Urbaniqeis in the Road Transport Tech Industry

Urbaniqe

urbaniqe

The Battle of the North Atlantic

SCHOLASTIC

Concerning Freedoms

The Genetic Effects of Radiation by Isaac Asimov is part of HackerNoon’s Book Blog Post Series. The Table of Links for this book can be found here . Mutations - Spontaneous Mutations Spontaneous Mutations Mutations that take place in the ordinary course of nature, without man’s interference, are spontaneous mutations. Most of these arise out of the very nature of the complicated mechanism of gene replication. Copies of genes are formed out of a large number of small units that must be lined up in just the right pattern to form one particular gene and no other. Ideally, matters are so arranged within the cell that the necessary changes giving rise to the desired pattern are just those that have a maximum probability. Other changes are less likely to happen but are not absolutely excluded. Sometimes through the accidental jostling of molecules a wrong turn may be taken, and the result is a spontaneous mutation. We might consider a mutation to be either “good” or “bad” in the sense that any change that helps a creature live more easily and comfortably is good and that the reverse is bad. It seems reasonable that random changes in the gene pattern are almost sure to be bad. Consider that any creature, including man, is the product of millions of years of evolution. In every generation those individuals with a gene pattern that fit them better for their environment won out over those with less effective patterns—won out in the race for food, for mates, and for safety. The “more fit” had more offspring and crowded out the “less fit”. By now, then, the set of genes with which we are normally equipped is the end product of long ages of such natural selection. A random change cannot be expected to improve it any more than random changes would improve any very complex, intricate, and delicate structure. Evolution of the horse (skull, hindfoot, and forefoot shown). Note the changes over a 60-million-year period from the Eocene era to the present. Pleistocene and Recent Pliocene Miocene Oligocene Eocene Yet over the eons, creatures have indeed changed, largely through the effects of mutation. If mutations are almost always for the worse, how can one explain that evolution seems to progress toward the better and that out of a primitive form as simple as an amoeba, for instance, there eventually emerged man? In the first place, environment is not fixed. Climate changes, conditions change, the food supply may change, the nature of living enemies may change. A gene pattern that is very useful under one set of conditions may be less useful under another. Suppose, for instance, that man had lived in tropical areas for thousands of years and had developed a heavily pigmented skin as a protection against sunburn. Any child who, through a mutation, found himself incapable of forming much pigment, would be at a severe disadvantage in the outdoor activities engaged in by his tribe. He would not do well and such a mutated gene would never establish itself for long. If a number of these men migrated to northern Europe, however, children with dark skin would absorb insufficient sunlight during the long winter when the sun was low in the sky, and visible for brief periods only. Dark-skinned children would, under such conditions, tend to suffer from rickets. Mutant children with pale skin would absorb more of what weak sunlight there was and would suffer less. There would be little danger of sunburn so there would be no penalty counteracting this new advantage of pale skins. It would be the dark-skinned people who would tend to die out. In the end, you would have dark skins in Africa and pale skins in Scandinavia, and both would be “fit”. In the same way, any child born into a primitive hunting society who found himself with a mutated gene that brought about nearsightedness would be at a distinct disadvantage. In a modern technological society, however, nearsighted individuals, doing more poorly at outdoor games, are often driven into quieter activities that involve reading, thinking, and studying. This may lead to a career as a scientist, scholar, or professional man, categories that are valuable in such a society and are encouraged. Nearsightedness would therefore spread more generally through civilized societies than through primitive ones. Then, too, a gene may be advantageous when it occurs in low numbers and disadvantageous when it occurs in high numbers. Suppose there were a gene among humans that so affected the personality as to make it difficult for a human being to endure crowded conditions. Such individuals would make good explorers, farmers, and herdsmen, but poor city dwellers. Even in our modern urbanized society, such a gene in moderate concentration would be good, since we still need our outdoorsmen. In high concentration, it would be bad, for then the existence of areas of high population density (on which our society now seems to depend) might become impossible. In any species, then, each gene exists in a number of varieties upon which an absolute “good” or “bad” cannot be unequivocally stamped. These varieties make up the gene pool, and it is this gene pool that makes evolution possible. A species with an invariable set of genes could not change to suit altered conditions. Even a slight shift in the nature of the environment might suffice to wipe it out. The possession of a gene pool lends flexibility, however. As conditions change, one combination of varieties might gain over another and this, in turn, might produce changes in body characteristics that would then further alter the relative “goodness” or “badness” of certain gene patterns. Thus, over the past million years, for example, the human brain has, through mutations and appropriate shifts in emphasis within the gene pool, increased notably in size. About HackerNoon Book Series: We bring you the most important technical, scientific, and insightful public domain books. ). THE GENETIC EFFECTS OF RADIATION This book is part of the public domain. Asimov, Isaac. (October 13, 2017 . Urbana, Illinois: Project Gutenberg. Retrieved June 2022, from https://www.gutenberg.org/files/55738/55738-h/55738-h.htm#c8 This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org , located at https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html .

The Spontaneity of Mutations

Understanding a market isn’t about watching a trend evolve but about understanding what is behind the trend and where it will go next. In this article, I’ll share our vision of the processes that are now impacting — and how to use them to create a successful strategy. GameFi You have to analyze GameFi in combination with classic GameDev, together with the general consumer leisure trends. Such emerging and rapidly growing niches of the entertainment industry as GameFi can’t exist in isolation from the social trends or from the economy. Therefore, in the first part of the article, I will focus on the financial aspect (the Fi in GameFi) and then turn to the reasons and prospects for the trend. Intangible assets are becoming an ever more important part of the current economic model — especially now that you can buy, sell, and trade them. The rights to these assets are separated from the assets themselves and traded as NFTs, tokens, stocks, coins, and other derivatives. This is a trend. The most important part is that we’re seeing a new proto-market emerge — that of time spent on entertainment and leisure. This turns hobbies and leisure time into yet another way to buy and sell people’s labor. For companies producing products, rewards in the form of NFTs, tokens, and other liquid assets become another way to redistribute profit. Offering the most attractive terms for players will soon become a crucial part of a sales strategy and of a product life cycle. It will allow businesses to create a strong economic link between the consumer and the product — and make the player depend on the product not only emotionally but also financially. We can see this trend in the evolution of Play-to-Earn projects in developing countries. If you look at the NFT adoption and P2E audience metrics globally, you’ll see that regional leaders and semi-peripheral countries dominate. Their population is wealthy enough to afford a smartphone with an internet connection. But it’s also poor enough to view playing P2E games for many hours daily to earn $1000-1500 a month as a great alternative to a traditional career. We are talking about an urbanized, tech-savvy population, the share of which in developing countries is constantly growing. These countries don’t have advanced state support systems. As a result, dozens of millions of people who have the same access to information, innovation, and the internet as in the West, but don’t have the same economic guarantees, have to find their place in the modern digital economy — and fast. For example, India has an urbanization ratio of just 35%, whereas the average global value is 56%. In this context, as the adoption of digital technology and crypto in developing countries increases together with their population, there is fertile ground for new monetization tools to evolve. This trend is shaped by the audience’s interest and the profit share that product providers are ready to allocate to attract new users. The next step is selling new derivatives based on the time spent playing and one’s achievements in the game; users basically exchange precious minutes of their lives for tokens. Subscriptions, expensive weapon skins, or a high level achieved by one’s characters don’t motivate this target audience as much as an opportunity to earn a stable income. The example of India, which recently introduced a on profits from virtual digital assets, shows how fast countries can monetize this trend. They transfer the costs, social responsibility, and risks onto the people working in this new industry of monetized entertainment, leaving them to fend for themselves. flat 30% tax The high adoption speed and the much more flexible approach to DeFi that we see in developing countries logically follow from them having to play catch-up with the core capitalist states. India, Brazilia, Vietnam — these countries haven’t benefited all that much from the modern economic model. However, crypto gives them a chance to financialize their citizens’ time and become more independent from the traditional fiat reserve currencies (USD, euro, franc, etc.) by prioritizing the new attention economy. 1) We are likely to see a vast range of projects centered around users who earn a comfortable living by playing games on a daily basis. Such users will act as working advertisements for GameFi projects; they will also become a valuable resource that projects will fight over. 2) Financial derivatives based on user actions, attention, and gaming time. Hobbies and leisure will be financialized, and users will choose leisure pastimes based on their financial efficiency. I am sure that eventually, we’ll see portfolios consisting of NFT holders, traded by both gaming projects and financial institutions. This new asset type will be just as profitable and liquid as subprime mortgages. 3) Income increase and fast smartphone and internet penetration in developing countries. It takes time for the benefits of the post-industrial revolution to reach developing countries, but the weak stream of digitization has already turned into fully-flowing rivers in the shape of the OnePlus or Samsung production sites in India and Brazil. The number of smartphones isn’t an isolated fact or just a sign that mobile games are about to become fully dominant, but also a sign of people’s increasing ability to pay for material goods. Those who could only dream of a smartphone a short while ago will buy one soon — and then purchase an NFT skin in a game. The consumer society works the same way in any country. It’s this consumer society that we’ll discuss in the next part of the article. In this new reality, AAA PC games selling for $80 without a DLC and requiring an expensive gaming computer to run will look like an unnecessary luxury. This doesn’t mean that large and expensive AAA projects will die out — but they will have to evolve. For example, Take-Two Interactive has had to split the sequel to its popular GTA franchise to focus on DLC (downloadable content). This helps increase the period throughout which the product continues to earn money — an urgent issue considering inflation and the long and expensive production process. You could say that games are split into smaller segments for studios to keep making money and for players to remain entertained. In the next part of the article, we’ll talk about the society that shapes these trends — and how they, in turn, impact the society. Conclusions 1. Developing countries will drive GameFi adoption thanks to their low starting incomes, fast urbanization, and even faster digitization. The most engaged GameFi audience will consist of people with whom Web3 is the first iteration of the Web that they come in contact. 2. More and more gaming studios will turn to mobile games — thanks both to the lower development costs and the fast spread of smartphones. 3. The governments of developing countries benefit from the spread of crypto. For them, it’s a new way to earn extra income without taking any additional action. 4. AAA-tier gaming projects will introduce DLC mechanics and in-game purchases. Such games take longer and are more expensive to create, but built-in monetization will compensate for this by extending the cycle of profitability. 5. GameFi tokenomics and economics will take center stage as yet another tool to attract and retain players. 6. The time spent playing and enjoying various forms of entertainment will be increasingly financialized. 1) We are likely to see a vast range of projects centered around users who earn a comfortable living by playing games on a daily basis. Such users will act as working advertisements for GameFi projects; they will also become a valuable resource that projects will fight over. 2) Financial derivatives based on user actions, attention, and gaming time. Hobbies and leisure will be financialized, and users will choose leisure pastimes based on their financial efficiency. I am sure that eventually, we’ll see portfolios consisting of NFT holders, traded by both gaming projects and financial institutions. This new asset type will be just as profitable and liquid as subprime mortgages. 3) Income increase and fast smartphone and internet penetration in developing countries. It takes time for the benefits of the post-industrial revolution to reach developing countries, but the weak stream of digitization has already turned into fully-flowing rivers in the shape of the OnePlus or Samsung production sites in India and Brazil. The number of smartphones isn’t an isolated fact or just a sign that mobile games are about to become fully dominant, but also a sign of people’s increasing ability to pay for material goods. Those who could only dream of a smartphone a short while ago will buy one soon — and then purchase an NFT skin in a game. The consumer society works the same way in any country. It’s this consumer society that we’ll discuss in the next part of the article.

