In mid-May, assets in the Vanguard Information Technology ETF VGT, -0.19% overtook those in a competing fund from the company thats long dominated exchange-traded fund sector investing, the SPDR suite from State Street Global Advisors.

It was a small industry shift that perhaps only an ETF enthusiast would have noticed, yet it may speak volumes about how the investment-management world is evolving.

The Sector SPDRs were the first ETF products to track the S&P 500s sectors groupings of companies according to their business activities and remain the industry giants, in large part because their scale enables institutional investors to use them to make big trades, said Todd Rosenbluth, head of ETF and mutual fund research for CFRA.

If Vanguards assets are catching up to State Streets, it means one of two things, Rosenbluth told MarketWatch: either institutional investors are starting to get comfortable enough with Vanguard to rely on it as a trading tool or that individual investors, who have traditionally comprised most of Vanguards customer base, are turning to tactical ETF strategies.

Vanguard cut its teeth in what the fund industry calls core products simple index funds that track the overall S&P 500 SPX, +1.04%, for example. But individual investors are getting increasingly comfortable with exchange-traded funds, and increasingly using them to express more targeted views.

The attached chart shows 10 fund pairings of the currently existing 11 sectors. The 11th sector, real estate, was created in 2016; SPDR launched a fund to track the sector shortly before that. In contrast, Vanguards original sector lineup, which dates from 2004, has always included real estate. That fund has nearly $29 billion in assets, compared with $4.1 billion in the newer SPDR fund.

Its only fair to point out that Vanguards footprint in the other sector funds remains quite small, compared against the corresponding SPDR funds. Next to real estate VNQ, +0.30% and technology XLK, -0.02%, health care VHT, -0.24% is the sector in which it has the largest presence, and there, its assets are still less than half those of the SPDR fund.

But Vanguards explosive growth rate is a story unto itself. The firm, once considered a financial-services underdog, now has more assets under management than its next three competitors combined. Thats thanks largely to individual investors.

See:Three fund managers may soon control nearly half of all corporate voting power, researchers warn

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Will Vanguard step on the SPDR? This technology ETF just dethroned the industry leader - MarketWatch

By: Bloomberg | Published: July 11, 2020 12:57:56 pm The new policy will be implemented globally on August 11

Alphabet Inc.s Google is changing its policies next month to restrict advertising for spyware and other unauthorized tracking technology.

The change will prohibit the promotion of products or services that are marketed or targeted with the express purpose of tracking or monitoring another person or their activities without their authorization, according to the company.

While ads for these products already violate Googles Enabling Dishonest Behavior policy, the change will make the ban on tracking technology explicit and lead to increased enforcement, a company spokeswoman said.

The policy will prohibit advertisements of spyware and malware that can be used to monitor texts, phone calls, or browsing history, according to Google. It will also ban ads for GPS trackers specifically marketed to spy or track someone without their consent and of cameras or recorders marketed with the express purpose of spying.

The new policy will be implemented globally on August 11, and the accounts of advertisers that violate it will be suspended, according to Google.

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Google to restrict ads for tracking technology, spyware - The Indian Express

Written by Gaurav Bhatt | Updated: July 12, 2020 11:10:00 am Raffaele Marciello grew up playing Gran Turismo on PlayStation 2 (Source: AP)

exPress Start is a weekly online column on the intersection of gaming and culture. Level up with Gaurav Bhatt every Saturday as he explores the creative and competitive sides of video games. This week, a look at the evolving relationship between real and virtual racing.

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Last weeks podium at Austrian GP was a sight for sore eyes. Not only was Formula 1 back after four months and seven cancelled events, but the top three featured a former gamer and two Twitch streamers.

Finishing third was McLarens Lando Norris the self-appointed liaison between the sim racing and professional driving. Cant believe I went from a Full time @Twitch streamer to 3rd youngest ever F1 podium finisher in a matter of days the 20-year-old tweeted after the race.

Over on Twitch the Amazon-owned streaming platform where he can regularly be found playing games Norriss bio states: TEMPORARAYAYRLY FULL TIME STREAMER, drives in Formula 1 every now and then too

Second was Charles Leclerc the Ferrari driver who began the sim racing era with four major wins in a row and has 500,000 Twitch followers of his own. After one such virtual GP win in April, Leclerc, 22, had posted: Im actually enjoying very much playing, and streaming. And I enjoy it even more when I win. But the post race celebrations are somehow feeling a bit different. Switching off the computer and go cook white pasta is a bit less glamour than spraying champagne on the podium.

Then there was the winner.

Mercedes Valtteri Bottas, at 30, is a senior citizen in gaming years and admitted last year that he had stopped virtual racing. Then Covid-19 struck, and the Finn broke out a swanky simulator.

Dig deep enough and you can find Bottas posts on obscured racing game forums from ten years ago, apologising to fellow gamers for his inactivity after being signed as a test driver by Williams in 2010. His inactive profile lists 6,000 completed laps and 230 race wins.

Do gamers win races?

False equivalences aside, the podium in Spielberg effectively showcased the symbiotic relationship between the two worlds. There still remains a generational divide between racing fans as the detractors want young punks off their screens, while gamers think sim racing is the greatest thing since Brawns double diffusers.

To find the happy medium between the perspectives and dispel myths about the correlation of sim and professional racing, we called upon champion racer and gamer Raffaele Marciello.

Sim racing makes you a good driver

Sinking three-pointers on the basketball court or doing skill moves on the football turf is not as simple as holding or rotating buttons.

Sim racing, however, preserves the man and his machine element of motorsport, and buttons correspond to virtually identical inputs.

