent study of the industry by Licensing International, a trade group. Since advertising is not on the table as an option (so far), merchandising is more appealing according to . Disney rakes in billions from the sale of merchandise spawned by its movies and shows. The company has already turned its Disney+ streaming service into a cash cow for branded products inspired by shows such as . In 2020, Disney’s Consumer Products division in 2020 – and that was during a down year. Amazon, meanwhile, basically treats its Amazon Prime Video streaming service as a platform to keep Amazon Prime members shopping on the Amazon retail site; and Amazon has 200 million Prime members. Prime members spend reportedly annually than non-Prime members. As Jeff Bezos once , “When we win a Golden Globe, it helps us sell more shoes.” Netflix cannot claim any of Disney’s or Amazon’s advantages. Netflix is feeling the competitive pressure The Mandalorian earned $16 billion 133 percent more said These are compelling reasons, and Netflix – one of the world’s most – is well positioned to grow its eCommerce business. But the company also as challenge: it’s one thing to cash in on a show such as that builds enormous buzz . But other shows can take time to build the kind of fan loyalty that translates to a steady stream of merchandise sales. And lately Netflix has been quick to cancel shows in their infancy. In 2020 alone, Netflix canceled 18 original series, prompting Ken Renfro of Insider.com to note that “ .” The company may need to be more patient to allow shows to become merchandise-friendly brands. Lupin early on Netflix has a TV-show problem What’s Next? Even with the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Netflix has a ist of original titles dropping in 2021 – 69 in July alone. What will be the next – a show that not only goes viral but influences behavior? , the compelling story of chess prodigy, also inspired a . Next time around, Netflix is counting on Netflix.shop to sense and respond to these rapidly changing consumer behaviors and drop merchandise quickly – perhaps not chess boards, but clothing and personal wear that can be designed and manufactured quickly. formidable l The Queen’s Gambit The Queen’s Gambit surge in sales of chess boards Netflix’s ace in the hole is its ability to use artificial intelligence to personalize content by anticipating your tastes. The next challenge: using AI to quickly spot trends in consumer tastes and drop merchandise. And this is where Shopify’s may help. The ideal state for Netflix is "speed to insight/market/value" as described in this by product development executive and educator : using AI to understand consumer trends faster than your competitors can and develop products; relying on a platform (in this case, Shopify) to take those products to market; and offering those products through highly personalized experiences that create enduring value. AI engine blog post Mike Edmonds Don’t look for Netflix to challenge Disney anytime soon (nor would Netflix aspire to do so). But Netflix is now playing to win. Let’s see how quickly the company can apply its keen sense of cultural tastes to consumer products. In addition, by making its content more diverse as it has promised to do, Netflix may enjoy a dividend down the road: a larger, more diverse customer base. Note: I invest in Amazon, Disney, and Netflix.