Long-Term Game-Fi Trends to Look Out For 

E-Commerce has spiraled due to the pandemic environment, leading to irreversibly enhanced online shopping The pandemic changed many long-established habits of consumers, most of all, their shopping habits. For instance, as Statista records, global retail e-commerce sales in 2020 were close , compared to $3.35 trillion in 2019. In the U.S., in 2021, e-commerce sales would probably end up increasing more than they would have during pre-pandemic times. to $4.3 trillion $147 billion As it happened, many offline stores that had never engaged in e-commerce were compelled to do so during the pandemic lockdowns, for the sake of survival. In the process, some small businesses and prospered, other struggled to keep afloat. excelled Moreover, the EY Future Consumer Index, that has analyzed the behavior of thousands of consumers since the start of the pandemic, is discovering that of consumers in the U.S. are still modifying the way they shop; 60% of consumers have reduced their in-store shopping compared to pre-pandemic levels, and 43% are buying online more often, products they used by to earlier buy in-store. 80% In fact, as the latest research by PwC finds, there appears to be a “historic and dramatic shift in consumer behavior” because of the pandemic. With most people working remotely as the pandemic escalated, and many continuing to still work remotely, they moved to a trend of shopping around online for the best deals. The report also says that consumers believe their newly-created habits are not likely to disappear when the pandemic is done. For instance, studies by the management consulting firm McKinsey found that product categories like over-the-counter (OTC) medications, groceries, household supplies, and personal-care products anticipate over increase in online shoppers.  Furthermore, more selective personal purchases like beauty products, perfumes and jewelry also expect to see over 15% increase in online purchases. As observed, “consumer intent to shop online [post-pandemic] continues to increase, especially in essentials and home-entertainment categories.” 35% McKinsey Meanwhile, studies by McKinsey found that the shift in online shopping was mainly seen in the categories of high-income earners and millennials, as they make online purchases on essential as well as non-essential items. Gen X is also purchasing more online with the advent of the pandemic, but not to the degree of millennials. On the other hand, Gen Z has shifted to online purchases on specific categories such as clothes and shoes, takeout/delivery of food and home entertainment. Moreover, through their studies, McKinsey saw another dramatic departure from existing and well-understood consumer behavior; there is an unmistakable decline in brand loyalty today. Research indicates that 75% of consumers in the U.S. have experimented with a new shopping behavior, while over a third of them have tried new products. So, it appears that . This trend of declining brand loyalty is partly due to supply chain problems leading to many popular items being out of stock.  Another reason that online shoppers give to excuse their decline in brand loyalty, is the degree to which the products they seek are available online and in-store.   As the EY Future Consumer Index discovered, only 21% of consumers in the U.S. are ready to forgive brands and retailers for supply problems during the pandemic. From a marketing perspective, this situation emphasizes the urgency of being sensitive and alert when shoppers seek out new brands or retailers; marketers are thus compelled to manage the logistics and to make sure the product or service is available to the Millennials. In other words, 79% of consumers are unwilling to accept the pandemic as a good enough reason for delayed orders. Moreover, having tasted the liberation of trying new products, 73% of consumers who did try new products say they will continue trying new products in the future. 36% of coupon users will purchase elsewhere Also, as the pandemic progressed, e-commerce transformed from an eternal top priority in retailers’ three-year plans, to an lifeline to stay in business beyond the pandemic. Furthermore, from May-July 2020, retailers made e-commerce investments, acquisitions and partnerships worth about $10 billion. Some of these investments were for “ghost-kitchens” which were restaurants with an area to house kitchen equipment, with no space for having in-dining facilities. Others included “dark stores” which were spaces that converted to distribution centers facilitating online purchases. urgent From another perspective, e-commerce thrived with the realization that came with the pandemic, that the geographical location is less consequential than having Internet access. As this reality sank in, more and more people who lived in urban centers, moved to less urbanized areas with more space and less congestion. The ease of contagion of Covid-19 in densely populated cities led to this trend to move away from perpetual crowds. As survey results showed 22% of people were planning to live away from crowded urban areas in April 2020, while the percentage increased to in the most recent Index data. 26% As is apparent from research studies, the pandemic has led to a significant rise in e-commerce, which is spiraling even further as the pandemic continues to challenge consumers with the need for safe shopping, away from people. This situation keeps pushing consumers to continue with online shopping rather than visit stores and expose themselves to the virus. What is more, this e-commerce trend is unlikely to recede anytime soon. So, what to expect in ? 2022 It is going to be the new normal in e-commerce too. Pay attention to behavioral triggers of customers to know which product will have more appeal Provide personalize dynamic email content tailored to individual shoppers Generate unique discount coupon codes for individual customers Engage advanced chatbots to guide online shoppers to relevant products Develop your business for mobile devices first, then scale up, to ensure a seamless experience across devices The businesses that can thrive are those willing to adapt to the monumental change in shopping perception. As Jean-Paul Agon, Chairman and CEO of international cosmetic company, L'Oréal, said, “E-commerce isn’t the cherry on the cake, it’s the new cake.”

E-Commerce as the Cake, Not the Cherry on the Cake

How technology is transforming the way food and beverages are produced, delivered, and consumed globally. Together, the food and agriculture sector encompasses one of the biggest industries globally, with more than 7 billion customers that need to be constantly served. To meet the growing demand, the industry has seen a surge of advanced technologies (e.g. Artificial Intelligence or AI) usage in recent years. COVID-19 has revealed the need for using technologies to sustain our global food chains. Consequently, companies are investing in automating their processes and are relying more and more on AI-based technologies. The FoodTech ecosystem comprises all the food and beverages entrepreneurs as well as start-ups, which harness the capability of technology for the manufacturing, processing, packaging, delivery, and marketing of food products. Сompanies have come to incorporate and rely on a range of technologies to streamline their operations and boost output. According to Emergen Research, the FoodTech market is estimated to reach a valuation of $342.5 billion by 2027, with a CAGR (annual growth rate) of 5.7%. These include the widespread use of Advanced Analytics, Big Data, E-Commerce, IoT, Machine Learning, Robotics, Smart Waste Disposal and Recycling, Supply Chain Management, Sustainability Solutions, Artificial Intelligence, and Blockchain. However, to meet the growing and, more importantly, the changing demand of a growing population, the industry needs to further cultivate innovation by using state-of-the-art technologies in all its enterprises. The industry currently faces significant challenges from consumers who are demanding healthier, sustainable, and more personalized food products. Moreover, the effects of climate change and the slow recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continue to disrupt this already unstable industry. Factors changing the face of the FoodTech industry Food is no longer just a means of sustenance. People today have a unique perception and demand for the kind of food products they would like to include in their lifestyle. This is based on the following trends: Increasing awareness among health-conscious consumers has led to strong demand for healthy food products. . With new insights into our health and nutrition requirements, people want personalised products to meet their individual needs. Demand for healthy food with better quality In 2021, 67% of consumers seek more in-depth information about the food they consume With new insights into our health and nutrition requirements, people want products that are personalised to meet their individual needs. Quality of the food products also becomes more critical than ever as people are willing to pay more for higher quality. The increasing use of the internet globally has resulted in consumers’ access to almost unlimited sources of information about any item or ingredient in a matter of seconds. It is worth noting that people are paying more and more attention to their health, and taking care of themselves has become one of the highest values. In recent years, more and more individuals have given up drinking alcoholic beverages. Some of them choose natural alternatives to their drinks such as water or juice. Responsible drinking as the nearest future However, the beverage industry has not been left out, and now more and more companies are starting to produce what is known as “no-abv” and “low-abv” products. No-alcohol, as well as low-alcohol versions of popular spirits and wines, are now common, and more and more people prefer these options. Some tremendous progress will be seen in education on responsible drinking for people who prefer alcoholic beverages. This is moving fast into the category of social sustainability, becoming an inherent pillar of all forward-thinking beverage producers. A wide range of companies provide their customers with the information to ensure they understand the impact of alcohol on their health. One of such organisations is the that invests in and implements evidence-based harm reduction programmes, sustainable interventions, education, and awareness to address the harmful consumption of alcohol across areas of focus. However, the most impactful progress is to be made when AI technologies will be actively implemented in this area. Association of Alcohol Responsibility and Education Because, in addition to education, it is all about identifying individuals who are moving in the wrong direction and being able to intervene earlier. What is required is data and information analytics to be able to identify this. We will soon see the creation of a tool for validating information and implementing it on the consumer level in a consumer-friendly way. The FoodTech industry is rapidly moving towards higher digitalisation of the different systems to improve customers’ experience. Technology is shaping new ways of how products are manufactured, packaged, and delivered, how they taste and ,finally, how they are discarded. In addition, reduced availability of staff members and a higher wage demand are propelling many companies to invest in the declining cost of technology. Development of new technologies Companies are also using extensive and readily available customer data to benefit their operations in the current information age. For instance, using Machine Learning to conduct deep profiling can allow producers to perform consumer segmentation driven by affordability. Similar uses of AI and other data-led approaches can help them address many prevalent health concerns like obesity and nutritional deficiency and provide solutions to those who need them. Technologies such as blockchain, AI, and the Internet of Things can only be used best if the supply chain is optimised, which leads to further improvements in the efficiency and productivity of the supply network. A well-established organisation’s supply chain is critical to quality customer service. A high-performing supply chain ensures high business productivity, so customers get what they want and where they want it on time. Supply chain optimisation Moreover, supply chains have significant social and environmental impact. It is important for the modern consumer to know if products are produced in an environmentally friendly and ethical manner, using renewable or low-impact methods. However, after the COVID-19 crisis had shocked the world, people started to talk about the global supply chain crisis. All the problems are directly or indirectly related to the surge in consumer demand after the pandemic, but at the same time, they threaten what one leading economist calls a” ” that could knock the world economy off course. stagflationary wind . As of now, the worst is over. “The supply chain problems are much more persistent than most policymakers expected, although companies are less surprised,” said Mohamed El-Erian, and adviser to Allianz and president of Queens’ College, Cambridge It becomes critical for FoodTech companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and environmental protection. This is being realised by many food packaging companies which were the first to turn it into an opportunity for brand identity. Need for sustainability and higher efficiency They achieved this through the widespread adoption of sustainable solutions for creating holistic products, which are healthier for the individual and the planet. Another sustainability-led target area is to provide convenient food preparation solutions that minimise food and packaging waste. Using innovative technologies to achieve these demands can help companies capitalise on important social trends. A wide range of brands is revolutionising how food is produced and taking steps to preserve human life on Earth. One of such brands is Organic Valley. To minimise the impact of grazing on air quality, reduce the need for antibiotics, and avoid negative effects on the soil, the company uses organic pastures and provides its livestock with natural food. farmers are committed to conserving their cows in pasture as much as possible and taking care of their land to support the lives of all members of the ecosystem. Organic Valley Additionally, many governments are adopting an extremely proactive approach to sustainability both environmental and social. For example, the Republic of Ireland, one of the leading territories in this field, has implemented a special programme called , which is offered for participation to all Ireland-based businesses. The members benefit from extra government monetary and resource support in return for achieving the progressive annual goals. According to the , this allows Ireland to become the second (after Finland) most “food secure” country in the world. Origin Green Global Food Security Index Emerging technologies for the FoodTech sector The traditional operating model is no longer sufficient for food and beverage market participants in a rapidly changing environment. Technology is transforming into a completely new industry with a new operating model, in which innovation, human health, and sustainability play a crucial role. What is more, technology has become an indispensable ingredient, proven by growing investment. solutions aim to optimise and automate a range of processes in food manufacturing. This is especially convenient due to the food safety regulations that require transparency over the entire path of the food in supply chains. Using automated technologies, manufacturers can better monitor and regulate the quality of final food reaching the customers. AI-based chatbots installed in typical food-based mobile applications allow better connectivity between the providers and consumers. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning For example, offers its customers more than 3,500 different drinks, and, naturally, the question arises as to how the corporation chooses which flavours to create. Before the advent of AI, the company conducted surveys, and now Coca-Cola maintains several soda vending machines. These fixtures allow consumers to create their beverages by mixing different Coca-Cola liquids. Hundreds of consumers made their drinks in each of these fountains, and the results were further explored using AI. Coca-Cola The adoption of in the FoodTech industry further complements the regulation activities by helping to control maintenance systems and conduct error-free operations. This also allows the remote management of these facilities with trickle-down effects seen in higher yield and lower food waste. IoT technology is useful when conducting analytics to boost business, reduce expenses, and research new market trends. When implementing Big Data, the right tools have allowed restaurant owners to gather customer data in real time and implement timely solutions. Knowing which products are making the most sales, what price range is accepted for the customers, and how the staff performance varies across departments — are some of the questions that can be answered through the use of Big Data technology. Some other housekeeping functions of Big-Data-powered software and hardware can allow producers to quickly correct potentially costly mistakes like replacing damaged products during transportation. Big Data The group of companies is actively applying solutions based on Big Data with different goals. One is the , which uses Big-Data software to process and analyse huge datasets from more than 170 locations all around the USA. In contrast, uses sensors, processing and analysing data to monitor product and environmental conditions during transportation. Cheesecake Factory FreshDirect The use of in tracing the journey of food products can also aid in reducing food wastage. Starting from inventory management and to the final shipment of products, one can find out where exactly a problem lies, if any. Blockchain technology One of the companies implementing this emerging technology is retail giant Walmart, which has used blockchain to track and trace lettuce supply chains, considered the next-generation food safety solution. The blockchain could track food delivery to the manufacturer in just 2.2 seconds. Walmart Usage of creative food images has become less important due to the introduction of in the food industry. This is replaced by a higher significance on the matter of transparency. Customers want to know what exactly goes into making their food products and how it will affect their health. Another aspect of this is cultural education. AR and VR-based technologies can help customers embrace new dishes. Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR and VR) A wide range of FoodTech companies are using for marketing purposes and sales to increase their brand awareness. These are the new tools that can help producers further build their brand awareness campaigns and increase sales by introducing the digital product. The idea is to offer ownership over limited merchandise. On the one hand, the act of participating in digital auctions for an NFT can create excitement and generate buzz for the brand. On the other hand, NFT is bound to replace traditional merchandise with digital items coming ahead of physical goods. For example, Non-Fungible Token (NFT) technology Pringles announced the release of a new limited-edition flavour called “CryptoCrisp”. According to Food & Wine, only 50 “packages” of the new flavour were made, and they exist in the form of NFT artwork. In addition to these emerging technologies, direct distribution of food items is also a growing trend in the FoodTech industry. It leads to operational efficiency by providing a direct channel for brands to reach their customers. From mass-produced to specially made: the rise of personalization in the FoodTech sector Another big trend sweeping the FoodTech industry currently is the move towards personalisation. Several CPGs like Nestle and Mars are actively working on innovating their business models to facilitate the delivery of personalised food products. There is a growing demand for more personalised experiences in several leading world industries. Data collected by Forbes magazine suggests that 80% of consumers are more likely to purchase from a brand that provides personalised experiences. In comparison, 63% of consumers will stop buying from brands that use poor personalisation tactics. Although several companies have incorporated personalisation tactics into their brand identity, one area where this can be seen is the meal delivery kit offered primarily for the busy modern urbanites and tailored to meet their values. However, there are several roadblocks currently preventing the industry from implementing personalised solutions. For established corporations as well as start-ups, this requires a change in their business model and operations. Industrialisation means that facilities are geared up for low-cost mass-production, making it challenging to accommodate tailored offerings. Finding large-scale ways to meet these demands is a work in progress. Production and distribution facilities will need to be better adapted. After all, it is worth remembering that companies using innovative technological solutions will soon find themselves at the forefront of a lucrative multimillion dollar industry. What lies ahead: future industry landscape The way food is produced, delivered, and consumed all over the world is evolving rapidly. Adoption of new technologies and the emphasis on staying ahead of the changing times is key for transforming the FoodTech sector. Those brands that can find ways to leverage technology and move forward based on scientific, consumer, and market intelligence will be undoubtedly successful. A plethora of new technologies is helping the industry cater to the changing needs of people. Ensuring that operations are sustainable and cause minimum damage to the environment is still a major challenge. And with all the opportunities brought on by automation and digitalisation, it also brings increasing complexity in operations that need a more skilled workforce. Customers are now consuming healthy foods of better quality and are also interested in companies that make it a point to be transparent. They consider the labelling of ingredients a pivotal element. Among other factors, sustainable food industries can mitigate environmental problems by reducing nondegradable food packaging waste as well as minimising carbon dioxide emissions, among other things. Customers become more interested in sustainable food companies. An independent 2021 survey found that 78% of Americans would prefer to buy environmentally friendly products. Food safety and traceability are also a growing concern fuelled by customers increasingly thinking about the quality of food they consume. “We are after all what we eat”. Technologies like Blockchain and IoT allow real-time food monitoring, transparency, and end-to-end traceability. Jean Pougnier, CEO of Crop Enhancement, mentioned that “Traceability will expand beyond food safety and production methods to encompass aroma, flavour, texture, nutritional benefits and other aspects of food quality.” Through Big Data and NFT technologies, more advanced forms of marketing are now available to help owners of products keep track of quality by engaging global customers. More and more consumers are choosing online outlets over brick-and-mortar retailers, which has resulted in manufacturers selling their products on a platform that offers easy-to-use functionality to allow direct contact and relationship building between manufacturer and consumer. It would not be wrong to say, technology has had a substantial impact on the FoodTech industry. Personalisation is also shaping the landscape of food and beverage as “fit to measure” products become a go-to trend in all production. The new trend is called “food as a medicine”. This means that personalised nutrition is getting more and more popular. Now, companies can design products based on what their customers want to consume, they are focused on how to engage these customers and deliver them the experience they deserve. Undoubtedly, adapting to the consumer’s universe through personalisation is the key to success for brands. “It’s commanding the attention of the industry — the idea of using food as a way to prevent or even reverse disease. Our understanding of inflammation, obesity, and the human microbiome is allowing us to create solutions unheard of a decade ago”, said Oliver Katz, conference producer of the Future Food-Tech Summit. The emerging FoodTech sector has replaced the traditional food industry (including beverages and agriculture). Companies that fail to notice this transformation are bound to be left behind in the marketplace. The industry and consumers are eager to incorporate new ideas and practices, and I am confident that novel concepts such as 3D food and fully automated restaurants will soon become commonplace for us. The future will surely be an exciting place to eat! Article is also published on Medium: https://medium.com/foodtech-industry/using-innovation-to-feed-the-world-the-changing-landscape-of-the-foodtech-sector-51a0873d6c1d