Lando Norris swears by the training imparted by video games. Max Verstappen was among the drivers who spent hours in simulators to keep themselves sharp. Former world champion Jenson Button, an avid gamer, has started his own esports team.

Raffaele Marciello, too, grew up with a steering wheel in his hand, playing Gran Turismo on PlayStation 2. A former member of the Ferrari Driver Academy and a test driver for the Sauber Formula One team, Raffaele switched to GT racing in 2017. The Italian won the FIA GT World Cup last year, and during the lockdown, lapped up several wins in a simulator.

Speaking shortly after a podium finish in Nurburgring last week, Marciello told the Indian Express: For a young, coming driver who wants to improve his braking technique, who wants to learn more about the tracks, its a great tool.

Last month, Marciello won the inaugural 24 Hours of Le Mans Virtual race. The 25-year-old along with fellow professional driver and Haas Formula 1 reserve Louis Deletraz and sim racers Niko Wisniewski and Kuba Brzezinski was part of the team jointly fielded by Williams Esports and World Endurance Championship squad Rebellion Racing.

The race ran over what supposed to be the original Le Mans weekend of June 13-14. And Marciello prepared by doing 800 laps of the digitally-recreated iconic 13.626km circuit.

Louis and I were doing 50-60 laps every day. We always wanted to win, but first of all, we didnt want to be too much lower in performance than the sim racers, says Marciello. Kuba and Niko know the game very well and they helped us in the setup.

Marciellos team finished ahead of 196 other competitors, including Norris and Verstappen and former F1 champion and two-time winner of the actual 24 Hours Le Mans, Fernando Alonso.

Does it mean Im better faster than them? Our preparation was good. And I have spent a lot more time in simulators than other drivers who were maybe coming in, says Marciello. Sim racing is a different world. You should remember that (Michael) Schumacher never liked simulators. He got sick in the simulators.

Recruited to the Ferrari Driver Academy in 2010, Marciello was extensively working with the teams simulators when then Mercedes driver and seven-time champion Schumacher expressed his dislike for the technology. The German, who made his F1 debut in 1991, years away from the PlayStation generation, insisted that almost all drivers suffer from motion sickness.

Marciello, who spent close to eight hours in the drivers seat for the virtual Le Mans, believes you dont need simulators to be a good driver.

So, maybe it is good for a bit of technique, sharpening skills, learn tracks and stay in shape, but it doesnt make you a good or bad driver in my opinion, says Marciello.

Data-hungry F1 drivers, however, are known to pore over numbers from their gaming sessions. For one of the sim races, Norris called up his former McLaren engineer.

Being able to look at the data in-depth and actually having my F1 engineer from last year going through things, understanding how to really work on different areas (helped). A lot of the things I was doing and my characteristics on the actual race track, I was actually replicating on the simulator, some are good, some are bad, but its very good in terms of being able to work on those things, Norris told Autocar. Its getting more and more scientific, getting more data involved, and the programmes are getting better and better.

There are no risks in sim racing

There are only three sports: bullfighting, motor racing, and mountaineering; all the rest are merely games.

Barnaby Conrads quote is often wrongly attributed to his contemporary Ernest Hemingway, but its safe to assume that both believed sport to be an activity where ones life is at stake.

But if youre not a chest-thumping modernist writer or an actual thrill-chasing professional racer, and your reason to scoff at sim racing is because of its low-risk nature have a long, hard look in the mirror. Hasnt 2020 been enough of a car wreck for you?

It would take a particularly sadistic developer to invent a simulator capable of infliction physical pain, and no driver has ever crashed in a game and wished it was real.

They do wish for more feedback though.

While high-end wheel and pedals and a supported video game can replicate accurate feedback, its still not like being in a vehicle flying down the track at 350kmph. A racer thus has to keep his eyes peeled.

You dont have the g-force and everything, so you have to focus a lot with your eyes, says Marciello. Because you have less feedback physically, you have to know mentally the braking points.

Marciellos setup, a quite expensive remnant from his Formula testing days, has three monitors for better immersion. Its still easy to get distracted by the outside world.

Your girlfriend passes by. You look above and theres no car, only your house roof. Sometimes the doorbell or the phone goes, laughs Marciello. But it is also good training because you learn how to keep your focus for many hours at a time. When youre in an actual car on the track, keeping focus is not a worry.

Though not physically, sim racing has adverse real-life implications.

Bubba Wallace lost a sponsor for ragequitting an event, and fellow NASCAR driver Kyle Larson was fired for using a racial slur during a live stream. Audi driver Daniel Abt struggled to migrate to the virtual track and roped in a professional sim racer to secretly compete in his stead. When discovered, the German tried to play off the ruse as a joke and was fired by Audi.

The highest-profile scandal came in virtual Indianapolis. In a bizarre attempt at guarding his turf, former Indy 500 and IndyCar champion Simon Pagenaud deliberately crashed into Lando Norris to prevent an F1 outsider from winning. The incident sparked a row and Norris went off.

I know its virtually and people class it as a game its become quite a bit more than that over the last few weeks Youd still expect people to act professionally for someone to be so selfish and just to not care about other people was disappointing at that time, and to see from such a driver, Norris said on the ESPN podcast.

On a somewhat related note, there may not be injuries in sim racing, but crashes and dangerous driving are still looked over by actual stewards and drivers are punished if judged guilty.

Motorsport doesnt need sim racing, or vice versa

Professional racing has long been a niche sport. Hundreds of events, with confusing formats and complicated rulesets, render it inaccessible to many. And no matter the format, racings audience continues to skew older, and last year Formula 1 revealed that only 14 per cent of their viewers are under 25.

