Daily Archives: May 3, 2022

One of the few certainties during the period were living in is how uncertain it is. That makes communication more complex. Communicators know flexibility and adaptability are vital in message creation at a time of potential global political instability, inflation and possible recession, supply chain hang-ups and a pandemic that lingers. Still, even experienced communicators stumble.

There are few things more uncertain than COVID. Even as mask mandates are lifted, the virus pokes through. For instance, at our press time, media reports warned of rising COVID levels in NYC. Certainly, COVID infection rates, hospitalizations and deaths are not at previous levels there. Still, NYC health officials are urging additional caution. And they are considering reauthorizing indoor masking.

"We know a lot more about the virus now than we did in 2020, and businesses have learned to adapt," says Katherine Harris Griffith, VP, Elizabeth Christian PR. Still, she concedes, "It's important for companies to pay attention to the virus and what it's doing in the communities they serve...

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Should PR Pros Think Like Futurists During This Uncertain Time? - PRNEWS - PR News - For Smart Communicators

Gen4ir.org

Get your ticket here: https://taffds.org

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 03, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Transdisciplinary Agora For Future Discussions (TAFFD's) will gather the leading futurists all over the world during the Gen4IR Global Summit in South Africa. The event will take place at the beautiful Sun City resort in Johannesburg in the middle of August.

The event which is now slated August 16-17 2022 because of the aims to converge scientist, and industrial experts from diverse disciplines.

We are working with relevant authorities through our crucial government partners to ensure ease of travel to SA. The move of the summit to August will therefore offer the best chance for all participants to attend in person and maximize face-to-face interaction, networking opportunities, and planning productive endeavors for the future. - commented Brenda Kgomotsego Ramokopelwa, CEO at TAFFDs.

The growing interest from the private and public sectors worldwide in our event will require full engagement by speakers and delegates. We will therefore use this time to offer regular context, podcasts, commentaries, Zoom events that will educate, enlighten, and inspire about the prosperous future of Africa that the August summit will help unleash. We apologize for any inconvenience this move might have caused and hope to see you this August in South Africa. We thank you for your interest in the Gen4IR summit and hope you will engage with us as we lead up to our exciting event! - snkch km Kl, founder at TAFFDs.

Africa, with its status as having the youngest population on Earth, is strategically positioned at the forefront of the global race to be the 4IR powerhouse thanks to boundlessly creativity of African youth experienced in using tools, ideas and skills in overcoming of the myriad real-life challenges, and vast resources of the world digital technologies and startups, who are interested in this raising market. Over a million years ago, the making of stone chopping tools and the stone hand axe at Olduvai Gorge of the East African Rift Valley represented the first step in the great human journey of shaping our world and for many millions of years. The stone hand axe from Africa remained the innovative technology, which was needed by and accompanied our ancestors as they spread out of Africa and across the world. Indeed, as our tools evolve so do our ideas, and then as our tools and ideas evolve, so also do we. Our current 21st century world and humankind through a new set of modern tools characterized as exponential technologies, stands again at the verge of another radical evolution - a Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) - and just as with the story of our origins, the future of this technological revolution lies again in the promise of Africa.

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Currently, among the speakers of the Gen4IR conference are Ai Karaki, 4iAfrica; David Wood, futurists; Aubrey De Grey, PhD, Biomedical Gerontologist; Natasha Vita More, PhD; Jose Louis Codeiro, MIT Engineer, Immortalist; Edward Hudgins, Futurist, Human Achievement Alliance; Dr. Catherine Demetriades, Inventor of Cxai technologies and Actual Intelligence; Dr. Sarita Sharma, Author of Myriad Voices, Days V.; Ugo Chukwu, Futurist; and many more. We deliver you 4 Key mindsets and an understanding of the exponential technologies required for you. Lets make Africa great again!

For more information, kindly visit gen4ir.org or email 2022summit@gen4ir.org.

Contact:Victoria UstimenkoGlobal Head of MarketsTelegram: @air_cloudsSignal: +7 967 181 8317TAFFD's pr@taffds.org

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ddb55972-a38a-4e64-987f-dbc4aa09226f

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The leading world futurists and scientists are interested in the development of Africa - Yahoo Finance

The future is shaped by those who inspire others to follow their lead, whether in bold action or provoking thought. This is true of any industry and real estate is no exception.

To recognize those driving real estate forward, we celebrate the Futurists and Influencers in our annual RISMedia Real Estate Newsmakers awards. These individuals have demonstrated that they have the ability to redefine the industry, and boast an exceptional ability to foretell what the future holds for real estate. We were pleased to honor everyone in both categories, and wanted to hear firsthand what this recognition means to some of them. Since theyve proven themselves as forecasters, we also asked their thoughts on what 2022 holds for the industry and their respective markets.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a 2022 RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker?