Super Sizing Technology to Improve the Food Industry

In the wake of the global pandemic, one of the last things on consumers’ minds has been traveling. However, as communities across the globe have started to reopen for business, exploration is once again an option for many. Athletic and outdoor brands that survived the pandemic are seeing a rise in brand engagement. Not all brands were as lucky as the North Face, which not only survived the pandemic but managed to thrive during it. How did a company focused on getting outside the home thrive during the past year? Steve Lesnard discussed this and more during his recent appearance on the Podcast. Product Talk STEVE LESNARD & PRODUCT TALK Steve Lesnard is the . He has over two decades of experience working in the athletics industry as a marketer and has worked with elite athletes worldwide. In his previous position, he launched several industry-changing product innovations, which were vital in the exposure and growth of the company. His tenure as a footwear-oriented marketing and project manager exposed him to Olympic athletes and drove changes to the very structure of his former company’s core footwear products. His contributions directly led to a $5.3 billion yearly global revenue to the company. CMO and Global VP of Product Creation at The North Face As well as working with Olympic athletes, his work allowed him to travel across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa as his previous company’s brand director for women & cross. This position allowed him to showcase his marketing skills: focusing on women’s-only branding and incorporating strong women entrepreneurs like Jamie King and Rhianna. Steve Lesnard grew up in Corsica, France, but traveled extensively while he was young. He cites his experience of different cultures as providing a foundation for marketing. Specifically, he wanted a career that would allow him to bring brand awareness to brands worldwide. The challenge of marketing products to different cultures excited him. In a recent interview, he noted that sports and athleticism are what he believes to be a universal language. He approaches sports-based brand marketing as an opportunity to find common ground between all cultures via a brand. It was this approach that brought Founded by SC Moatti, the founder of , is about developing products with a purpose. Moatti is focused on defining what maximizes engagement in brands and focuses on products leading the way in that search. Each podcast features a new host and a new guest who is one of the biggest names in marketing. Steve Lesnard to the Product Talk podcast . Products That Count Product Talk Product Talk Steve Lesnard overviewed his storied career to begin the podcast. But aside from his past accomplishments, the host started their conversation about product innovation with a question about his favorite or most memorable product launch. As someone who has spent a career working in some of the most successful athletic brands in the world, this wasn’t a question Lesnard took lightly. He even said that he thinks of most of his product launches as his “babies.” However, the ones that stuck out the most to him were the ones that brought something new to the table but could also reach people en masse. His position at the North Face consistently challenges him to do this, but it’s not hard to see why when you look at the brand’s history and logo. The North Face’s logo represents Yosemite’s Half Dome: a rock wall that is iconic and athletically challenging. Climbers flock to Half Dome to challenge themselves and find new and innovative ways to scale the summit. It’s the perfect “mascot” for a company like The North Face, which consistently tests and improves its products. Product launches start with an identification of product purpose and graduate to creation. During the process, Steve Lesnard likes to ask, “does this product solve or improve a customer experience?”. Like their FutureLight products and SummitSeries Advanced Mountain Kit, recent notable releases from The North Face do just this. FutureLight took common customer concerns about waterproof materials and flipped them on their head. Many waterproof materials are breathable but not waterproof, and vice versa. This material is both. For the Advanced Mountain Kit, The North Face synthesized the needs of alpine athletes. As a result, they created a light, ultra-warm, and protective product against the elements. As a marketer, these two products, among many, hit upon two big goals of his as a CMO: innovation and disruption. Discussion about these products led to another question: For Steve Lesnard, a great product is a product that inspires. “When you go on a trip, what are you going to put in that bag? If you can [create] a product that consumers will choose over and over again, that is what makes a great product.” Testing and improvement are two more essential parts of creating a great product, and therefore, a great brand. Getting stuck in old ways doesn’t benefit companies – it’s a combination of what works combined with what’s innovative. what makes a great product? WHAT MAKES A GREAT PRODUCT MARKETING CAMPAIGN? Steve Lesnard has worked with hundreds of leaders in marketing over his career and has counseled hundreds of others. In the middle of the episode, the host and Lesnard delved deeper into what makes a great product marketing campaign. Lesnard’s takeaway from his career is that a great product marketing campaign is about finding the right way to tell the story about a product. ? He starts with the inspiration for the product, then lets the product do the talking. The secret to his success Behind each product, there’s the origin story, the intended user, and the purpose. But Steve Lesnard thinks there’s a secret to beating out competitors that transcends this. He calls this the “Magic Sauce” for a product, and it’s not always readily apparent. What it comes down to is this: can your product transcend its original use? Lesnard points out that whenever The North Face creates a new product, they create it for pro alpinists. However, their success has been in its usefulness to others. For instance, New York has a deep connection to the North Face and what Lesnard calls an “concrete jungle.” The same things that drew alpinists to the North Face gear also draw urbanites to it, but for different reasons. It is light enough to get you from point a to point b without wearing you down. It’s waterproof to protect against the slushy, cold winters. It does what it was designed to do – the company just never imagined it would be helpful to people in an urban setting. THE NORTH FACE VS. THE PANDEMIC The urban is just what had to contend with during 2020, however. The pandemic kept record numbers of people inside and away from the outdoors – something the company had to contend with. Rather than taking the year as a threat, Lesnard took it as an opportunity. He saw this moment as a way to build something iconic by looking at human trends. Authenticity is essential to all consumers, so he started a pandemic-oriented marketing message and outreach campaign. North Face CMO Steve Lesnard The pandemic was a good time to address issues in and among the outdoor community, and 2020 was a time for intense social change. In keeping with the spirit of the outdoors, The North Face addressed a massive issue among the outdoor community – getting People Of Color involved in the outdoor community and getting them into the outdoors. In the past, The North Face has contributed $10 Million to the Explorer’s Fund. They continued contributions toward the Explorer’s Fund. They participated in social media campaigns to stop the bullying of Black athletes and were one of 4,000 companies who stopped Facebook ads during a week of social justice solidarity last year. Steve Lesnard also took the pandemic to address businesses, specifically CMO’s, with challenges that reared themselves during the pandemic. True to form, this revolved around adapting to meet customer needs. Last year, communities needed support. The most successful businesses focused not only on supporting themselves but on supporting others. “Where Should People Be Going?” If there was one takeaway from Steve Lesnard’s appearance on the podcast, it was this: Lesnard is a people person, which is important in brand longevity. Product Talk But rather than taking the pandemic hard, he found a way to work with it that involved others. He worked with athletes from their homes, engaged with social media, and found a way to connect people with the brand in a new and unfamiliar marketing territory. Now that more people are vaccinated, it’s time to start thinking about getting outside again. Steve Lesnard is all about local exploration, telling the podcast host that while many of us may not be able to travel the world yet, there’s still a lot to be seen around where we live. “Have the curiosity to look around the corner and ask yourself: could I go a little further?” He says. Then, “[Ask yourself] can I try something new or different? Because the outdoors is a great place for people to discover” Finally, Lesnard recommends this: Don’t plan too much for your next exploration. Focus on present action and get inspired by what’s around you – something that anyone can apply to marketing and everything else in life. Also published on: https://www.thewowstyle.com/steve-lesnard-the-cmo-and-global-vp-of-product-creation-at-the-north-face-joins-the-product-talk-podcast/

How The North Face Thrived Throughout the Pandemic: An Interview with Steve Lesnard

Design is inspiring. However, the industry is changing incredibly fast and it is sometimes difficult to keep up with all the trends. We have prepared a digest of the best recent cases, fresh news, tips, and funny memes on design to make your day a bit brighter. Enjoy ;) 🦄 Product Design Articles — tips on how to compile a guide for in-depth interviews from the Nielsen/Norman Group. Writing an Effective Guide for a UX Interview — a guide to conduct a design review and discuss the industry in a more “ecological” way. Design review means asking questions — another good article from Nielsen/Norman Group on what makes design aesthetic, namely: consistent typography, clear hierarchy, good color scheme and grid. Why Does a Design Look Good? — an annual review of design trends from behaviorist experts. Behavioral Design 2021 — some reflections on what a modern web designer can learn by analyzing the legacy of graphic design. What Saul Bass Can Teach Us About Web Design — the review of design techniques for mobile that improve UX. Obscure Mobile Design Techniques That Boost UX — a good article on the consistency in icon design with nice examples. Mastering Iconography: The 3 Do’s & Don’ts of Icon Design — tips on how to work with photography in website design with some nice examples of popular Dribbble shots. 7 photography tips to enhance your UI designs — We all pretend to strive for "simple" design. But what does it really mean to each of us? What does simple design really mean? Works is the website of an HR-agency where the grid, 3D, and typography are as minimal as possible. Created by Anton & Irene. true • overview Here is how they presented . their project on their website — a case study of the Museum of Mountain Photography website from Tubik. Case Study: Lumen. Website Design for Museum of Mountain Photography : a clean, simple, and still impressive website. Liquid Crystal : an attractive website with nice fonts and minimal animation. TheRoom : there is something interesting in horizontal scroll, right? :) Bonjour Paris : fonts have never been presented so elegantly before. VJ Type Typefaces — a great work with 3D and animation on the website. Helsedirektoratet — a website-portfolio of the Berlin-based studio in the form of a desktop. You can interact with different elements on the page. MAD from UX Planet. Just a lot of inspiration 👁️ Graphic design Articles and case studies Last month, McDonald’s . Later, Packaging in Europe discussed with the creators, the Pearlfisher agency, . updated its global packaging design with a focus on illustration what exactly stood behind these changes Booking.com designers revealed the details of creating illustrations in products for travelers. The Dieline tells how Pizza Hut expands its consumer experience with the Pacman AR game and pizza packaging. - Creative Review what exactly has changed in logo design over the decade. Another season of logo redesign: automakers ta , jewelry manufacturer and even the venture fund . Renault Peugeot Swarovski Andreessen Horowitz - An article about design trends and what's wrong with them from It's Nice That. Is graphic design too trendy? - a variable font that represents irreversible climate change and, according to the author's description, is based on real data of glaciers in the Arctic seas. The Climate Crisis Font Works — a system of visual brand identification based on the definition of sepia by all possible methods. Concise and complicated. Pasta Sepia . Identity, custom typography, illustrations, and stationery in a minimalistic and elegant style for a restaurant in central Paris from Violaine & Jeremy. Mun Champs Elysées : bright geometric brand identity for the German digital insurance company MORPHORIA. Nexible : brand identity for a geomarketing startup based on thermal maps and interface visualization from Polar, Ltda. Mapfry Visual identity of Sendlane from Balkan Brothers. 🚀 Products and tools Figma Improved prototyping capabilities. . A brief overview of the beta features of Figma Interactive Components. Designing micro-interactions with Figma interactive components , individual accounts will remain free of charge as before. Subscription terms have changed for team work Adobe - now featuring personalized recommendations for project editing from an "artificial intelligence" Adobe Sensei. The new mobile application Creative Cloud Updated work with . cloud documents Plugins, addons — a plugin that adds a 3D effect to vector objects. Fig3D — Figma project with ready-made objects in the style of glass morphism. Glass-Morphism in Figma Other — if you don’t want to search for photos of avatars on Unsplash, you can find them here :) FREE AVATAR LIBRARY FOR FIGMA AND SKETCH — an application that predicts (or at least tries predicting) the popularity of shots on Dribbble. Draftshot — an online platform for creating design and collaborative work. Creatopy — no-code online platform that allows people to create their own mobile applications, providing fast iterations. FlutterFlow — visual website designer from Designmodo. Siter.io — a tool for creating recursive images. Droste Creator — an application for saving workspaces in Mac OS. Freezeframe — pattern generator of geometric shapes. You can change colors, quantity, size. Tabbied 🤔 All at once What to read The Awesomic team has created the . first design community in Ukraine Forbes on the NFT phenomenon and whether you should become an owner. on what skills future leaders need. Adobe research — FastCompany about innovations in design. From blind optimism to sober responsibility: How design has changed since the first Innovation by Design Awards — a new book from A Book Apart. Sustainable Web Design from Helvetica/Objectified/Urbanized movies. Full interview - Google has posted a course for UX designers on Coursera that costs $39 per month after the trial period. Duration - 6 months. There are also courses for and . Google UX Design Professional Certificate Project Managers Data Analytics Lockdown is a good time to make a new home workplace setup. Inspiration can be found . here What to listen — podcast, authored by Rob Johnston, a designer and photographer from New York who seeks to bridge the gap between entry-level creative professionals and the best in the industry. Meet the Creatives Memes Hope you enjoyed it 🤗 Stay tuned for more!