Barring superstars, a Formula 1 driver is a fancy helmet in a fancier car. Riding on the momentum generated by the crop of sim racers/Twitch streamers, the administrators can learn to market the drivers and make them more than just an interchangeable face behind the visor.

The thing Ive seen that is very striking to me is how because the real drivers have become involved in these initiatives and these events, how well theyve been able to engage with the fans, F1 managing director Ross Brawn said during last months FIA eConference. The message was constantly coming across from the fans that they wanted to know more about the drivers. They see them in the car with the helmet on, see them interviewed formally, but what are the drivers really like? What do they do? How do they live? Of course with Esports, youve got a much better insight into the drivers personalities and their characters and their nature. Thats been a real boom.

As for the sim racing events that bandied about their viewership numbers this year, the ratings have been consistently declining. And with real-life events continue to come back, virtual racing will again settle into what is a rabid, but limited, fanbase. Marciello, however, believes the medium proved its potential.

ALSO READ | How to make the perfect Akira Kurosawa video game

They grew up in participation. But with real world coming back, sim races will go back to the numbers before the pandemic, says Marciello. This was a good time for media attention and more driver participation, but sim racing has been popular before the pandemic too. This year it has shown that it deserves every spot.

Developers can use the extensive sample size of races featuring professional drivers and their feedback to fine-tune the games. Potential sim racers meanwhile would love to take up the steering wheel to go bumper-to-bumper with stars.

Marciello concludes with a message to the naysayers.

Its not mandatory to watch it. Sim racing is for people who are maybe not able to do it in real life, or even dont like it. Its easy to set up, and now even professional drivers know it is not very simple, Marciello says. I have also heard people go, oh this is boring. this is no fun, not real. Its very simple. Change the channel.

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Virtual Gamers are spraying champagne on F1 podium - The Indian Express

This month, advertising giant WPP will send unusual corporate training videos to tens of thousands of employees worldwide. A presenter will speak in the recipients language and address them by name, while explaining some basic concepts in artificial intelligence. The videos themselves will be powerful demonstrations of what AI can do: The face, and the words it speaks, will be synthesized by software.

WPP doesnt bill them as such, but its synthetic training videos might be called deepfakes, a loose term applied to images or videos generated using AI that look real. Although best known as tools of harassment, porn, or duplicity, image-generating AI is now being used by major corporations for such anodyne purposes as corporate training.

WPPs unreal training videos, made with technology from London startup Synthesia, arent perfect. WPP chief technology officer Stephan Pretorius says the prosody of the presenters delivery can be off, the most jarring flaw in an early cut shown to WIRED that was visually smooth. But the ability to personalize and localize video to many individuals makes for more compelling footage than the usual corporate fare, he says. The technology is getting very good very quickly, Pretorius says.

Deepfake-style production can also be cheap and quick, an advantage amplified by Covid-19 restrictions that have made conventional video shoots trickier and riskier. Pretorius says a company-wide internal education campaign might require 20 different scripts for WPPs global workforce, each costing tens of thousands of dollars to produce. With Synthesia we can have avatars that are diverse and speak your name and your agency and in your language and the whole thing can cost $100,000, he says. In this summers training campaign, the languages are limited to English, Spanish, and Mandarin. Pretorius hopes to distribute the clips, 20 modules of about 5 minutes each, to 50,000 employees this year.

Were saying let's remove the camera from the equation.

Victor Riparbelli, CEO and cofounder, Synthesia

The term deepfakes comes from the Reddit username of the person or persons who in 2017 released a series of pornographic clips modified using machine learning to include the faces of Hollywood actresses. Their code was released online, and various forms of AI video and image-generation technology are now available to any interested amateur. Deepfakes have become tools of harassment against activists, and a cause of concern among lawmakers and social media executives worried about political disinformation, although they are also used for fun, such as to insert Nicolas Cage into movies he did not appear in.

Deepfakes made for titillation, harassment, or fun typically come with obvious giveaway glitches. Startups are now crafting AI technology that can generate video and images able to pass as substitutes for conventional corporate footage or marketing photos. It comes as synthetic media, and people, are becoming more mainstream. Prominent talent agency CAA recently signed Lil Miquela, a computer-generated Instagram influencer with more than 2 million followers.

Startup Rosebud has developed AI software that can generate images of models with a range of appearances.

Rosebud AI specializes in making the kind of glossy images used in ecommerce or marketing. Last year the company released a collection of 25,000 modeling photos of people that never existed, along with tools that can swap synthetic faces into any photo. More recently, it launched a service that can put clothes photographed on mannequins onto virtual but real-looking models.

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Deepfakes Are Becoming the Hot New Corporate Training Tool - WIRED

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Know Future Opportunities of the Pleasure Boat Paint Market latest Technology, New Innovation, Growing factors with Top Key Players- Attiva Marine,...

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Advancements in Technology to Aid the Growth of the Psychotropic Drugs Market Over the Forecast Period 2018 2028 - 3rd Watch News

What happened?

China-based OneConnect Financial Technology (NYSE:OCFT) shot nearly 13% higher on Friday on news that the company signed an agreement to provide "financial and smart supervision services" to the finance authority of Hainan, China's smallest and southernmost province. The company will also perform the same duties for Hainan Free Trade Port.

Image Source: Getty Images.

OneConnect didn't provide the financial details, the scope, or the duration of the arrangement. But considering that the agreement covers both the province's finance authority and the Free Trade Port -- the largest free trade port in China, according to OneConnect -- we can assume it's considerable.