The Modern Day Black Samurai and The Potential of Netflix's New Merchandising Shop 

Supercomputers, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality - the tech industry has long been a breeding ground for innovations. As many have gotten used to confine themselves to their homes during the pandemic, consumers are looking for for their homes that don’t just look aesthetically pleasing but are also geared towards increased functionalities that help maintain a comfortable and healthy living space. products The year of 2021 - albeit merely in its first quarter - has seen breakneck technological adoption in housewares, with many innovative companies tapping into this growing trend of consumers turning to intelligent home products. Technologies that previously only existed in the realm of automobiles and computer hardware are getting put into things like power sockets, water dispensers, and even saunas, giving them functionalities that their traditional counterparts simply come without. A faucet that does more than one job Having caught the spotlight at KBIS 2021, Smart Faucets spice up daily interactions in the kitchen by offering four different ways of operation: conventional handle control, voice command, sensors, and through the company’s mobile application. U by Moen From turning on and off the faucet to telling the temperature of the water that it is dispersing, its voice-controlled technology offers limitless possibilities, and with a touchless sensor, users can choose to wave their hands over the sensor instead to either turn on the water or shut it off. These features help reduce the passing of germs and dirt since interactions with the faucet are essentially hands-free. One of its voice commands “wash hand” activates a hand-washing algorithm that helps save water while making sure that users can get their hands cleaned based on the CDC’s suggested time for handwashing. With this smart home water security system, say goodbye to costly water damage and leaks Moen has another revolutionary product on their hands for those wanting to keep a tight rein on their household water usage. is a home water security system that features a set of devices that you can fit into your home’s water supply system to avoid staggering bills from water damage and leaks. Flo by Moen These devices are capable of detecting your water supply system for vulnerabilities and leaks while also sensing any leak and moisture outside of the connected pipes, including failures of appliances, overflowing drains, and other weather-related problems. You can control, monitor, and save water in your home at your fingertips using their mobile app. Forget about having blinds or curtains on your windows, these smart glass windows are here to stay aren’t the new kid on the block, but they have only started gaining more prominence in recent years due to better innovations in the underlying raw materials and technologies. Smart glass also bears a variety of monikers, including light control glass (LCG), privacy glass, and switchable glass. Smart glass windows The technology behind smart glass allows it to control various light forms such as UV, IR, and visible light. Essentially, smart glass technologies are able to manage the amount of light being transmitted through the glass windows, by making them appear either transparent, opaque, or translucent. There are two types of smart glass windows on the market - passive glass or active glass. Passive smart glass windows require electrical charges to operate; whereas, active ones do not and can further be classified as either thermochromic glass windows or photochromic glass windows. These technologies have been generating a tidal wave of window replacement jobs, and with growing investments in the research and development of a more cost-effective and efficient product, there hasn’t been any sign of slowing down in the smart glass industry on a global scale. If you are still clinging onto your old electronics but wanting to have a taste of smart home technologies, smart plugs let you control your electrical devices straight from your smartphone Making your home high-tech doesn’t necessarily involve you forking out a large sum of cash. are a cost-friendly way to modernize your typical appliances, lighting, and other electrical devices. Smart plugs Smart outlets, smart plugs, or smart switches? They are all the same. These smart switches - or smart plugs - plug into wall outlets or power strips, and they have their own power outlets that you can plug any devices into to automate them. You are not going to lose an existing outlet by plugging one smart switch in as you are basically just making the outlet rather intelligent by getting it connected to the internet through Wi-Fi. Most smart plugs allow you to control the power wirelessly on your smartphone through the app. When you connect an appliance - let say your TV - to a smart plug, you can switch it on or off at any time and anywhere you want. They also come with a function that lets you set up a power schedule. If you want an electrical device to turn on or off at a particular time of the day, you can do that with the smart plug’s schedule feature. A bright future for the smart home technology market The pandemic has propelled the smart home technology industry to new heights. The market was already expanding when the outbreak started, and ABI Research expects the demand for smart home products to grow even more than previously predicted. Its recent study indicates that the market will bring in by 2026, which is an additional five percent growth over the forecasts from the pre-pandemic era. $317 billion We will likely see more and more innovative household products get introduced to the market, but there is certainly no telling how contemporary technologies behind smart home devices will evolve in the future.