Design Digest: Trends, Logo Redesign, and Fresh Memes [Part1]

With the climate crisis continuously getting worse, businesses and governments need to find solutions to reduce the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere. To beat the crisis, the world can't simply rely on renewable energy, governments will need to include carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) into the mix if they want to hit their climate targets. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), CCUS could , but can this technology deliver on its promises or is it too good to be true? reduce carbon emissions by almost a fifth What is Carbon capture, usage and storage? Carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) refers to a chain of different technologies aimed at capturing waste carbon dioxide (CO2), usually from large point sources of pollution like power plants, transporting it to a storage site, and depositing it where it will not enter the atmosphere. Some could be used to help grow greenhouse plants, make plastics, or even carbonate fizzy drinks. The first step is to fit factory chimneys with solvent filters, which trap carbon emissions before they escape, then the gas can be piped to locations to be used or stored. For the moment, there are about 30 CCUS projects operating around the world, which is nowhere near enough to clean up all of our emissions. Why is CCUS needed? Nowadays, Industrial production accounts for one-quarter of CO2﻿ emissions from energy and industrial processes. With the demand for cement, steel and chemicals remaining strong to support a growing and increasingly urbanised global population, the future production of these materials will have to be more efficient and emit much less CO2 if governments want to meet their climate goals. In the , more than 28 GtCO2﻿ could be captured from industrial facilities between now and 2060. IEA's "Clean Technology Scenario" Carbon capture, usage and storage also offers several other potential benefits: The ability to generate additional power thanks to geologically stored CO2 which could be used to extract geothermal heat from the same locations in which it’s injected, producing renewable geothermal energy. CO2 can technically be turned into fuel, although it is rather difficult to achieve. Captured CO2 could also be used to strengthen concrete, leading to increased infrastructure durability. Suggested Articles: 🚄 Hyperloop, the future of travel? ⌚️ Fitness Trackers: Helping us Get Fit or Just Another Gadget? 📱 Smartphones: The True Cost of Upgrades ♻️ What's the catch? CCUS has always been controversial, most people are either heavily in favour of CCUS technology or heavily against. There are several reasons why this technology might not be the best solution. Environmentalists tend to see CCUS as a distraction from the need to convert to renewable energy as quickly as possible. Some argue that investing in carbon capture wasting money that could be put to better use, like perfecting solar energy, building insulation, wind turbines or even tidal power. Another drawback of carbon capture, usage and storage, is the considerable amount of extra power it requires, which would increase the cost of electricity. Talking of cost, CCUS technology is said to be very expensive, however, new methods for capturing and extracting CO2 are constantly being developed, always with the aim to become cheaper. Where is CCUS in place? There are currently almost 30 carbon capture, usage and storage projects in place around the world namely in the US, Canada, Norway, China and the UK. Here are some of the biggest projects: The Century natural gas processing facility in West Texas, US. The capturing plant began operations in November 2010 and is now the world’s single biggest CCS plant. The Boundary Dam Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project located in Saskatchewan, Canada. Owned by SaskPower, the Boundary Dam coal-fired plant located in Estevan, Saskatchewan began operations in 2014. The Shute Creek gas processing plant, located in Wyoming, US. The CCS facility, built near LaBarge, Lincoln County, is owned by ExxonMobil and captures approximately 365 million cubic feet per day of CO2, which is equivalent to removing more than 1.5 million cars off the road. The bottom line Despite the controversy, it seems that carbon capture, usage and storage technology will become an important part of tackling the climate crisis. I think that if future projects aren't too expensive, it could definitely be a solution to this ever-growing problem, so long as it isn't to the expense of investing in renewable energy and other methods of reducing our CO2 emissions. 📰 This story was originally published on The Detechtor , a blog covering stories on the impact of tech on the environment and our health, check it out here . 🎙 I've also started The Detechtor Podcast , available to download everywhere !

About Carbon Capture, Usage, and Storage's Impact on The Climate Crisis

Humans have had special bonds with animals since before the rise of civilization. Pets such as dogs provide companionship, protection, and have even been shown to strengthen the immune systems of the human babies that grow up alongside them. However, recent trends in urbanization and an aging global population have challenged conventional pet ownership. Neolithic hunter-gatherers were sometimes buried with their dogs, indicating a connection that was clearly emotionally significant. There are a few problems with pet ownership that increase the barriers to entry for millennials and generation Z. Time commitment As global competition increases, young people have less time to commit to pet ownership. Pets must be fed, watched, exercised, and loved! Owning a pet is a difficult journey that is becoming increasingly out of reach for many young urbanites. 2. Space Pets such as dogs require space to roam around and exercise. Space is obviously quite limited in the cities and urban areas that many young people live in. 3. Vacations In the past, vacation and travel were a luxury limited to the aristocracy. However, travel has become more accessible in modern society. Pets can become an anchor that prevent people from traveling. Many young people end up giving their pets to their parents, which in the end limits their parent’s ability to explore the world in retirement(especially if they don’t trust pet-sitters like my parents!). The solution? Digital pets! Increases in technology over the last 20 years have already shown a valid proof of concept for “artificial pets”. The 3 examples I will refer to are Paro, the robotic baby seal, Neopets, and Pokemon! However each of these has a flaw that has prevented them from becoming an adequate substitute for conventional pet ownership. Paro Paro, the robotic seal, has been used to provide companionship to elderly people in nursing homes: “We know that pet therapy helps physically, psychologically and socially, and Paro does the same thing for people who are unable to care for a live pet,” — Takanori Shibata, Engineer for Paro. Paro was even classified as a medical device in the USA in 2009! Despite Paro’s success, each Paro is identical, limiting the feeling of “true ownership” possible with these devices. NeoPets NeoPets was a game that allowed players to collect and play minigames with digital “pets” during the early days of the internet. People still play neopets today! However, a quick scan of their website shows that NeoPets is a relic of the early internet age. The frontend looks like it hasn’t been updated since the early 2000’s. The rise and fall of Neopets illustrates the problems of centralization. The original development team behind the product moved on, yet control of the website remained centralized, preventing the community from building a new, updated experience for themselves. Pokemon Pokemon took the world by storm and is still enjoyed through many mediums by gamers all over the world! Pokemon trainers can catch, collect, and battle their Pokemon and millions have enjoyed this experience over the last 20 years. However, true ownership of Pokemon has never been possible — players are still at the mercy of developers/game creators and are limited in their ability to exercise their property rights. For example, despite an initial surge in Pokemon Go, the game faded — in our opinion due to the lack of a liquid market in which to trade/sell their Pokemon and a lack of a fulfilling/competitive PVP system. If the game had been on the blockchain, resourceful devs could have forked the ownership data over into an app that was actually fun! Axie Infinity! We believe that Axie Infinity has solutions to the inherent flaws present in these harbingers of digital pet ownership. Uniqueness and opaque digital scarcity Each Axie is an ERC 721 token with a genetic code that is stored on the Ethereum blockchain. Because there are so many possible genetic combination and the fact that each Axie gets its own unique serial number recorded on the blockchain, each Axie is guaranteed to be unique! They are a far cry from the identical robotic Paro Seals! 2. Decentralized data storage Because all of the genetic data for Axie Infinity is stored on the blockchain, our playerbase is less likely to be abandoned like the NeoPet community! Even if our developers had their memories wiped forever, resourceful community members could use the open source genetic data and fork the game over to a new front end! 3. Ease of Exchange Because all market transactions in Axie Infinity are recorded on the Ethereum blockchain, transactions between players can be performed smoothly and without need for trust between the two parties! No more meeting strange neckbeards in public places to perform game asset exchanges! In addition, to this “logic” we believe Axie Infinity is the next step in pet ownership for one simple reason: they’re cute! People like cute things, no need to break it down for you. Just look at Puff, the first Axie ever created! See you in Discord! The Axie Infinity Team For more information please join the conversation on our Discord or follow us on Twitter. Axie Infinity: Discord: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Reddit: Telegram: https://axieinfinity.com https://discord.gg/68DeTqc https://twitter.com/AxieInfinity https://www.facebook.com/AxieInfinity https://www.instagram.com/axieinfinity https://www.reddit.com/r/AxieInfinity/ https://t.me/axieinfinity