OneConnect is an ambitious company that is well-placed to take advantage of ongoing trends in its country's development.It offers a range of cloud-based tools designed to assist and modernize the operations of Chinese finance companies in a wide variety of segments.

The company was incubated at a massive Chinese insurance company, Ping An (OTC:PNGA.Y), of which it is a subsidiary despite being publicly traded.

As many of OneConnect's target institutions are not up-to-date with their systems and suffer from low digitization, the company has plenty of opportunity in its native and regional markets. Management believes that its potential market in China and Southeast Asia could reach $120 billion by 2023. As the company booked roughly $330 million in 2019, it seems there is much room for that figure to head sharply north.

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Why OneConnect Financial Technology Crushed the Market on Friday - Motley Fool

The Tennessee Valley Authority is offering incentives to businesses and schools that install virus killing UV technology.

UVC light is a short wavelength ultraviolet light used around the world to disinfect air in hospitals and laboratories. Studies show it is 99.9 percent lethal to bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, TVA says the same technology is ideal for schools, offices and retail locations to help keep people healthy.

As the largest public power provider in America, a key focus for TVA is helping to keep our children and the public safe by supporting technologies that are proven to kill viruses, said Jason Snyder, manager, TVA EnergyRight. Schools and businesses realize they need solutions to purify indoor air, and we want to help them install it as they reopen.

According to Snyder, a TVA Preferred Partners Network professional can install germicidal lights into the ductwork of many existing commercial HVAC systems. Customers who use TVAs provider network can receive a $30 per ton incentive toward the adoption of approved UV technologies that directly combat COVID-19.

Contact your local power company or visit TVAs websitehttps://energyright.com/business-industry/incentives/for more information.

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TVA offers incentives to businesses, schools that install virus-killing technology - WKRN News 2

Very rarely are you standing two feet away from a person and staring at them for an hour like that, unless youre getting in conflict or about to mate, he says. When you have faces staring at you like this, the arousal response kicks in, that fight-or-flight mode. If youre in fight-or-flight mode all day, its taxing to do these meetings.

Microsoft hopes Together Mode will make videoconferencing feel less taxing. In Zooms gallery mode, for example, it can be hard to figure out who is speaking and who wants to speak. Together Mode solves this, in theory, by putting a participant in the same seat on everyones screen. That means if a person pipes up in the upper right hand corner of the virtual room, everyones gaze moves at about the same time to focus on that person; if someone interrupts from the middle, heads and eyes shift in that direction. In internal tests, Microsoft claims, users felt less fatigued and more focused in Together Mode.

But whether Together Mode encourages quieter or often ignored members of a team to speak up is yet to be seen. Despite the promise of a more democratic virtual platform, women have had a more difficult time making their voices heard. Teams, Meet, and Zoom have all incorporated a hand-raising function to help, and guides for supporting female colleagues in this setting have become increasingly common.

I think Together Mode gives people the tools to do better, but it doesnt guarantee people will be better, says Jaron Lanier, a research scientist at Microsoft whos considered a world expert in mixed reality.

Another nagging issue is, well, your face. In a demo, I found myself trying to adjust my seating so that I would not appear too big or too small, something Lanier claims is helpful in democratizing participation. But it meant I often lost track of the discussion as I self-consciously corrected my posture. And perhaps self-consciousness is the root of the problem to begin with.

The ideal technology would let you disappear so you would stop being aware of yourself, says Amber Davisson, an associate professor of communication at Keene State College. Davisson, who researches the intersection of intimacy, communication, and technology, says the way videoconferencing tries to emulate meetings contrasts with how humans normallyinteract.

When Im sitting in my class and teaching, Im not looking at myself, she says. [Videoconferencing] is anxiety-causing and we can never relax; were way too aware of ourselves. The best technology would eliminate your face so you can look at everyone and they can look at you, and you dont see yourself.

One thing Davisson says is working in Together Modes favor is the non-personal background and predictable seating layout. Personalized Zoom backgrounds can be fun, but Davisson says having an agreed-upon, bland background like the ones offered by Together Mode eliminates the brains confusion of personal and professional.

That conceptof delineating work and home as the two spaces coalesceis ultimately the challenge of videoconferencing during a pandemic. We need a safe place to fall apart, and we used to think that was home, she says. But we do work and school in our homes now. Our only private space has been invaded, and its a lot for our brains to compute.

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Microsofts solution to Zoom fatigue is to trick your brain - MIT Technology Review

Global Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) Sector Outlook

The global digital ecosystem has been continuously evolving over the last few years. The worldwide ICT sector has witnessed some key disruptions of late and governments of various economies are devising and implementing smart and inclusive regulations to govern sector penetration and facilitate technology connectivity to all parts of the world. Even as the world of technology prepares for a massive revolution with unimaginable advancements powered by machine intelligence, here are some of the key drifts presently trending the global ICT sector:

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Research Methodology

FMI utilizes robust methodology and approach to arrive at market size and related projections. The research methodology for this report is based on 3 dimensional model. We conduct about 45-60 min duration detailed interviews with product manufacturers; apart from this we also collect market feedback from industry experts. To validate this data, we interact with senior panel members having more than 10 years of experience in relevant field. The panel members help in validating the findings and fill the gaps if any. In addition, we leverage on our existing pool of information, paid database and other valid information sources available in public domain. Usually industry interactions extend to more than 50+ interviews from market participants across the value chain.