Smart Home Technology Sales Projected At $317 Revenue By 2026

A Day with the Popes

Was , the eccentric CEO of Globex from The Simpsons, a bad or good manager? While one of many that managed Homer Simpson, I saw Hank Scorpio achieve something unique. Hank Scorpio Hank Scorpio got Homer Simpson to . care about his job How did Hank do this? What can we apply from his managerial skills to make ourselves better leaders? Disclosure: This article includes affiliate links to any books I reference. I may receive compensation when you click on links to these products. Good Manager Sign: Hank Scorpio Builds Trust with Authentic Relationships From the moment we meet Hank, . Hank takes time from his fun run to introduce himself. He brings a housewarming gift to The Simpsons. Hank wants Homer to know they wear the same moccasins. he builds trust with Homer Hank doesn’t care that The Simpsons come from a blue-collar background. Hank believes Homer is the best person he can find to lead the nuclear engineering team. To get the best work out of Homer, Hank needs to earn Homer’s trust. He knew Homer’s name from the first moment. Hank saw that the entire family moved to Cypress Creek for Globex and welcomed them all. Hank builds trust by showing a genuine interest in Homer. But this was not the moment where Hank Scorpio Homer’s trust. earned Homer dreams of owning the Dallas Cowboys. The Simpson family laughed at Homer for this dream. Hank earned Homer Simpson’s trust when he asked about Homer’s dream. Hank does something different. He doesn’t laugh. Hank respects Homer’s dream. Helping Homer achieve this goal will make Homer more engaged in his job. How can We Build Trust like Hank Scorpio? A sign of a good manager is earning the trust of their team. We’re only seen as leaders when we have the team’s support. A way to build trust is by . Hank Scorpio does this by: showing a genuine interest in your teammates Making sure new employees feel welcomed and part of the team. Paying attention to what the people around him want to achieve. Not looking down on anyone. He respects people’s wishes and wants to help. Ask yourself a few questions to see how you can build trust like Hank Scorpio: What are the goals of each individual on your team? What common topic do you share an interest in with each person on your team? What can you do to help them achieve their goals in life? Good Manager Sign: Hank Scorpio Supports His Employees Hank drops what he’s doing whenever Homer needs help. Hank makes sure Homer has the tools to succeed. Hank is a great boss because he prioritizes supporting his employees. Look at the hammocks scene. Hank is minutes away from declaring war on the world. This is a moment Hank has been working towards for years. Yet, when Homer enters his office, Hank puts his work aside to talk to his employee. Hank doesn’t question why Homer needs hammocks. He trusts that Homer is doing his best to support his nuclear engineering team. All that Hank sees is that Homer doesn’t know how to achieve his goal. I love the detail that comes after Hank sends Homer to the Hammock District. Hank directs Homer to find who invented the hammock. The origin of hammocks is one of the few assignments Hank gives Homer. He is teaching Homer how to find answers on his own. How can Hank Scorpio’s support of his team help us? Hank Scorpio is a . servant leader He makes sure his team has what they need to do their best work. It doesn’t matter to Hank if an employee needs hammocks to rest in or sugar for coffee. He makes sure they have the right tools. Hank prioritizes the well-being of this team first. Great leaders create environments for people to excel in. Good managers build stages their employees will perform on. What environmental problems are preventing your team from doing their best work? Good Manager Sign: Hank Scorpio Recognizes Hard Work Hank Scorpio knows the Globex team is putting their lives on the line for his goal of…world conquest. He shows his appreciation for his employees’ work through Homer. When Homer tackles Bont, Scorpio immediately gives Homer . He promises that a new level will added to Homer’s house. positive feedback Scorpio gifts Homer ownership of the Denver Broncos. Hank ties this reward to Homer’s contributions to Project Arcturus. It’s rare for Homer to receive praise for his work. Hank recognizes Homer’s contributions and rewards him. I think these acts leave an impact on Homer. How can we recognize our teams like Hank Scorpio? People are trying their best everyday at their job. Recognizing the work that people put into their job is meaningful. As managers, we need to show people that we see their effort. Letting others know the impact of their work builds trust. Ask your reports for information on these topics in your 1-1s. This preparation will make it easy when the time comes to recognize your team’s work. The trick