Axie Infinity: Pets for the Digital Age

Democracy was designed for the city 54% of the world’s population now , and more humans move to urban areas every day. But with voters and power concentrated in metropolitan areas, are nations holding cities back? Democracy was designed to rule a city, after all — Athens. Maybe we’ve stretched the democratic system further than it was meant to be expanded? Could we let democracy function at its optimum scale — the city — while finding some other way to organize on a federal level? lives in cities Athens from here Cities are efficient Mayors are emerging as the new presidents, and could increasingly become leaders for progress in the globalised, urbanised world, leaving the nation as a secondary structure solely handling international, transterritorial and security questions (and to a lesser degree, lawmaking). Many things speak to the city (or more precisely, the ) working better as a governable body — and . metropolitan area most people now live in one of them 1.) Proximity to politicians => accountability By definition, a mayor lives within her or his constituency. If a mayor ignores those constituents, they can arrive at their doorstep within the hour. This creates accountability. At this scale, community leaders may rise to the forefront to solve constituents’ issues, as opposed to career politicians. Cities have a scale where the chief priority of leaders is helping people. Bogota’s innovative Transmilenio by Flickr user Oscar Amaya For example, Paris starts offering its residents bikesharing with , arguably the first wide-scale bikesharing system after initial experiments in Denmark and Holland. Bogota solves commute times for its poor with , now spreading to Seattle and other cities through the . Vélib’ innovative public transportation systems global meetings of mayors 2.) Shared fate => homogenous interests Cities are a a big group of people with similar values and interests. Pollution, corruption, or bad public transport will affect everyone, directly or indirectly, as they all live in the city. When citizens are aligned, there’s less time wasted bickering and making compromises in between interests that are so misaligned (gun control, abortion) so as to make compromise senseless, and more time making sensible compromise between slightly divergent interests. Cleaning up the Platzspitz drug scene in Zurich from here Maybe the scale of cities is the most efficient scale for human decision making, because everyone can still see and relate to each other — and see the direct consequences of the policies they vote for. In New York City, residents are offered subsidized insulation, rainproofing and solar to decentralize the grid . Zurich, despite being socially conservative in the early 90s, offers Heroin addicts Methadone to . implemented after hurricane Sandy clear up Europe’s biggest open drug scene 3.) One purpose => focus A nation has to multitask, balancing foreign policy and domestic issues. A city government on the other hand is by definition focused on itself — there’s nothing to distract it, because everything outside of the city is handled by the national government. This intense sense of focus lets cities concentrate on what they do best: improving life for their constituents and helping innovation bloom. Examples include San Francisco (following Massachusetts among others) offering its residents . And New York City (under Khan/Bloomberg) reinventing the urban planning model to deliver improvements to its inhabitants . universal health care faster Khan/Bloomberg improvements in Time Square, New York City from here It’s a given that cities will become the predominant political chassis in the globalized 21st century as most people will live in them, leading their countries on environmental, social and technological levels. Democracy has and is working well for cities. There are of course problems with the city-first model. An obvious example is corruption through the urban elite ignoring the rural populations. However distant politicians in a capital ignore both urban rural populations. Another problem is that if we truly returned to city states like Amsterdam or Venice in the middle ages, a lot of the efficiencies of focus would evaporate as the city would have to worry about security, maintaining supplies, etc. And where would the edges be between San Francisco’s sphere of influence and LA’s? and One caveat here is that being too extreme and truly returning to nation states can lead to its own issues: partitioning any area into too many small autonomous cities leads to problems like the housing crunch we face in California, which was partly due to cities only looking after their self interest as opposed to those of the larger region. Same for traffic, water, inequality, homelessness. Nations are inefficient Western nations seem more dysfunctional and less representative of their constituents’ wishes every day. Meanwhile, cities and local governments have been more responsive on many fronts, leading innovation on the environment, societal issues, healthcare, education, and finance. The nation, by comparison, has many disadvantages. National politicians are removed from constituents and feel little direct pressure from them outside of the election cycle. Leaders all over the West are increasingly accused of pandering to lobbyists rather than to their constituents. Why? Lobbyists are in the capital too — gaining the ear of politicians whenever they want. But constituents from Texas aren’t going to Washington to demonstrate. Someone from Southern Brazil isn’t going to take a three day bus ride to Brasilia. Distance: Some problems don’t have a solution everyone can accept. Sometimes too many divergent interests can’t be bundled into a compromise. Finding an acceptable solution for 350M or 1B people is difficult. This is where political gridlock comes from. Polish farmers may feel alienated from farming laws proposed by Spanish lobbyists. Complexity: When one million challenges are all calling for attention — from international threats and disasters to domestic challenges abstract and real — setting an agenda that can help your constituents can be noisy. A nation is in charge of too many things at once. Lack of Focus: Historical Precedent The oldest cities go back much further than the oldest nations for a reason. Ancient kingdoms started as city-states: proving a governance system and policies on a small scale at home first, then expanding to the surrounding territory. The historical norm has been that innovation (for example democracy) flowed outward from the city. Top-down democratic nations by contrast are arguably a historically recent construct: 1776 in the US, 1848 in most of Europe, after World War II elsewhere. On the entire timeline of governance, this experiment of stretching democracy over whole nations is a relatively brief experiment we’ve been trying for 150 years. This experiment has yielded mixed results during the 20th century: Peace and wealth but also war, famine and poverty. We should not take for granted that this is the best way to rule our nations (even if democracy does work well within cities). We may be able to find solutions despite strongly divergent interests on a federal level. When we were inventing nations in the 19th century I think we hastily spread the democratic model too thin. We assumed what worked for the city will work linearly for a larger scale of nations, the UN, the galaxy. Nations are overextended constructs from the 19th century. I predict we will naturally refocus on the optimal size for democratic decision making: the city. What’s Next? Photo from NASA Now that most people live in cities we can turn to the human-sized metropolitan scale for lawmaking and civic life, creating more nimble, efficient and fair societies. I predict we will see the world’s nations increasingly lose their lawmaking and execution power in the next century to be nothing more than a communication platform between cities and a funding pool for building shared projects no city alone could. The role distribution we’re heading towards in this new balance is: Cities self-govern their citizens and experiment constantly with improvements as they do today. But they will increasingly make their own laws for internal civic life and police corporate “citizens” themselves (which will reduce the danger of lobbying due to lack of distance). Nations align the cities amongst each other by spreading the results of successful experiments between them. Because the burden of lawmaking increasingly falls on cities, nations gain a new clarity of purpose: they build the cities’ common projects with shared funding. The shared fund will be used for transportation, research, interplanetary exploration, and defense — though the need for defense may be reduced as don’t generally have a thirst for war — nations do. Transportation, research and space programs will therefore take up the bulk of new nations’ time. cities The current anti-globalisation trend (and its dark cousin, nationalism) is a signal of this need for decentralization. Examples include (much simplified here) farmers in Poland not wanting to bow to the will of Brussels, Brexiters wanting sovereignty from the EU, Trump’s rural voters resenting Washington’s policies, etc. These decentralization trends are driven by frustration with inefficiencies and the changing balance of power between urban and rural populations. But decentralization of power away from global & regional agreements and back to the nation-state alone doesn’t make a society more fair. The tension will only be resolved once we take this decentralization movement to its conclusion: empowering efficient decision-making at the level of cities and metro regions. Anti-globalisation is not the end state — eventually, anti-nationalism will follow. The optimum scale for human society is the city. As city populations swell further this century, cities will increasingly rule themselves while nations will be repurposed to mediate between cities while expanding human society beyond earth. This re-decentralization will be a positive — leading to less war, faster progress and a fairer society. Credits to Eryk Salvaggio, , Laura Erickson, Zebulon Reynolds and everyone else for reading drafts of this. . Thanks Can Olcer Also read Why Cities keep growing, Companies always die, and life keeps getting faster Originally posted at swissnexSF and nikodunk.github.io/cities

As cities grow, nations fade.

My lessons, being an introvert founder. Was afraid of talking to strangers. Writing code since I was 11. Introvert. Had zero friends. Then, I started building businesses and had to sell. I knew I was fucked. But I soon learned. And I thought, the lessons I learned might help another introvert entrepreneur somewhere in the other corner of the world struggling with selling. By the way, I am editor of a weekly newsletter, , which delivers one startup idea to your inboxes. Unmade If startup, ditch the sales team altogether I’ve had the opportunity to watch several sales teams in action over the years, and as much as I hate to see people lose their jobs, startups today are probably better off doing away with the dedicated sales role — or at least in the way it currently operates at most companies. Whether your focus is acquisition or retention, your startup would be well advised to focus on perfecting its product and optimizing marketing efforts that drive self-service sales. A great product won’t “sell itself,” but with the right hooks built in and the right lead nurture automation in place, your app can go a long way without any outbound pitching to prospects. There’s still a place for salespeople. But especially if you’re in the early stages of your company’s life cycle, the role should be more about high-end strategic business partnerships than anything else. A great product is half the battle won. Considering the way buyers evaluate their software options today, exploring product specs themselves online and asking trusted contacts for recommendations, your sales process can be structured without a sales team — at least in the traditional sense. And by traditional, I am referring to a group of sharks sitting on the phone all day, trying to persuade prospects, whose reactions hover between indifferent and hostile. Here are a few ways to streamline your sales strategy without investing in an outdated sales department. 1. Build an amazing product and develop demand The obvious first step in any marketing effort is to have a great product to market. Before you even attempt to get the word out, you need to have a stellar product that users will pine for. Find a consumer pain point that can be addressed through products or technology. This way, you can easily create demand for it. And besides, having a solid product helps you increase your credibility, which makes it easier for your marketing personnel to engage the audience with confidence. Then, once you have found this niche and launched a credible product, you will need to define your marketing strategy to establish your startup as an authority in your chosen field. This involves hiring credible and capable people who will become storytellers for the business. If you cannot hire these credible people (because of course, you are a tiny startup), become the credible one yourself. Remember, storytelling is different from plain old marketing campaigns. It will need people who can and evoke that feeling of affinity and satisfaction in them, so they will treat your brand as their own. take customers along for the journey for customers not just for company updates, but also for good productivity resources. Once you start engaging the audience with insightful advice, expect them to share the material throughout their own circles. Word-of-mouth marketing needs to start somewhere. Establish a blog as a go-to place 2. Most eggs in marketing’s basket Early-stage startups with small teams should integrate sales as part of your . Your sales leads will come from many streams but are generally divided into paid and organic (including referral traffic). However, the source of the conversion should not matter. lean marketing efforts Don’t fall into the trap of segmenting the sales lifecycle so granularly that relationships with contacts are handled by different people at every step. That’s not how list segmentation works . Instead, the key to success is to ensure a consistent and positive customer experience throughout the entire lifecycle. Customers don’t like being tossed around across departments, and having one point person or team to handle them will ensure they get the right guidance and attention they deserve. Marketing and sales teams’ roles have evolved past simply getting past the customer’s front door. Instead, the marketing, sales and customer service teams are combined, with customers often talking to a single point person all throughout. If possible, get the developers themselves on the call with the customer. (Note: Proceed with caution.) 3. Let it drip Instead of dividing your sales strategy and the consequent sales roles into acquisition and retention, you are better off with automated email campaigns that are sent out to the right leads at the right times. Your audience likely consists of tech-savvy urbanites who prefer to use their mobile devices for anything but talking. Your best bet to reach them is a smart, personalized email. Build out a premium downloadable resource, gate it behind a lead capture form and promote it across as many relevant marketing channels as you can viably manage. If you do this well, you’ll to nurture via timed and triggered email sequences. In some cases, cold email can be highly effective as well. generate plenty of qualified leads Drip campaigns are reliable and seldom fail. If you are concerned about the lack of human element, take a look at how your competitors handle their messaging. Plenty of companies can have their cake and eat it too, because personalization and automation can co-exist. 4. Hire a product marketing manager Given the integrated approach, you’ll need a person who will be ultimately responsible for the product, including concept, execution, marketing and sales. It makes no sense for someone head product development, only for someone else to be responsible for actually selling it. Your marketing product manager should know the ins and outs of the product, and what exactly makes your brand stand out. what clicks with customers Large companies are often burdened by organizational inefficiencies across product, marketing and sales departments, not to mention after-sales support teams. Each team might have a different vision or approach to the product. By giving operational oversight over all of these activities to one person, you can be more confident that there is cohesion among people with different responsibilities. This can be even easier for startups with small or growing teams. This person can either be your CMO or a product manager, who must first have in-depth knowledge of your product and a good understanding of the industry. For the most part, such a person will need to have both the skills of a good engineer and a capable communicator. 5. Use the best marketing technology You might encounter a few hurdles to managing the development, marketing and sales efforts jointly. However, many of these challenges can be overcome with technology, particularly through collaboration solutions that can help break down the silos in your workflow. Marketing automation can streamline otherwise tedious and mind-numbing tasks, , sifting through customer communication and feedback, analyzing conversion funnels (including clickthroughs, purchases and most popular sources of conversion), and identifying top causes of churn. including cold outreach Aside from adopting technologies to ease the marketing process, you should also apply analytics to virtually everything that involves customer retention. Make sure you actually interpret the data that you collect about customers, and then translate it all into actionable insights, so that you can adjust your marketing efforts accordingly. Without this level of business intelligence, you’ll have no idea whether something you’re doing has a positive effect or not. 6. Simplify acquisition and retention Make the onboarding experience as easy as possible, and make it easy for users to sign on. For example, implementing social login can simplify the entire authentication and signup process. It also makes it easier for you to collect information about customers without requiring them to repeatedly input their own data. The point here is to ensure that your new signups don’t meet too many roadblocks along the way, making for a good customer experience. From here onwards, you will need to consistently monitor the customer journey, to ensure satisfaction and to optimize the experience. After all, the profitability of SaaS platforms relies heavily on recurring revenue rather than a single point-of-sale. By cultivating your relationship with each customer, you can be assured of that customer’s continued subscription. Conclusion The point in all of this is that you don’t have to beat your head against a wall by hiring an expensive sales team for something that you could accomplish with a great tech stack and a decent grasp of funnel optimization techniques. Thanks for reading! :) If you liked it, please support by clapping 👏🏻 and sharing the post. Feel free to leave a comment 💬 below. — About the author https://twitter.com/mohitmamoria Mohit Mamoria is the CEO of godtoken.org (a crypto fund) and the editor of a weekly newsletter, Unmade , which delivers one startup idea from the future to your inboxes. He writes regularly for world’s largest publications including HackerNoon, TechCrunch, TheNextWeb, CoinTelegraph among others. 🙌🏻 Have feedback? Let’s be friends on Twitter .