Data Collection

FMI collects data from secondary sources including company annual reports, association publications, industry presentations, white papers, and company press releases apart from these we leverage over paid database subscriptions and industry magazines to collect market information and developments in exhaustive manner. After being done with desk research, detailed questionnaire and discussion guide is formulated to initiate primary research with key industry personnel; the discussion aims at collecting key insights, growth perspectives, prevalent market trends and quantitative insights including market size and competition developments. Both of these research approaches help us in arriving at base year numbers and market hypothesis.

Download Methodology of this Report @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-6469Data Validation

In this phase, FMI validates the data using macro and micro economic factors. For instance, growth in electricity consumption, industry value added, other industry factors, economic performance, growth of top players and sector performance is closely studied to arrive at precise estimates and refine anomalies if any.

Data Analysis and Projection

Data analysis and projections were made based on proprietary research frameworks and statistical analysis, which was further validated from industry participants. These frameworks include Y-o-Y growth projections, macro-economic factor performance, market attractiveness analysis, key financial ratios, and others.

For public companies we capture the data from company website, annual reports, investor presentations, paid databases. While for privately held companies, we try to gather information from the paid databases (like Factiva) and based on the information we gather from databases we estimate revenue for the companies. In addition, the team tries to establish primary contact with the companies in order to validate the assumptions or to gather quality inputs.

Standard Report Structure

Request for Covid-19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/covid19/rep-gb-6469Target Audience

Market Taxonomy

The global traffic management system market has been segmented into the following:

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Boost in Technology Driving the Traffic Management Systems Market Globally - 3rd Watch News

VANCOUVER, BC, July 10, 2020 /CNW/ -Micron Waste Technologies Inc. ("Micron" or the "Company") (CSE: MWM) (OTC: MICWF) (Frankfurt: 7FM2) (OTCQB: MICWF), is pleased to announce that, further to its news releases on April 20, 2020, and May 19, 2020, the Company has completed the acquisition (the "Acquisition") of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Covid Technologies Inc. ("Covid Technologies") pursuant to the terms of a share exchange agreement, effective May 18, 2020 (the "Definitive Agreement") among the Company, Covid Technologies, and the securityholders of Covid Technologies.

Pursuant to the terms of the Definitive Agreement and in consideration of the Acquisition, the Company issued to the former Covid Technologies securityholders:

Additionally, effective upon closing of the Acquisition, Harveer Singh Sidhu was appointed to the Company's board of directors.

About Covid Technologies

Covid Technologies is preparing to deliver much needed personal protective equipment ("PPE") by providing Canadian-made, high quality, vapour barrier technology (masks, protective garments), that provide protection from biological hazards, pathogens, and suberbugs.

About Micron

Micron is a well-funded industrial/technology company with a manufacturing facility in Delta, BC. Micron is currently developing waste digesters using proprietary technology. Micron's waste digester business is focused on the cannabis and food industry with its Cannivore, Organivore and Pharmavore waste digesters. The Company will continue its research and development of its waste digester business alongside its PPE manufacturing business.

Micron is a public company with listings on the CSE: MWM, OTC: MICWF, and in Frankfurt: 7FM2.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

"Kal Malhi"

Kal Malhi, Chairman

The Canadian Stock Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS:The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date of this press release and, except as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. By its very nature, such forward-looking information requires the Company to make assumptions that may not materialize or that may not be accurate. This forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors, which may cause actual results, levels of activity and achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such information.

SOURCE Micron Waste Technologies Inc.

For further information: Kal Malhi, [emailprotected]

https://micronwaste.com

Read more:

Micron Waste Completes Acquisition of Covid Technologies and Appoints Harveer Singh Sidhu to Board of Directors - Canada NewsWire

A plethora of agricultural technology in recent years has been fueled by internal budgets of major agricultural firms and venture capital aimed at start-up ventures. COVID-19, though, has tightened all aspects of doing business, including research and development (R&D).

Still, major agricultural firms say they are committed to research and development. Our R&D is not a short-term investment, says Tim Glenn, executive vice president, chief commercial officer of Corteva Agriscience. Those are long-term decisions we make. Its important to continue to invest in those critical technologies, whether its germplasm, traits, crop protection, or digital solutions. If we fall behind in that space, the market is very unforgiving.

Investors looking to back start-up firms investing in agricultural technology are taking the long-term view, says Han Chen, cofounder and chief executive officer for ZeaKal, a plant traits firm that secured $15 million in Series C financing in September 2019.

Capital is definitely more scarce, Chen says. Raising capital still relies on (developing) personal relationships. It is hard to have the same level of interaction through Zoom meetings.Still, investments are being made, he says. Investors are still looking at fundamentals and long-term needs, he says.

The COVID-19 environment is tough for cash-strapped start-upstrying to raise money, says Mike Miille, chief executive officer of Joyn Bio, a joint venture founded by Bayer and Ginkgo Bioworks to develop engineered beneficial microbes.

Still, some are faring the COVID-19 downturn well. Were in a very envious position, given our cash situation, he adds.

More flexibility will be needed in evaluating investments in start-ups like those in agricultural technology, says Kiersten Stead, managing partner with DCVC Bio, a venture capital fund investing in early-stage computational biology start-ups. Stead spoke at a recent World Agri-Tech webinar last May.

This means liaising with other venture firms in different cities and getting them to do proxy diligence, she says. That means bringing in consultants and friends in cities who we have around the world to help us do that.

When you really look at whats critical to understanding a person and a team and what their capabilities are, we believe that can be done in this environment, she says. Its not optimal. It will take more time, but we believe people just have to be flexible.

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How the coronavirus will impact agricultural research and technology - Successful Farming

Dallas, TX, July 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TownSq(pronouncedTown Square), a groundbreaking, all-in-one app, has teamed up withCINC Systems, a personalized cloud-based association management software,to offernew integrated technologyto clients, boards, homeowners, and business partners.