is learning how people want to receive recognition. What traits make Hank Scorpio a Bad Manager? As great of a manager Hank Scorpio is, he has one fault. He’s a supervillain. This is the joke of the episode! Homer’s traditional boss, Mr. Burns, is terrible. Yet, Mr. Burns provides a valuable service to Springfield. Hank Scorpio is a leader who inspires people. We don’t know if he is transparent about the goal of Project Arcturus with his employees. Based on the evidence of the episode, Hank is not honest about his mission to rule the East Coast. Hank Scorpio’s evil nature leads us to the ethical question of the episode. Is it ok to work for someone that will improve your life if your work harms others? It’s a prescient question given the state of the world in 2021. Hank Scorpio: Good Manager or Bad Manager? : Hank Scorpio is a with a horrific vision. Rating Good Manager Given Hank Scorpio’s behavior as a boss, he’s a great manager. His work leads to Homer Simpson having a rare feeling. Homer is of the work he’s doing. He to do a good job. proud tries We can use the same techniques as Hank Scorpio to become better leaders: Show genuine interest in each individual to build trust. Support your team by giving them the resources to succeed. Recognize the hard work of your team with and material rewards. positive feedback I have a challenge for you though. Given the ability to inspire others to follow you, what mark will you and your team leave on the world? I hope it’s something more positive than seizing the East Coast. What do you think of Hank’s leadership skills? Which character should I analyze next? Let me know on or . LinkedIn Twitter Want to learn how to become the successful leader your team needs? to learn how. Sign up for my newsletter Further Reading How Ted Lasso’s Leadership Lessons Made Me a Successful Leader How to Give Positive Feedback to Colleagues – with Examples! Creativity, Inc. Amazon Bookshop.org Become an Effective Software Engineering Manager Amazon Bookshop.org Previously published . here

Was Hank Scorpio a Good Boss?

is shaking up the mortgage industry by providing a fully transparent and comprehensive lending experience. Block66 The upcoming network is a matchmaker connecting borrowers with lenders. No longer will prospective homeowners be solely reliant upon local banks and credit unions. Blockchain tech can break the bricks of walled gardens surrounding exclusionary industries. You may remember how high-risk loans — coupled with rising housing prices — were so instrumental in the last global financial collapse? Well, putting the mortgage industry — often prone to predatory, shady, profit-hungry practices — on a chain is long overdue. But before we get into how Block66 plans to straighten a crooked walkway, let’s ensure we understand each other… Disclaimer : This is not investment or financial advice. I’m not a financial expert by any stretch of the imagination. Most information within this article is speculative and merely my own personal opinion. Always conduct your own research before contributing to any startup projects. Always remember that what you do with your money is your decision to make. And if that decision proves too difficult for you alone, seek guidance from a financial professional. I may or may not receive a small allocation of tokens for creating this content. That said, I will do my best to remain unbiased and fair. I try to avoid all FOMO and FUD and never wish to impart those emotions on my fellow crypto-heads. A House Full of Problems The mortgage industry is in such a state of disarray that it’s tough to pinpoint where we should start. The industry can be classified as a fixer-upper that needs lots of work. But we must start somewhere… First, we’ll examine some of the mortgage industry’s shortcomings. And then we’ll take a look at how Block66 is using blockchain tech to mop up the mess. A Flood of Paperwork If you’ve been there, you know. Buying property is NEVER easy. Bring extra pens when you meet your realtor because you may just run out of ink. But then again, you’re in a realty office that’s swimming in pens. Daily Amazon deliveries ensure they never run out. Sure, blockchain tech improves efficiencies and drastically trims costs. But disintermediation — reducing the need for a middleman — takes everything up a few notches. In this case, home buyers don’t need a realtor to facilitate a loan on their behalf, taking a cut in the process. The entire process can occur via smart contracts. Thanks, Chrissy, you’re wonderful but I’d rather tokenize my loan. Have you ever been in the depths of escrow paperwork hell? I have and it’s ridiculous. Hurry up and sign this so you can wait weeks for a decision. Oh, you were just here in our office yesterday? Come on back today and give us more of your initials. A digital immutable ledger rather than a pile o’ paperwork is