Hacking software sales by rethinking team structure

While it’s often easy — and admittedly, fun — to highlight the hypocrisy of rural America when it clamors , there’s little benefit and even less dignity in skirting an opportunity to build smarter solutions for all. “what about us?” Autonomous transportation is a worthwhile example: sure, the concept makes undeniable sense in urban environments, but can we — and further, should we — entrench such technology out in the boonies, where edge cases abound and mechanical tools still win the day over digital solutions because, when the chips are down, you can always turn a wrench and maintain that trademarked rural self-reliance? Come on, that was good. “When the chips are down.” I’ll take up a few positions in this article, hoping readers will use their own experience to nurture some initiative; we should seek to surface actionable challenges for the dweebs of Silicon Valley, and at the same time, broaden perspectives for those who have dug their heels deep into the Great Plains. To paint a consistent picture of the battleground, I’ve created a map to call out some of the typical rural road layouts and driving scenarios. Now, you fine country folk will have to forgive me for any egregious omissions… I’ve seen more of America than most, but I’m a city slicker for sure. Alright, let’s hit the hay. This Ain’t Our First Rodeo For as night-and-day as they seem, separating the cityscape from the countryside has never been a simple debate. Sure, the rugged individualists of the 19th and 20th centuries toiled long and hard to build up farmland, but it was central government who made that land available with the Homestead Act. That said, the law intended to bring settlement to undeveloped land, so while countrymen benefitted, the Homestead Act certainly wasn’t done without an economic motive. And yes, the backroads of America wouldn’t have electricity or plumbing or trains or roads without big city dollars footing much of the infrastructure cost… but then again, most of the raw materials for such inventions, and the commerce resulting from them, traverse broad stretches of countryside. From that perspective, laying down rail and road transit to connect cities is hardly an altruistic favor to rural residents… and yet, so much of small town America exists only because of the obvious potential identified in siphoning off a few of the commercial dollars passing between major destinations. Point is, it’s naive for urbanites to dismiss rural areas as relics (the people, perhaps, are relics, but not the areas)… and in the same stroke, it’s foolish for country folk to pretend they don’t benefit from cities, or the improving living standards that come with them. The balance is delicate, requiring mutual respect and consideration — unless you claim to be one of the true mountain men living off the land, in which case you’re a phony, because you obviously have internet access if you’re reading this. Evolve Or Be Extinguished Counterpoint: the boonies will go as the cities go, because the masses dictate the markets. Refuse transportation tech all you like, but if gas hits $40/gallon because the government , or insurance companies start demanding real-time data monitoring, or the suppliers who make parts for your car go belly-up, it really won’t matter what you think. You won’t have the means to be contrarian. has banned internal combustion engines You, grizzled countryman, imagine a future where you’re constantly asked by your friendly car dealer, And with the steely, distant resolve of a cowboy who has seen it all, you run your hand along the fender of your ’83 Bronco and reply, Well, snap out of it. That’s not the way it’s gonna go down. Don’t find out the hard way… come to the table with some ideas to support the transition and ensure your needs are considered. “hey buddy, wanna get outta that rust bucket and into the shiny new self-driving model?” “not now. Not ever.” You Don’t See That Every Day A Chevy Silverado rolling coal in your face as it kicks up dust and rocks. An ATV towing another ATV. An elderly man approaching your vehicle with a shotgun. A street sign pointing you into a ravine. A couch in the middle of the road with birds on it. Any wild animal doing anything. These are just some of the things I’ve seen in rural areas that might give current-day self-driving tech a bout of confusion; what’s worse, the events happen so rarely that solving for such edge cases seems like an immense waste of resources. But, at least in theory, environments increasingly take on this persona as one separates from civilization. I mean that’s pretty much what civilization aims to do: mitigate life’s unpredictable events in order to increase control. But spend enough time in the boonies, and you’ll find hours upon hours of inactivity peppered with an occasional event you’ve never seen before. Given how resource-intensive it would be to approach these edge cases individually, I’d recommend a fairly blunt solution that I hope folks of the heartland can appreciate: . put weapons on AVs I know I like to satirize this concept, but it’s my idea and I’m actually quite fond of it — especially in rural scenarios. Throwing long-range acoustic devices (LRAD) on autonomous vehicles is by far the most practical solution for any problem on four legs, and considering how much of self-driving tech is likely to be electric (i.e. silent), having a tool that basically amounts to a smart horn is vital when barreling through a village that maybe sees or hears one car every ten minutes. Crossing The Border There are a lot of unorthodox vehicles out there in the sticks — few of which are well-suited to being augmented or replaced with self-driving software, and even fewer which the owners have the means or interest to make such a change. How do you hook all those motor vehicles up to autonomous transportation in one fell swoop? I think it’s easier than it sounds: you don’t. Blue: self-driving / Green: connected / Brown: anything goes When it comes to private roads and off-road trails (in brown), there’s not much sense in putting anything on the grid. They’re lightly traveled, and often so by all manner of odd vehicle… not to mention being driven rather adventurously on purpose, which autonomous software could turn into a real bummer. So leave all that alone. Once you hit publicly funded local roads (in green), you start to become a liability and responsibility to others… even those folks far off in the city, whose taxes help to cover infrastructure costs if you wrap your truck around a pole. For the sake of all the autonomous traffic moving through and around these areas, any vehicle on these green roads should be connected. Not necessarily the “gubment gone and took my privacy away” connected though — just the kind of that helps the grid understand where potential obstacles might arise. We’re talking about transponders that cost virtually nothing and reveal virtually nothing; this should be an easy sell for anyone who doesn’t have tattooed across their entire face. So, if you want to ride your moped from the backwoods to the gas station, your choices would be: anonymous feedback signal Don’t Tread On Me Slap an anonymous transponder on it and do as you please Load it onto a truck that already has a transponder Leave it at your house and go get gas with your truck Take the off-grid moped to the gas station anyway, and run the risk of being reported to authorities by any ever-vigilant AV that sees you, or crashing into something and being held fully responsible for the damages Now, for the main roads crossing city, county and state lines (in blue). Those are in the self-driving world. You don’t drive there, period. So, if you don’t own an autonomous shipping truck for your farm, or a self-driving car for trips into town, you’ll need to get yourself out from behind the wheel some other way. To that end, the big blue/green dot I’ve drawn just outside of town here can serve as a park-n-ride service: shuttles with the capacity to haul a few folks and their cargo could run on mass-transit-like schedules. You pull up in your connected-but-not-autonomous truck at 3:07, you park, and you hop on the driverless bus/pod/whatever at 3:10 to Yuma, or whatever destination. If it sounds cost-prohibitive to develop an autonomous shuttle route for every single one-horse town in the country, remember what’s already rolling through there on a daily basis: cargo. Put a passenger compartment in Amazon’s delivery vehicles, and you could find yourself showing up on a city street corner with the tomatoes and canned goods. The Adventure’s Just Beginning Christ, it’s the Macarena of #vanlife It’s natural to hear of looming change and imagine only the risk. It is natural, and idiotic. Virtually every single innovation you enjoy today was met with waves of ridicule and doubt and fear. You can read all the naysayings of yesteryear and laugh at their primitive brains… but that’s you, buddy. That too, is you. Get the monkey-grade fear-mongering reaction out of your head. Okay great. What else? What else happens if vehicles can drive themselves, intelligently? “If cars drive themselves, then I’m no longer free to drive.” You can run a convoy out of your ranch for pennies on the dollar. You can run a one-man farm. You can enjoy the lower taxes and decreased bureaucracy that improved transportation efficiency affords, which is what you’ve been voting for all along. You can drink beers with your buddies and then go home without dying. You can send your dog to the vet without getting off your couch. You can have personal shopping malls show up in your driveway. You can make trips into the big city to see your brother without worrying about all the assholes on the road. You can make connections with all types of travelers who are now free to come see what makes your town so great. You can do your own traveling without worrying about physical health. Or you can let your kids explore the country by themselves and be home in time for dinner. Or you can stick your mother-in-law in one and get her as far away from you as possible. I’m not going to give you all the answers. You ought to know better than I how beneficial driverless transportation can be, because you live here. Be the champion for a better life in the country.

Playing In The Sticks: Self-Driving Cars And Rural America

Building a solar micro-grid in my bedroom with parts from Amazon ️⚡️️ IMPORTANT: NOW UPDATED at sunboxlabs.com 👈 ⚡️ The problem Apartment renters need the landlord’s permission to install anything on their rooftops. This makes installing solar difficult for people who rent. Because most of the world lives in urbanized areas where renting is common, I think this is a problem standing in the way of solar adoption. The problem An additional speed bump is the complexity of installing solar: regulation around net-metering. Grid-tied systems. Installation permits (even if you do own your property). Getting quotes from different installers. Solar financing. All complex processes inherited from the construction industry which slow down mass private adoption of renewables. In the following I attempt to bypass both these problems by building a standalone solar power plant on my windowsill with off-the-shelf Amazon parts, and discuss the pros and cons of this approach to solar. A possible solution A windowsill solar system bought off Amazon solves both problems at once: Renters don’t need permission from their landlords to place things on their windowsill and rooftops if it’s not altering the building, and it’s a one-click Amazon purchase with no regulation as long as it’s not tied to the grid (which mine is designed not to be). Two birds with one stone. This makes the solar buying process more like buying a consumer electronic. A possible solution? :) Questions remain. Can this system make any meaningful energy? Does it make financial sense? The components $211 of components on Amazon is all I need My goal is to take care of the energy needs for just my bedroom. 4 main components are all we need to achieve this: A solar panel to collect, a battery to store, an inverter to convert the direct current to alternating current, and a “charge controller” to balance the three other components. I’m using bargain-basement parts intended for RV, marine & car usage which keeps my system cheap and mobile. Total component cost is $211 ($230 after shipping & taxes). The main components as found on Amazon are above. Anyone looking to build a similar system themselves can view the full component list (shoot me an how it went!). here email I ordered the system on July 2nd, and with ground shipping the PV panel ($95) arrived July 11th from Canada, and the battery ($66), wiring ($18), controller ($17) and inverter ($15) arrived July 15th from Amazon USA. Assembly Hopefully you can adapt my system to your spatial situation pretty easily: Cut and lay bare the end of the battery & inverter wires (battery disconnected, please). The panel’s wires are already bare on one end. Do a dry run connecting battery, inverter and panel to the controller — it should look like above. Step 1 Detach the panel wires again and place the panel on the rooftop or wherever you get the most sunlight (…garden …balcony …). Attach the panel to something: I zip-tied the back of the panel to a cable which I fastened on both ends around sturdy roof pipes (more photos see ) and run the power lines back to your apartment (drop down the facade and into the window in my case). Step 2 here Assemble the solar controller, inverter and battery into a tighter package. Re-clamp the wire from the panel to the solar controller and close the window. It should look as above. The charge begins! Step 3 In the evening, turn on the inverter. My lamp, computer, tablet & phone are all being powered simultaneously here on the day’s solar charge! Self sufficiency achieved? Experiment: One month of energy self-sufficiency in my room In San Francisco we get 4.26 hours of usable sunshine a day (or 1156 hours a year) according to Google Sunroof. My battery holds 420Wh (12V x 35Ah), and should be filled once a day without any shading. Actual production is an average 350Wh/day on the rooftop with real-world shading and loss. Theoretical: 4.26 sun hours/d * 100W solar = 426Wh/dayActual Production: 350Wh/day Daily Power Production: **Daily Power Needs:**54Wh Macbook Air 13-Inch (one charge a day)8Wh iPhone battery (one charge a day)20Wh Light (4W LED x 5h)300Wh Space Heater (150W x 2h – our SF house has no heating)___________ Total: 82Wh energy need per day in room (up to 382Wh) This should be easily met by the solar system. I turn the inverter on when I get home to use AC lights and charge the Macbook through the power brick, and turn it off before I go to bed to avoid energy drain. My phone’s USB (which is direct current) can charge all night straight through the solar controller itself (which has USB ports) and doesn’t require the inverter. My laptop is a DC device and could be charged straight off the 12V battery, but I found it easier to just charge it with the AC power brick through the inverter. Morning before charge. Evening after charge. My traditional AC lamp is a non-optimized part of the system— I could get DC lights that run off USB to avoid inverting that energy, but have not done so thus far and prefer to just use the cute little thing. When I go to bed I’ve usually used around 30% of the energy anyway— I wish I could run a water heater, heating or fridge off this system to use the excess 270Wh of the daily energy production. Learnings This project started with a simple idea: What if energy generation was a consumer electronic you could order off Amazon? I’ve learned that basic electrical knowledge and a little assembly bring us very close to this ideal: Self-contained renewable lighting and charging is achieved with a simple $211 setup off Amazon. Unless you live on an RV or a boat it doesn’t make financial sense yet (see epilogue #1). But if prices come down a little more (what a difference the last year made!) or manufacturing gets a bit more resource-efficient the scales could tip and this could be a green and fiscally sensible solution (see epilogue #2). And some time in the next decade this great little DIY system that can function as a back-up system today (see epilogue #3) could become a viable consumer electronic: a cheap personal power plant for urban renters. Conclusion & Outlook What if autonomous electric generation could be added room by room to a household (like window A/C units)? We could outfit all 7 rooms of my (shared) household for around $1400 with this system today. Because the kitchen and bathrooms have way higher energy usages (fridge, stove, water heater) than the other rooms, a more sophisticated system could mesh the batteries together (wirelessly?) to create a stronger system that sends power to the rooms that need it most. This system could also discharge the batteries systematically as the price of grid power changes and the sun moves around the house. Solar as a modular consumer electronic — like air conditioning and satellite dishes? If we look to the car, the smartphone, the window A/C unit — these devices spread like wildfire across the globe because they were off-the-shelf products that required no configuration but great benefits. Identical appliances were churned out at an industrial scale for a global audience. They were “plug n play”. Plug n play solar has been around for a while, but has never taken off (probably because behind-the-meter power is still sketchy and poorly understood). The potential for plug n play solar is huge — it could mean cheap, zero-configuration solar energy spreading to consumers at the pace of the smartphone, the car or air-conditioning. This could be a cool Kickstarter project in the future… or a just fun DIY project today. Epilogue: Numbers for nerds How long until it saves me money? The reason this system is so simple is because it doesn’t tie in to your apartment’s behind-the-meter electrical grid. This means the system is clean, but it also doesn’t feed into electrical heavyweights like your water heater, refrigerator and washer/dryer. It does charge anything you plug into it though. So can the system save me money? Back of the envelope: Financial payback period for 100W system System cost : $211 on Amazon Yearly energy creation: 365d * 4.26hsun/d * 100W = 155’490Wh/y Yearly value creation: 155kWh/y * 15.34c/kWh = $24/y energy created 100W system payback period: $211 / $24 = 8.5 years until payback The financial payback of the system is 9 years including battery, which is in line with many rooftop systems but doesn’t include servicing. This could be reduced to 6.5 years by adding a second 100W solar panel: Payback period for 200W system 200W System cost: $300 on Amazon Yearly energy creation: 365d * 4.26hsun/d * 100W = 310’980Wh/y Yearly value creation: 311kWh/y * 15c/kWh = $48/y energy created 200W system payback period: $300 / $48 = 6.5 years until payback Note however that after 8 years of daily use the lead-acid deep discharge battery will be spent, which I’m not taking into account here. Either way you cut it, this is not a money saving machine. Energy prices are just too low. How green is it? Does it have an impact on my CO2 footprint? Back of the envelope: Production footprint PV multicristalline: 4200kWhee/kW [1] * 0.1kW = 420kWh embodied energy Production footprint lead-acid battery: 321kWhee/kWh [1] * 0.5kWh = 161kWh embodied energy Total Footprint: 581kWh Annual energy production system: 155kWh/y Payback period: 581kWh / 155kWh/y = 4+ year footprint payback An eventual product would use Lithium-Ion batteries once they come down in price, which have a way better energy footprint. Lead-acid batteries are used for now because they’re cheap. So no, we’re not saving any CO2 emissions here until after 4 years — not a green machine. [1] http://renew.org.au/articles/energy-flows-how-green-is-my-solar/ Energy independence and resilience In case of brownouts or blackouts, this would be a helpful way of wirelessly charging communications devices without the grid. A 200W system could even keep a small 60W, 12V refrigerator cool enough to conserve food (14hours of operation/day, cooling down 32 degrees below ambient temp). If energy prices increase (double? triple?) due to unforeseen events in the future, the financial perspective may even make sense with payback periods decreasing to four or even 2.8 years for the 100W system or for the 200W system to 3 years or 2 years, respectively. At under 2 years payback period, we’d be in similar consumer territory to 2-year phone contracts. Let’s hope components continue to get cheaper! (or energy prices increase — but I’d rather not hope for that) Get updates at sunboxlabs.com Credits This story was heavily inspired by Robin Rhinehart’s “How I gave up alternating current”, but the blog was recently taken offline. The article can still be found on . Arstechnica Originally posted at https://nikodunk.com/solarselfsufficiency