TownSq is unique in the market as it allows residents to both socialize with their neighbors and enjoy the convenience of direct communication with their community management team and board members. The innovative, user-friendly app enables community members to connect, collaborate, and stay up-to-date with ease.

CINC Systems combines association accounting and management solutions into a single, accessible software program. CINC empowers businesses with access to association management systems, cloud accounting, and integrated banking options, all in one convenient location.

The significance of TownSq and CINCs partnership is the exchange of data between two world-class products and a streamlined user-experience. By integrating the two platforms, the previous need to maintain information across multiple systems has been eliminated, stated Joo David, TownSq CEO. CINC customers will be excited to learn that in addition to leveraging the robust accounting platform to manage their back-office responsibilities, they may now offer a suite of community management products to their boards and homeowners. I am proud to report our first customers to adopt the integrated technology are experiencing great success and we are thrilled to announce CINC as our latest premiere integration partner.

TownSq is available now, oniTunesandGoogle Play.

About TownSq

TownSq is the leading, global solution for better community living. Designed for managing communities, TownSq delivers the most complete, mobile community experience by helping you connect, collaborate and stay informed on everything happening in your community from daily management and ongoing maintenance to community programs and events. Our customers use TownSq to empower community management teams, board members and residents to experience community their waywww.townsq.io.

About CINC Systems

CINC Systems provides transformational technology and services for the community association industry, redefining the way its clients and partners do business. Founded in 2005, CINC Systems became the first Internet-based integrated accounting and property management system for the community association industry. Since its founding, CINC Systems has experienced steady growth, with clients in 26 states and over 100 partner banking branch locations. Learn more atwww.cincsystems.com.

Original post:

TownSq Partners with CINC Systems to Provide Integrated Technology to More Clients - GlobeNewswire

Google is all set to impose restrictions on ads that cater to spyware and surveillance technology.

According to Googles official release, the updated policy will prohibit the promotion of products or services that are marketed or targeted with the express purpose of tracking or monitoring another person or their activities without their authorization.

This policy will roll out globally on August 11, 2020.

Google mentioned that it will restrict spyware and technology used for intimate partner surveillance including but not limited to spyware/malware that can be used to monitor texts, phone calls, or browsing history.

GPS trackers specifically marketed to spy or track someone without their consent; the promotion of surveillance equipment (cameras, audio recorders, dash cams, nanny cams) marketed with the express purpose of spying will also be banned.

These guidelines do not include (a) private investigation services or (b) products or services designed for parents to track or monitor their underage children.

Google also noted that violations of this policy will not lead to immediate account suspension without prior warning.

The tech giant will issue a warning, at least 7 days, prior to any suspension of the violators account.

See more here:

Google to restrict ads that cater to spyware and surveillance technology - BusinessLine

As schools around the world respond to healthcare challenges, the need for remote learning tools has never been more urgent. To make the transition to distance learning more straightforward, the Government of Azerbaijan decided to close all educational institutions on March 3rd.

They evaluated several different solutions for remote learning to keep education ongoing.

As the best solution available, the Ministry of Education advised all higher education institutions to use Teams for remote learning and provided additional support. To make the transition to distance learning more accessible, Microsoft team in Azerbaijan, together with Bestcomp Group, Edumedia, and Innovative Technologies in Education, helped schools, educators, students, and their families as they navigate this new way of learning.

According to the Ministry, Microsoft Teams for Education, in comparison with competitive solutions, provides a holistic environment that allows content distribution, collaboration, live meetings, and assessments.

Microsoft Teams is scalable to the needs of the educational system, and Microsofts local office and partner network support were available immediately, said Vusal Khanlarov, Head of ICT Bureau in the Ministry of Education.

Continuing to drive student engagement and focused learning can be a challenge, especially for those moving to remote learning for the first time. Educators need support to help make this work.

For K12 schools, Ministry in Azerbaijan launched Virtual School based on Teams, where students and educators can register and access educational content, assessments, and online classes immediately. They can find all e-books, video-lessons, additional education applications, and centralized testing. All such resources were integrated to bring together face-to-face connections, assignments, and conversations in a single hub.

Today, more than a million K12 students and 100.000 teachers have already been registered and actively using the platform. This project has been widely covered by local online and TV media to support educators who have created thousands of videos with the help of Teams for Education. Now, it is possible to evaluate the level of knowledge by using PowerBI tracking activities by each region and every school in Azerbaijan. At the same time, Virtual School became the largest online platform for cooperation and collaboration countrywide.

It is an excellent example of how one Ministry found the right strategy, resources, and technology to quickly create online classrooms that help students, teachers, and faculty find new ways to connect and learn.

Even more, 100.000+ users from 30 out of 50 universities and all vocational education institutions use Teams and decided to continue with Microsoft Teams as a learning platform.

Ministry of Education continues running the Virtual School project as an always-on platform, helping students stay engaged, and learning stays on track. At the same time, the Ministry uses Microsoft Teams for internal daily meetings.

Capabilities of Microsoft Teams, Forms, Minecraft Education Edition, and Stream will be used for centralized monitoring, content distribution, and flexible content amendments according to learning results

Tags: Azerbaijan, Microsoft Teams

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Azerbaijan: How one Ministry found the right strategy, resources, and technology to quickly create online classrooms - Microsoft

Next Taiwanese envoy to U.S.Hsiao Bi-khim Next Taiwanese envoy to U.S.Hsiao Bi-khim (CNA photo)

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) Taiwan should play a crucial part as technology security moves to the forefront of the strategic competition between the United States and China, the islands new envoy in Washington, D.C., told CNA in an interview published Saturday (July 11).