natural progress for the mortgage industry. And recording data on the blockchain rather than fallen trees is, thankfully, increasing in popularity. However, there’s much more at play here. The blockchain-powered benefits run deeper than avoiding cramped, ink-stained hands. But before we continue, let’s get you familiar with what Block66 aims to accomplish: “I’m late to wait!” Solid idea, don’t you think? Blockchain tech excels at exposing the deception within any given market. And the mortgage industry, while certainly reluctant, is long overdue for a shakedown. Skittish Lenders The likes of Wells Fargo, HSBC, Chase and their ilk are becoming a little too afraid of taking risks. Even if you have ‘average’ credit, they tend to be unwilling to extend an offer. In their eyes, jumbo loans are better fitted for elite, power suit-wearing rich folk. Let the middle-class toil away in their shared-wall apartment buildings, they say. Let them struggle to find parking and walk blocks at a time with groceries in hand. Let them hear every word the neighbors say whether they want to or not. Let the downstairs tenants think a herd of elephants lives upstairs. Let them be subjected to the neighbor’s kid pressing his face on their screen door while loudly projecting his voice into their apartment. I think you get the idea… apartment living can be uncomfortable. Reserving home loans for high-credit lenders can weed out some of the fraud and deadbeats partially responsible for the ginormous financial mess of 2008. Problem is, many trustworthy borrowers are getting left behind. If you don’t overextend yourself with debt, have a “stable” job — although I’m not sure there’s a definition of that anymore — and have proven yourself capable of meeting payment deadlines, you should have the right to own a home. But you’d better be sure of it first… Reality Check Just a quick sidebar on the idea of owning a home. The notion can be downright romantic. You may not want a white picket fence but the promise of doing things your way is very enticing. It’s a lifelong dream for some people. But many prospective home buyers are never told the truth. Aside from the time spent doing everything yourself, hidden costs abound. In addition to your monthly mortgage payment, count on up to 50% more for insurance and maintenance. So, if your payment is $2,000/month, your actual costs may be closer to $3,000. And, things go wrong all the time. You can’t even buy insurance for fun stuff like the pipes under the house. All of those costs are on you if they bust. Make sure you can that mortgage before signing with emotion. Avoid FOMO. The French didn’t name the term “death gamble” for nothing. truly afford Underestimating the actual expense of homeownership is an easy way to get yourself rekt. No Vacancy There are lenders out there who are more willing than big banks to take chances on people. They know that higher risk equates to the potential for higher rewards. They also monitor needs on an individual basis rather than blindly discriminating based on income and a credit score. But these lenders are hard to locate. Which makes it tough for them to compete with big banks. And if creditworthy lenders can’t find them, all those interest payments will flow elsewhere. Which is sad because given the choice between a greedy bank and a private lender — assuming identical interest rates — I’ll go the private route every time. The Boondocks Geography plays a key role in determining the style of loan a borrower can acquire. If you’re in a developed country, so long as your credit is decent and you can put 10% down, you can probably find yourself a loan at a reasonable rate. But what if your country is under-developed or your credit’s on the lower side of average? Or maybe you don’t have the full 10% down payment? So sorry, your chances of securing a loan are minimal. Merely being born into a location’s economic scenario can make or break your chances of becoming a borrower. Even if you’re somewhat wealthy, your region’s lack of proper banking infrastructure can make loan procurement ultra difficult. Just ask the residents of India. As referenced in the , many who can truly afford a home never score themselves a new set of keys. project’s whitepaper Old Construction By definition, the fact that realtors prefer an in-person signature session is seriously old-school. Sure, I can understand the desire to provide a personal touch. But do these people not have access to the Internet? We spent enough time together when we were viewing properties, thanks. The next time you want to buy something on Amazon, will they make you go to their warehouse and manually enter your credit card information 37 times before checking out? No, they won’t. That’s not how it’s supposed to work. It’s time for the home-buying process to join us in the modern age… Blockchain Renovations Wow, 2018 Mortgage