$200 solar self-sufficiency — without your landlord noticing.

The rideshare and delivery markets are undergoing an upheaval driven by rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors. Companies like Wave are surfing this change with bespoke artificial intelligence (AI) technology, carving out a competitive edge in a burgeoning industry. As the market expands, opportunities abound for those willing to adapt. Wave’s own personal brand of AI-driven safety and community involvement has positioned it quite advantageously, taking the market by storm in U.S. cities like Atlanta and Chicago. The Expanding U.S. Sector The global rideshare market is projected to reach $335 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.2% from 2020 to 2025. This growth is fueled by increasing urbanization, the rising preference for shared mobility, and the convenience of on-demand services. Similarly, the online food delivery market is expected to surpass $213 billion by 2030. This explosive expansion is primarily driven by the proliferation of platform-to-consumer services and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, DoorDash leads the food delivery market with a 67% market share, followed by Uber Eats with 23%. The intense competition among these giants has focused on efficiency and customer experience, with companies investing heavily in AI and automation to streamline operations and reduce costs. "AI has changed the rules of the game. Not only in transportation or food delivery but every other aspect of the industry as well," says Diondre Lewis, CEO of Wave. "At Wave, AI has enabled us to optimize routes, predict demand, enhance safety, and provide better customer support." Room for Growth in the Markets The rideshare and delivery markets present numerous opportunities for savvy businesses looking to capitalize on recent technological developments. One among these trends is the increasing efficiency of last-mile delivery, which now represents 53% of the total cost of transportation. Companies are exploring various technologies, including AI, autonomous vehicles, and crowdsourcing, to reduce these costs and improve delivery times. Autonomous vehicles, including drones, are also becoming a viable solution for last-mile deliveries, offering the potential to cut costs and enhance efficiency significantly. This trend is expected to gain momentum as technology advances and regulatory frameworks evolve, addressing labor shortages and improving service efficiency. Another opportunity lies in the growing demand for personalized and efficient delivery services. AI-powered platforms can analyze vast amounts of data to provide personalized recommendations, optimize delivery routes, and predict peak demand times, much like Wave itself does. "The name of the game is customer satisfaction. There is no better way to meet the varied demands of our clients than with machine learning. We offer services from food delivery to corporate rideshares and non-emergency medical transport," Lewis explains. The Role of AI in Shaping the Future AI technology is credited with most of the transformation in the rideshare and delivery markets. Companies increasingly rely on AI to optimize their operations, improve safety, and provide personalized services. Wave's AI-powered platform is the very epitome of the potential AI presents. The company's proprietary AI algorithms, such as dynamic micro-zone demand prediction and real-time optimal route adjustment, aid drivers with picking the most efficient paths, reducing fuel consumption and wait times. These artificial intelligence algorithms are also utilized in Wave’s steadfast focus on safety. The algorithm analyzes vehicular operation to suggest the best time to perform routine maintenance and through automated disturbance or vehicular accident detection. Wave's Technological Potential Wave has carefully positioned itself to capitalize on these market opportunities. Since its inception, the company has focused on underserved markets, such as non-emergency medical transport and exclusive event transit. This allows it to tap into niche segments that larger competitors often overlook. "Beyond profit, Wave stands for serving those groups often forgotten by bigger companies. We even offer services for transportation of young children, with the requisite safety measures and monitoring in place," Lewis says. As consumer preferences shift toward shared mobility and on-demand services, Wave readies itself for further expansion. The rideshare and delivery markets are ripe with opportunities for companies willing to evolve. Wave's drive to further build upon its bespoke AI platform positions it as a formidable contender in the market. This piece was published as part of HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. For more details, please click here. The rideshare and delivery markets are undergoing an upheaval driven by rapid technological advancements and shifting consumer behaviors. Companies like Wave are surfing this change with bespoke artificial intelligence (AI) technology, carving out a competitive edge in a burgeoning industry. Wave Wave As the market expands, opportunities abound for those willing to adapt. Wave’s own personal brand of AI-driven safety and community involvement has positioned it quite advantageously, taking the market by storm in U.S. cities like Atlanta and Chicago. The Expanding U.S. Sector The Expanding U.S. Sector The global rideshare market is projected to reach $335 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.2% from 2020 to 2025. This growth is fueled by increasing urbanization, the rising preference for shared mobility, and the convenience of on-demand services. Similarly, the online food delivery market is expected to surpass $213 billion by 2030. This explosive expansion is primarily driven by the proliferation of platform-to-consumer services and the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the United States, DoorDash leads the food delivery market with a 67% market share, followed by Uber Eats with 23%. The intense competition among these giants has focused on efficiency and customer experience, with companies investing heavily in AI and automation to streamline operations and reduce costs. " AI has changed the rules of the game. Not only in transportation or food delivery but every other aspect of the industry as well, " says Diondre Lewis, CEO of Wave. " At Wave, AI has enabled us to optimize routes, predict demand, enhance safety, and provide better customer support. " AI has changed the rules of the game. Not only in transportation or food delivery but every other aspect of the industry as well, At Wave, AI has enabled us to optimize routes, predict demand, enhance safety, and provide better customer support. Room for Growth in the Markets Room for Growth in the Markets The rideshare and delivery markets present numerous opportunities for savvy businesses looking to capitalize on recent technological developments. One among these trends is the increasing efficiency of last-mile delivery, which now represents 53% of the total cost of transportation. Companies are exploring various technologies, including AI, autonomous vehicles, and crowdsourcing, to reduce these costs and improve delivery times. Autonomous vehicles, including drones, are also becoming a viable solution for last-mile deliveries, offering the potential to cut costs and enhance efficiency significantly. This trend is expected to gain momentum as technology advances and regulatory frameworks evolve, addressing labor shortages and improving service efficiency. Another opportunity lies in the growing demand for personalized and efficient delivery services. AI-powered platforms can analyze vast amounts of data to provide personalized recommendations, optimize delivery routes, and predict peak demand times, much like Wave itself does. " The name of the game is customer satisfaction. There is no better way to meet the varied demands of our clients than with machine learning. We offer services from food delivery to corporate rideshares and non-emergency medical transport ," Lewis explains. The name of the game is customer satisfaction. There is no better way to meet the varied demands of our clients than with machine learning. We offer services from food delivery to corporate rideshares and non-emergency medical transport The Role of AI in Shaping the Future The Role of AI in Shaping the Future AI technology is credited with most of the transformation in the rideshare and delivery markets. Companies increasingly rely on AI to optimize their operations, improve safety, and provide personalized services. Wave's AI-powered platform is the very epitome of the potential AI presents. The company's proprietary AI algorithms, such as dynamic micro-zone demand prediction and real-time optimal route adjustment, aid drivers with picking the most efficient paths, reducing fuel consumption and wait times. These artificial intelligence algorithms are also utilized in Wave’s steadfast focus on safety. The algorithm analyzes vehicular operation to suggest the best time to perform routine maintenance and through automated disturbance or vehicular accident detection. Wave's Technological Potential Wave's Technological Potential Wave has carefully positioned itself to capitalize on these market opportunities. Since its inception, the company has focused on underserved markets, such as non-emergency medical transport and exclusive event transit. This allows it to tap into niche segments that larger competitors often overlook. " Beyond profit, Wave stands for serving those groups often forgotten by bigger companies. We even offer services for transportation of young children, with the requisite safety measures and monitoring in place ," Lewis says. Beyond profit, Wave stands for serving those groups often forgotten by bigger companies. We even offer services for transportation of young children, with the requisite safety measures and monitoring in place As consumer preferences shift toward shared mobility and on-demand services, Wave readies itself for further expansion. The rideshare and delivery markets are ripe with opportunities for companies willing to evolve. Wave's drive to further build upon its bespoke AI platform positions it as a formidable contender in the market. This piece was published as part of HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. For more details, please click here. This piece was published as part of HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. For more details, please click here . here here

Wave's AI-Based Innovations: The Key to Dominating the Rideshare and Delivery Market

ওয়েভের এআই-ভিত্তিক উদ্ভাবন: রাইডশেয়ার এবং ডেলিভারি বাজারে আধিপত্য বিস্তারের চাবিকাঠি

KI-basierte Innovationen von Wave: Der Schlüssel zur Beherrschung des Rideshare- und Liefermarkts

Innovaciones basadas en inteligencia artificial de Wave: la clave para dominar el mercado de viajes compartidos y entregas

Les innovations basées sur l'IA de Wave : la clé pour dominer le marché du covoiturage et de la livraison

वेव के एआई-आधारित नवाचार: राइडशेयर और डिलीवरी बाजार पर हावी होने की कुंजी

Wave の AI ベースのイノベーション: ライドシェアと配送市場を支配する鍵

Wave의 AI 기반 혁신: 차량 공유 및 배달 시장을 지배하는 열쇠

Inovações baseadas em IA da Wave: a chave para dominar o mercado de transporte compartilhado e entrega

Инновации Wave на основе искусственного интеллекта: ключ к доминированию на рынке совместных поездок и доставки

Wave'in Yapay Zeka Tabanlı Yenilikleri: Araç Paylaşımı ve Teslimat Pazarına Hakim Olmanın Anahtarı

Những đổi mới dựa trên AI của Wave: Chìa khóa để thống trị thị trường giao hàng và chia sẻ xe