The Columbia University-educated Hsiao Bi-khim (), 48, will become Taiwans first female representative to its major ally later this month after a long career as a Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator.

Ahead of her departure for the U.S., Hsiao said Taiwan should emphasize its role as a trusted partner of countries with similar ideals. One area where the island could play a major part is the rearranging of international supply chains amid the fallout from the U.S.-China trade war and Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, she said.

As China has built its progress in fields such as 5G on the theft of technology, U.S. authorities are trying to reduce the country's dependence on the East Asian giant, according to Hsiao. The new envoy said that even though Taiwan cannot be expected to completely end its business ties with China, as a key player in hardware manufacturing, it can nevertheless offer cooperation and supply solutions to friendly countries.

The coronavirus pandemic has also raised other countries' interest in cooperating with Taiwan to an unprecedented level, Hsiao told CNA, emphasizing the importance of sectors such as technology and healthcare as opportunities.

Saying she looks forward to her tasks, Hsiao predicted China would do its utmost to disrupt ties between Taiwan and the U.S. but said the island will develop relationships in Washington regardless of political party.

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Technology security to be major theme in Taiwan-US relations: New envoy - Taiwan News

The research report focuses on Algal Protein Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2026 The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for managers, analysts, industry experts and other key people get ready-to-access and self-analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. The Algal Protein Market research report has been presented by the Algal Protein Market platform in a very unambiguous and edifying format such that the people can have easy accessibility to all the vital information required to gain complete awareness of the market. Our platform has the Algal Protein Market research report bifurcated on the basis of product categories, financial fluctuations, end-users, use, and others for making the entire study of the Algal Protein Market simple and plain. The Algal Protein Market data on the industrial players dominance is clearly mentioned. All the calculative and analytical data are were well and trouble-free pattern penciled down in the dossier.

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Some of the key players participating the global algal protein marketinclude TerraVia Holdings, Inc., Nutress BV, Nutrex Hawaii Inc., Cyanotech Corporation, Far East Bio-Tec Co., Ltd., Earthrise Nutritionals LLC, and Rainbow Light Nutritional Systems, Inc.

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The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.

Report Highlights:

Detailed overview of parent market

Changing market dynamics in the industry

In-depth market segmentation

Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value

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Strategies of key players and products offered

Potential and niche segments, geographical regions exhibiting promising growth

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Must-have information for market players to sustain and enhance their market footprint.

NOTE All statements of fact, opinion, or analysis expressed in reports are those of the respective analysts. They do not necessarily reflect formal positions or views of Future Market Insights.

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Advancements in Technology to Aid the Growth of the Algal Protein Market Over the Forecast Period 2017 2027 - 3rd Watch News

The latest research at Market Study Report on Capital Lease Market provides a comprehensive analysis of the Capital Lease market segments, including their dynamics, size, growth, regulatory requirements, technological trends, competitive landscape, and emerging opportunities of global industry. This report also provides market landscape and market share information in the Capital Lease industry.

The Capital Lease Market Research Report aims to provide insights that strongly demonstrate the Capital Lease Market structure, scope, history, potential, and development perspective. By crossing through the historical and present Capital Lease Market status, the Capital Lease Market report provides authentic and reliable estimates for the forecast period. The Best part of this report is, this analyses the current state where all are fighting with the COVID-19, The report also provides the Capital Lease Market impact and new opportunities created due to the Covid19 catastrophe.

The report also presents a thorough qualitative and quantitative data pertaining to the projected impact of these factors on markets future growth prospects. With the inclusive market data concerning the key elements and segments of the global Capital Lease market that can influence the growth prospects of the market, the report makes for a highly informative document.

Request a sample Report of Capital Lease Market at:https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/2568191

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Capital Lease market competitive landscape provides details and data information by players. The report offers comprehensive analysis and accurate statistics on revenue by the player for the period 2015-2020. It also offers detailed analysis supported by reliable statistics on revenue (global and regional level) by players for the period 2015-2020. Details included are company description, major business, company total revenue and the sales, revenue generated in Capital Lease business, the date to enter into the Capital Lease market, Capital Lease product introduction, recent developments, etc.

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Capital Lease Market by Technology, Application & Geography Analysis & Forecast to 2026 - 3rd Watch News

The COVID-19 crisis has been a boon for ecommerce, with social distancing measures leading to a major uptick in online sales. Brick-and-mortar businesses have had to adapt quickly, and deliveries and curbside pickup are very much the order of the day.

There is little question the pandemic will leave an indelible mark across the retail landscape. A number of big-name retailers such as JC Penney have filed for bankruptcy. Microsoft recently announced it has permanently closed all of its physical retail stores. And restaurants that once relied on diners have had to embrace delivery and pickups.

But as lockdown measures ease and the world returns to some semblance of normalcy, technology is playing a crucial role in enabling people to dine in safely.

Amazon-backed Deliveroo this week announced a new table service option that enables restaurants to accept orders and payments from diners. Moving forward, restaurants that join Deliveroos platform will be able to tap its delivery network with the usual commission fees attached. But the app will now double as a payment system and digital menu for walk-in customers. Deliveroo is offering this service at 0% commission, presumably in hopes that new signups will be tempted to use its delivery network.

This is a notable move for Deliveroo, whose food delivery business is built almost entirely on its transport infrastructure. But this latest effort is very much in keeping with the ways other tech companies are adapting to support the new normal.