Boulevard is a dump. A fresh coat of paint isn’t going to cut it and we can’t do it all by ourselves. We’ll need a team of experts to rip-out and replace the entire foundation. Ready to get started? Let’s put on our work gloves and get to it then… Blockchain tech ignores geographical boundaries Knocking Down Walls By using the Block66 platform, borrowers don’t have to wish and hope neighboring lenders can help them out. Instead, they can go shopping for loans across the entire globe. Loans will be tokenized, which means they can be divided. A borrower doesn’t need to get a lump sum from one entity. There’ll be a crowdfunding aspect in that loans are divisible. If a borrower asks for $100K, the loan may very well get funded by a dozen different lenders. Can you smell the fresh aroma of decentralization in here? Nice, isn’t it? Rebuilding Pipelines The mortgage industry’s plumbing moves slow. It’s clogged with big fish and borrowers have little room to move around. By clearing the way and creating free-moving, blockchain-based connections, Block66 hopes to attract a wide range of lenders. The network will be available to banks, credit unions, high net-worth individuals, private lenders, and mortgage investment corporations. Building an expansive, diverse, global network of lenders will give borrowers a massive increase in choices compared to what’s available now. And that equates to a massive increase in the likelihood of getting home loans funded. Adding a Personal Touch The Block66 network’s algorithms will match a borrower with the top 3 choices that best fit their needs. But, taking it a step further than top-level rates and terms, borrowers will be told those specific lenders are the right choice for their individual circumstances. why Think of the UI as a smart search engine for loans. Plus, it’s as if you’ve already pre-clicked — those annoying ads that follow you all over the Internet are no longer ads, they’re baked right into the search results. Everyone’s Invited to the Housewarming Party Borrowers on the platform enjoy premium access to loan opportunities that can fulfill their dream of owning a home. But Block66 isn’t all about the borrowers. The space’s other players get to have fun, too. Mortgage brokers get an all-encompassing interface that matches them with lenders while providing access to credit scores and property appraisals. And lenders big and small can perform audits and secure mortgages within a growing pipeline of borrowers. Assuming the Block66 grows as expected, we should see an industry-wide shift to blockchain solutions. Who doesn’t like doing things cheaper and faster? Final thoughts… Buying a home, especially for first-timers, is a daunting experience. It’s long and exhausting and may make you want to halt your search and settle for the apartment life. You also need to strike a balance between credit and affordability. Blockchain or not, your worthiness — rightly so — will be thoroughly examined. That’s unavoidable but the blockchain can streamline that process, and more. Block66 aims to simplify operations across the entire mortgage industry. The team chose to focus on more than one segment of the market. Ambitiously, they chose to offer industry-wide upgrades for everyone involved. By bringing transparency to the global $33T mortgage space, Block66 is creating a win/win scenario. Borrowers, brokers, and lenders alike can realize more options leading to greater opportunity. The industry is certainly large enough and disheveled enough to support tokenization. And it won’t take much market share in order for B66 tokens to gain traction. The network’s MVP isn’t set to launch until Q1 of next year. So, for now, we’ll just have to wait and see if Block66 has the right blueprint for constructing a successful mortgage lending platform. Here are some resources for you in case you’d like to dig deeper into the project on your own: Block66 Website Block66 Whitepaper Get Social Facebook LinkedIn Medium Reddit Telegram Twitter YouTube By the way… If you like what you see here and need help getting your crypto message to the masses, I’d love to hear about your project. Feel free to reach out to me here: blockchainauthor at Gmail BountyOx username = blockchainauthor

Block66 ICO Review: Blockchaining Your Way to Homeownership