Wave 基于人工智能的创新：主宰拼车和配送市场的关键

**LONDON, United Kingdom, July 2nd, 2024/Chainwire/--**Web3 data platform Archisinal has announced a collaboration with the Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Lab (UBA IALAB) of the University of Buenos Aires. The entities have partnered to develop a Polkadot-based project that will revamp the UBA law facilities. Archisinal will work with UBA’s Web3, Blockchain & IA Lab to apply blockchain technology to design and urbanism. Students, architects, and members of the academic community who wish to be part of the project are invited to participate in a contest to transform the faculty’s Hearing Room into a smart classroom. Through its blockchain platform, Archisinal will leverage Polkadot’s blockchain framework and oversee the contest. It will determine the steps required to execute the work and conduct the project with the aid of collective financing delivered using blockchain. The project will serve as a pilot for Archisinal to validate the value behind its project, allowing it to prove its MVP in a university and collaborative environment. The initiative provides an exemplary use case for blockchain’s application within the academic sector. It will drive and promote community aid within Buenos Aires while contributing to the maintenance and refurbishment of public infrastructure. The University of Buenos Aires has already begun exploring the benefits of applied blockchain technology through its Web3, Blockchain & AI Lab. Archisinal, which is deeply rooted in the Polkadot ecosystem, will build upon this foundation and identify new applications for blockchain technology at UBA. In January 2023, UBA IALAB, together with adLIB! and its Director Marina Marchesotti, established a partnership with Polkadot Blockchain Academy. This academic proposal, created by Dr. Gavin Wood, held its second edition at the UBA Faculty of Law. The partnership with Polkadot Blockchain Academy has brought numerous benefits to the academic and Polkadot communities through their continuous and close collaboration. Archisinal’s collaboration with UBA will provide the impetus for a number of future university initiatives that are in the pipeline. Recent winners of a scholarship program from Decentralized Futures of the Web3 Foundation, Archisinal have won three hackathons in 2024. The partnership between UBA IALAB and Archisinal will serve as a case study for blockchain implementation, aiding academic research and developing future industry leaders. In the process, it will add value to law students by creating a technological and innovative space at one of Argentina’s leading educational institutions. About Archisinal Archisinal is a pioneer in interactions with real-world assets in the built environment. Through leveraging blockchain and AI, Archisinal eliminates the need for trust by democratizing data. Archisinal enables developers and collaborating parties to easily monitor and interact with Real-World Assets (RWAs) with full transparency, aiding accountability, transparency and dispute resolution. Learn more: https://www.archisinal.io/ About University of Buenos Aires The University of Buenos Aires is a public research university situated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established in 1821, it has educated 17 Argentine presidents, produced four of the country's five Nobel Prize laureates, and is responsible for around 40% of the country's research output. Learn more: https://www.uba.ar/ Contact Founder Thomas Humber Archisinal tom@archisinal.io This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. **LONDON, United Kingdom, July 2nd, 2024/Chainwire/--**Web3 data platform Archisinal has announced a collaboration with the Innovation and Artificial Intelligence Lab (UBA IALAB) of the University of Buenos Aires. The entities have partnered to develop a Polkadot-based project that will revamp the UBA law facilities. Archisinal will work with UBA’s Web3, Blockchain & IA Lab to apply blockchain technology to design and urbanism. Students, architects, and members of the academic community who wish to be part of the project are invited to participate in a contest to transform the faculty’s Hearing Room into a smart classroom. Through its blockchain platform, Archisinal will leverage Polkadot’s blockchain framework and oversee the contest. It will determine the steps required to execute the work and conduct the project with the aid of collective financing delivered using blockchain. The project will serve as a pilot for Archisinal to validate the value behind its project, allowing it to prove its MVP in a university and collaborative environment. The initiative provides an exemplary use case for blockchain’s application within the academic sector. It will drive and promote community aid within Buenos Aires while contributing to the maintenance and refurbishment of public infrastructure. The University of Buenos Aires has already begun exploring the benefits of applied blockchain technology through its Web3, Blockchain & AI Lab. Archisinal, which is deeply rooted in the Polkadot ecosystem, will build upon this foundation and identify new applications for blockchain technology at UBA. In January 2023, UBA IALAB, together with adLIB! and its Director Marina Marchesotti, established a partnership with Polkadot Blockchain Academy. This academic proposal, created by Dr. Gavin Wood, held its second edition at the UBA Faculty of Law. The partnership with Polkadot Blockchain Academy has brought numerous benefits to the academic and Polkadot communities through their continuous and close collaboration. Archisinal’s collaboration with UBA will provide the impetus for a number of future university initiatives that are in the pipeline. Recent winners of a scholarship program from Decentralized Futures of the Web3 Foundation, Archisinal have won three hackathons in 2024. The partnership between UBA IALAB and Archisinal will serve as a case study for blockchain implementation, aiding academic research and developing future industry leaders. In the process, it will add value to law students by creating a technological and innovative space at one of Argentina’s leading educational institutions. About Archisinal Archisinal is a pioneer in interactions with real-world assets in the built environment. Through leveraging blockchain and AI, Archisinal eliminates the need for trust by democratizing data. Archisinal enables developers and collaborating parties to easily monitor and interact with Real-World Assets (RWAs) with full transparency, aiding accountability, transparency and dispute resolution. Learn more: https://www.archisinal.io/ https://www.archisinal.io/ https://www.archisinal.io/ About University of Buenos Aires The University of Buenos Aires is a public research university situated in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established in 1821, it has educated 17 Argentine presidents, produced four of the country's five Nobel Prize laureates, and is responsible for around 40% of the country's research output. Learn more: https://www.uba.ar/ https://www.uba.ar/ https://www.uba.ar/ Contact Founder Thomas Humber Archisinal tom@archisinal.io This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here. This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here . here here

University of Buenos Aires And Archisinal Partner To Revamp UBA Law Facilities Using Polkadot

During the COVID-19 pandemic, dating apps experienced a surge in users. Match Group, which owns over 45 dating brands including Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid, reported an increase in subscribers and downloads in its second quarter 2020 earnings report, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. However, many dating platforms now struggle to grow sales, attract new users, and convince younger generations to pay for subscriptions. According to The New York Times, industry giants Match Group and Bumble have collectively lost over $40 billion in market value since 2021. Investors are now seeking innovation, prompting major companies to bring in leaders willing to experiment with new features, such as artificial intelligence, and strategies that would attract new users, especially the younger ones. AI in the Service of Love One of the most intriguing trends in the dating app market is the integration of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the Bloomberg Tech Summit in San Francisco, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd highlighted how AI could enhance the search for connections. Herd proposed using AI assistants, or AI dating concierges, to reach out to potential partners, thereby expanding the pool of people each user can communicate with and increasing the chances of finding a perfect match. “There is a world where your dating concierge could go and date for you with other dating concierges ... and then you don’t have to talk to 600 people,” Herd explained during her interview. Startups are exploring how AI can improve matchmaking. Some apps use neural networks trained to identify the exact type of people a user is attracted to, making the dating experience more enjoyable. Liesel Sharabi, an associate professor at Arizona State University, noted that AI could help reduce "dating burnout" by making matches more accurate. “Looking at AI, there are all kinds of possibilities for helping to make the decision fatigue a little bit less pronounced when you're just having to swipe through so many profiles, and also helping to make the matchmaking process better by just improving upon some of the algorithms that they've been using," Sharabi said. There is even an AI platform called Meeno that people can consult about their relationships. Meeno was founded by Renate Nyborg, a former CEO of Tinder. By creating Meeno, she aimed to address the increased level of loneliness among young people that occurred after the COVID-19 pandemic. Meeno was designed to become a chatting partner and an unbiased advisor to people who feel lonely. One of the users, Andrew, shared his experience of using Meeno with Time Magazine. According to Andrew, Meeno didn’t suggest anything groundbreaking, but just the process of chatting with the app and reading advice on the screen that confirmed his own instincts gave him the confidence he needed to act. There is another platform where AI can give relationship advice. On YouMatch, the AI is trained to analyze people’s personality types and consider their behavior on the app to offer personalized advice on how they should navigate their romantic lives and deal with different situations. Beyond Romance: Facilitating Social Connections The Chinese dating app market is booming, largely due to features that promote social connections rather than just romance. New “social discovery” features help users find friends and acquaintances with similar interests and hobbies. Apps like Bumble offer BFF mode for finding friends and Bizz mode for networking, while Tinder's Friends of Friends feature helps users find potential friends. For many, dating apps have become virtual sanctuaries—a modern twist on the "third place,” a concept urbanists describe as a community space between work and home, The New York Times reports. These platforms allow users to explore hobbies, discuss popular topics, and meet new friends, helping to combat loneliness. Shift Toward Serious Dating In early 2023, Tinder released its international “Green Flags Study,” surveying 8,000 heterosexual men and women aged 18-34 across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. The study found that 53% of men and 68% of women are seeking a romantic relationship, indicating that a majority of singles using dating apps are looking for something serious. Hinge data shows that Gen Z singles are more clear and honest about their relationship intentions and expectations, with over half of users seeking a long-term, serious relationship with a deeper connection. This trend has led to a decline in “hookup culture”, which peaked with the rise of Tinder, and a growth in apps focused on serious relationships. To help users build deeper relationships, some startups rely on scientific findings and methodology. For example, YouMatch algorithms conduct each user's personality analysis based on the DISC (Dominance-Influence-Steadiness-Conscientiousness) methodology developed by American psychologist and Harvard graduate William Marston. After determining their personality type and assessing their values and goals, the app matches people with a higher level of personal compatibility, giving them more potential to build a common future. Prioritizing Users' Wellbeing and Safety Young singles are increasingly prioritizing mental health and well-being. According to a Hinge survey, 97% of users prefer dating someone who looks after their mental health and 86% are more likely to agree to a second date if their partner is attending therapy. Nearly 60% of users reported taking time to focus on themselves before entering a relationship. To support users' well-being, dating apps share content on mental health and dating ethics. Bumble, for instance, publishes articles on avoiding ghosting and managing dating burnout. Safety features are also a priority; Tinder's "Share My Date” feature allows users to share their date plans with friends and family with one click, just to be on the safe side. Overall, promoting safe and respectful communication has become a central trend among both major and emerging dating apps. During the COVID-19 pandemic, dating apps experienced a surge in users. Match Group, which owns over 45 dating brands including Tinder, Hinge, and OKCupid, reported an increase in subscribers and downloads in its second quarter 2020 earnings report , surpassing pre-pandemic levels. report report However, many dating platforms now struggle to grow sales, attract new users, and convince younger generations to pay for subscriptions. According to The New York Times, industry giants Match Group and Bumble have collectively lost over $40 billion in market value since 2021. lost over $40 billion lost over $40 billion Investors are now seeking innovation, prompting major companies to bring in leaders willing to experiment with new features, such as artificial intelligence, and strategies that would attract new users, especially the younger ones. AI in the Service of Love AI in the Service of Love One of the most intriguing trends in the dating app market is the integration of artificial intelligence. Speaking at the Bloomberg Tech Summit in San Francisco, Bumble founder Whitney Wolfe Herd highlighted how AI could enhance the search for connections. Herd proposed using AI assistants, or AI dating concierges, to reach out to potential partners, thereby expanding the pool of people each user can communicate with and increasing the chances of finding a perfect match. highlighted how AI could enhance highlighted how AI could enhance “There is a world where your dating concierge could go and date for you with other dating concierges ... and then you don’t have to talk to 600 people,” Herd explained during her interview. Startups are exploring how AI can improve matchmaking. Some apps use neural networks trained to identify the exact type of people a user is attracted to, making the dating experience more enjoyable. Liesel Sharabi, an associate professor at Arizona State University, noted that AI could help reduce "dating burnout" by making matches more accurate. “Looking at AI, there are all kinds of possibilities for helping to make the decision fatigue a little bit less pronounced when you're just having to swipe through so many profiles, and also helping to make the matchmaking process better by just improving upon some of the algorithms that they've been using," Sharabi said . Sharabi said Sharabi said There is even an AI platform called Meeno that people can consult about their relationships. Meeno was founded by Renate Nyborg, a former CEO of Tinder. By creating Meeno, she aimed to address the increased level of loneliness among young people that occurred after the COVID-19 pandemic. Meeno was designed to become a chatting partner and an unbiased advisor to people who feel lonely. One of the users, Andrew, shared his experience of using Meeno with Time Magazine . According to Andrew, Meeno didn’t suggest anything groundbreaking, but just the process of chatting with the app and reading advice on the screen that confirmed his own instincts gave him the confidence he needed to act. experience of using Meeno with Time Magazine There is another platform where AI can give relationship advice. On YouMatch, the AI is trained to analyze people’s personality types and consider their behavior on the app to offer personalized advice on how they should navigate their romantic lives and deal with different situations. Beyond Romance: Facilitating Social Connections Beyond Romance: Facilitating Social Connections The Chinese dating app market is booming , largely due to features that promote social connections rather than just romance. New “social discovery” features help users find friends and acquaintances with similar interests and hobbies. Apps like Bumble offer BFF mode for finding friends and Bizz mode for networking, while Tinder's Friends of Friends feature helps users find potential friends. Chinese dating app market is booming Chinese dating app market is booming For many, dating apps have become virtual sanctuaries—a modern twist on the "third place,” a concept urbanists describe as a community space between work and home, The New York Times reports . These platforms allow users to explore hobbies, discuss popular topics, and meet new friends, helping to combat loneliness. reports reports Shift Toward Serious Dating In early 2023, Tinder released its international “ Green Flags Study ,” surveying 8,000 heterosexual men and women aged 18-34 across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and Canada. The study found that 53% of men and 68% of women are seeking a romantic relationship, indicating that a majority of singles using dating apps are looking for something serious. Green Flags Study Green Flags Study Hinge data shows that Gen Z singles are more clear and honest about their relationship intentions and expectations, with over half of users seeking a long-term, serious relationship with a deeper connection. This trend has led to a decline in “hookup culture”, which peaked with the rise of Tinder, and a growth in apps focused on serious relationships. apps focused on serious relationships. apps focused on serious relationships. To help users build deeper relationships, some startups rely on scientific findings and methodology. For example, YouMatch algorithms conduct each user's personality analysis based on the DISC (Dominance-Influence-Steadiness-Conscientiousness) methodology developed by American psychologist and Harvard graduate William Marston. After determining their personality type and assessing their values and goals, the app matches people with a higher level of personal compatibility, giving them more potential to build a common future. Prioritizing Users' Wellbeing and Safety Prioritizing Users' Wellbeing and Safety Young singles are increasingly prioritizing mental health and well-being. According to a Hinge survey , 97% of users prefer dating someone who looks after their mental health and 86% are more likely to agree to a second date if their partner is attending therapy. Nearly 60% of users reported taking time to focus on themselves before entering a relationship. survey To support users' well-being, dating apps share content on mental health and dating ethics. Bumble, for instance, publishes articles on avoiding ghosting and managing dating burnout . Safety features are also a priority; Tinder's "Share My Date” feature allows users to share their date plans with friends and family with one click, just to be on the safe side. avoiding ghosting avoiding ghosting dating burnout dating burnout Overall, promoting safe and respectful communication has become a central trend among both major and emerging dating apps.

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