Deliveroos new offering builds on a movement that was already underway. Restaurants like McDonalds were offering table service through Deliveroos app in some markets long before COVID-19. And while fast food and table service might have seemed odd bedfellows, the technology certainly makes sense in todays world.

Restaurants are leveraging a range of tech options to encourage customers to sit down for a coffee or a nice lunch. QR code menus are surging in popularity, as outlets across France and elsewhere plaster their tables with square stickers diners can scan with their smartphones, bringing the menu directly to their device.

Above: A waiter applies a QR code so customers can download the menu at Les Marronniers Cafe in Paris, France.

Image Credit: Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images

On the payment side, PayPal recently rolled out QR code contactless payments in 28 markets, enabling farmers markets, cafes, and other establishments to accept payments while minimizing contact.

Completely new platforms are also emerging to help restaurants and diners conduct business from a safe distance. TableDrop, for example, offers a new consumer app that taps a users location to automatically load the menu from the venue they are in, though restaurants, bars, and cafes need to sign up for the service in advance.

Though the world is still very much in flux, there is a growing eagerness to get society up and running as soon as possible, but only if its safe to do so. Whatever that looks like, its clear technology will play a huge role in making it happen.

The rest is here:

How technology is helping dine-in restaurants reopen - VentureBeat

University selfie for fall 2020

If the very thought of higher educations fall semester leaves you gasping into a paper bag, take a deep breath. While there may be more differences than similarities when comparing the first day of classes this fall over last, the education delivered will remain solid, future-focused and more dependent on technology than ever before.

As always, there is fear in the unknown. Traditional spaces, primarily for health considerations, promise slightly-to-significantly different experiences for the upcoming semester. Removing the mystery should soothe weary parent and student souls.

Much will remain the same. Students will be taught, they will discuss, they will self-reflect, they will experience and consider new ideas. One difference in learning involves location tolerance. At least 30% of universities are planning for an online or online-option experience. While for some students that might feel different, Covid-19 has proven the importance of survivability within a remote environment.

On-campus students will be in typical classrooms or choosing to learn from campus housing. Students will need to be prepared to learn in a hybrid environment where students learn and teachers teach from disparate locations. This fluidity relies on the standard tech trifecta of strong wifi, seamless network connectivity and access to modern personal computing devices.

Information technology teams need to be strengthening campus connectivity while students need to be identifying what technology tools they need in their toolkit. Both are integral today in supporting student success.

Current statistics show that 80% of universities are looking to provide some form of on-campus classroom experience. While physically classrooms will look the same, many will now include a socially-distanced layout boasting an increased use of technology to accommodate hybrid learning offerings.

Universities are creating new designations within current room scheduling solutions (ex. Ad Astra, EMS and 25Live) to automatically assign classrooms at a socially-distanced capacity. Much like restaurants placing do not sit signs on every other table, classrooms will stagger seating and feature floor stickers to ensure safe travel flow is maintained.

In addition to distancing, classroom technology may include increased video and audio devices to ensure an equitable experience for those learning or teaching from remote locations. Many classes, if not all, will be recorded and more interactive than ever. These classroom technologies dont need to be fancy; they need to be consistent, simple to use and integrative with all other campus systems.

If large dining halls are open, they will be socially-distanced. Individual dining options, often located in the student union, need to be accessible, consistent and touch-less. Mobile ordering is on the uptick for college campuses, large and small, to better accommodate contactless, grab-and-go food experiences. The mobile options tie directly into student accounts and dining plans, eliminating complexity and providing a seamless transaction. 73% of students place importance on mobile ordering and 30% of students will choose off-campus options if mobility technologies are not in place.

Where will students eat? In dorms, in dining areas and on beautiful green spaces in the fresh air. Prepare for a bevy of socially-distanced picnics. If green spaces are not wifi-enabled, technology teams need to place that on the roadmap.

Each university offering an on-premise, residential experience will be unique in their planning. Nothing is off the table. Universities that are equipped to accommodate singles in doubles may start there. Standardizing card access and touch-less door entry technologies follow. Rules and standards for health safety will be established and enforced. If not already, hand-washing, mask-wearing, social-distancing and temperature checks will become routine. These safeguards encourage healthy social interaction, not isolation, and many rely on apps for self-disclosure, measurement and reporting.

For the expected on-campus Covid-related illnesses, areas will be identified and procedures will be in place for the housing of and services to those quarantined on campus. As much of this requires contactless care, technology will serve as the foundation for most pre- and post-cautionary health standards.

In a sea of unknowns, the need for consistent communication is critical for success. Students, parents, faculty, staff and the community need to be comprehensively knowledge-secure. One unsung hero of our current pandemic is the implemented suite of collaboration tools. Video town halls, instant chats, document sharing, interactive learning sessions, social groups and automated business processes all rely on a solid foundation of communication technologies. With silence and uncertainly comes fear. Connectedness and belonging solidify security.

If there were a university award for outstanding players of 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic would win the blue ribbon for the swiftest unearthing and identification of technology gaps on campuses. While the past few months have been spent filling in gaps, higher education technology is the midst of preparation for unprecedented delivery methodologies slated to commence within the next sixty days.

Technology remains a facilitator. Technology is not a replacement for or provider of teaching and learning. Technology connects, communicates and delivers. The substance remains within the education. Technology teams today are preparing to ensure that tomorrows leaders and innovators are able to receive the knowledge they need to sustain our world, almost as if our lives depend on it. Technology is honored to play that supporting role.

This is a follow-up entry to a previous post focused on resetting expectations for fall 2020.

More here:

The Demystification Of Higher Education For Fall 2020 And Technologys Supporting Role - Forbes