— Jeff Bezos “We see our customers as invited guests to a party, and we are the hosts. It’s our job every day to make every important aspect of the customer experience a little bit better.” Have you heard of the ? Most probably you have. The pace of growth of this app download outpaced all other video conferencing applications. If you were one of the two million (yes! 2 million) people who downloaded the app in the first two weeks of March, you already have used the app and are possibly wowed by its amazing on-boarding. You have at least played a game or two with friends over a video call. I recently used the application for the first time. Houseparty app It saw 50 million downloads in a month, a 70 times increase over its pre-COVID downloads in some places. It’s become the number one social app in over 80 countries including the United States, and the number one app overall in 16 countries. This got me thinking, what would ensure that I keep using the app. Houseparty app attacks two problems - (a) People want to engage in activities in their free time (b) As social animals, we have an inherent need to bond and connect with other individuals — the human connection I have Zoom, Messenger, Facetime, don’t forget Whatsapp and the good old Google hangouts(now Meetings from Google), why yet another app? What if I was a PM at HouseParty, what will I do to make sure, my churn after Shelter-at-home is not as high as acquisition during the Covid. How do I make my users keep coming back to the Houseparty app? As a PM it’s a good place to be in, I have my acquisition sorted. The on-boarding is easy and great, customer registration isn’t difficult, the activation is effective. But, how do I retain these users, how can I make the app sticky? Before I delve into that, I want to establish that there are two kinds of social media platforms around Sync Social Media Async Social Media (yeah, you get it. I am a software engineer by education!) Apps like Facebook and Instagram are async apps, where all your connections do not need to be online, there is no need for instant action on part of all the users in a group. While Whatsapp, Messenger, Facetime are all sync app — they need instant action. If a friend calls, you got to pick the call. If you get a message you have to reply instantly. This distinction is important as the strategy for each kind of app has to be different. In this case, Houseparty is a Sync Social Media. One needs to be available online on the app, to connect with one’s friends. To retain a user, I need to ensure that the user’s group of friend are retained so that the user keeps coming back to meet them. In the same breath, the group can together do something fun. If I can do the latter, I will be able to retain the group. What are the fun things that friends do together? Friends play games together.Friends go out to party, dine-in, have some coffee.Friends chit-chat/gossip.Friends watch movies together.Friends go out camping, hiking, biking and all sorts of activities.Friends study together(not a fun activity, but yeah studying together does make it less painful) Okay! this is not an exhaustive list, but you get the drift. How can Houseparty recreate some of these experiences so that a group of friends can have a good time together(virtually)? : Houseparty already has some games available online which can be played in groups. I believe the localization of these games will go a long way in ensuring users keep coming back. Get families to play games together. 1. Localization in games For example, Ludo is a very popular game in India right now, it originally was a board game, which has been adapted digitally. Families are playing it together online. An adaptation of such a game will be a very good way to retain users. Trivia games can be localized to make the games familiar for regional audiences. : Houseparty can be a good introduction for office happy hours, it will take people off the Zoom and Teams screens they have been seeing for all their meetings. The opportunity to bond with colleagues over some games will be appreciated. This will also mean a change in the limit of 8 members in a ‘room’ in the app, right now. Why limit a room-size anyway! 2. Office happy hours The office happy hours is how teams bond, those ‘mundane’ games that HRs organize is how you get to know your colleagues, build friendships, and long-lasting relationships. : A dark mode where a user can dim their lights and add filters to create an illusion of being in a low-lit pub can be an addition. Dark mode combined with the ability to stream the same music together will create as close an ambiance to a good night together in a pub as it can virtually. 3. Play your music and introduce a dark mode I don’t recommend allowing strangers to walk into your party rooms, it will be a security risk. But, friends can definitely have a good time together filled with music, drinks, games, love, and laughter. Every time I have come out of a call off house party app, I have come out happy and smiling. The app solves a real-life need of people to stay connected, do things together beyond audio and video calls. The pandemic and associated shelter-at-home made the problem that the application was solving grimmer and hence led to an exponential rise in the user base. But the application must continuously evolve to be able to retain the customers once the world goes back to normal.

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