Cody Gibson FuturistDirector of Expansion | Keller Williams Realty International

Ive got almost 22 years in , an industry thats given me everything I enjoy in my life. So to be nodded at or looked at as some type of Newsmaker, I love this industry so its just very personally rewarding cause Im doing something that gives back to whats given me so much.

Shawna Gilbert FuturistVice President, Global Development | RE/MAX

Im humbled to stand alongside this group of talented and thoughtful innovators in the industry. The RE/MAX leaders, and everyone, recognized by RISMedia as Newsmakers are dedicated to creating a better real estate process for consumers as well as agents. Im so proud of what we all accomplished in 2021 and I know RE/MAX has its sights set high for 2022.

Judi Nield FuturistMarketing Director | Legacy Real Estate & Associates

Its a great honor to be part of this elite group of national leaders. Our Broker/Owner Bill Aboumrad has built an amazing team, and Im proud of the work we do at Legacy Real Estate & Associates, ERA Powered.

Michele Harrington InfluencerCEO | First Team Real Estate

Ive been in the business about 24 years and started right away trying to give back to the industry to be recognized just as somebody whos worked really hard in the industry and for the industry is just amazing and it always makes you feel good when your peers let you know when they notice all your hard work.

Jessica Lautz InfluencerVP, Demographics and Behavioral Insights | NAR

It is an incredible honor to be mentioned among so many experts and professionals in the real estate space. These are leaders who are making real and tangible positive contributions to the industry. So its a privilege to be grouped with them and represent NAR.

Mickey Alam Khan InfluencerPresident | Luxury Portfolio International

Its an honor to be named to the RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker list. Given the talent that made the cut, the recognition reaffirms the hard work and creativity of Luxury Portfolio International employees, so in a sense I represent teamwork at its best.

What is your main focus in your business for the remainder of 2022?

Cody Gibson

To opening a digital brokerage in all 50 states, for Keller Williams to operate the expansion network. Were licensed in 32 states today for our expansion network and our goal before the end of the year is to be licensed and operational in all 50 of those states which gives our expansion businesses, expansion team owners, expansion real estate agents an ability to easily maneuver around their state or their country so they can build their business truly without borders.

Shawna Gilbert

The RE/MAX Global team remains committed to advancing careers and helping individuals and families find a community of their own around the globe and well continue to do so in 2022. Weve just sold Master Franchise Rights to RE/MAX Taiwan, and we greatly look forward to helping the new owners revolutionize their local real estate industry. Ill be heading up our recently announced partnership with the Womens Council of REALTORS, a network committed to advancing women as business leaders. RE/MAX has always been a welcoming company for women leaders and entrepreneurs, and I am thrilled to bring this new resource and network to our affiliates.

Judi Nield

It might seem like a simple tenet, but my focus is and has always been on the real estate agents of Legacy Real Estate & Associates, ERA Powered. In collaboration with our Agent Advisory Council, our Leadership Team drills down on industry pain points, anticipates market shifts, and implements programs and resources to support agents. Were focused on growing as a company, coaching great REALTORS, providing listing activity automation and buyer services, delivering technology and marketing innovations, and keeping person-to-person relationships at the forefront.

Michele Harrington

So right now in Southern California our main pain point is people just not wanting to sell their houses and move up and move down or move sideways so we have a serious lack of inventory it seems like. As interest rates rise the inventory problem is probably gonna get worse so we need to figure out creative ways for people to want to move either by buying down rates or buying their properties so they can take their time and shop for their dream home so that we can get these first time buyers into the market and keep the pipeline moving, so our main focus is gonna be freeing up inventory.

Jessica Lautz

This year is becoming a period of transition following the pandemic, which greatly fueled the already high demand for housing. 2022 has seen a confluence of factors that have challenged homebuyers entering the market, including the rise in mortgage rates, the continual increase in price, and fierce competition. Homebuyers may see less competition as some buyers are shut out of the market and as prices moderate.

Mickey Alam Khan

The high-end of the real estate market will continue to face pressure on inventory through the end of the year, forcing agents and brokers to think even more creatively to generate listings

Rising interest rates will also affect mortgages and aspirational first-time home buyers. And brokers will continue to face pressure on commission splits as top agents and their teams demand more of the cut or threaten defection. 2022 is likely to remain a sellers market, barring a spillover of the Russian war on Ukraine into other parts of Europe or the United States.

Devin Meenan is RISMedias editorial assistant. He can be reached at dmeenan@rismedia.com.

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RISMedia's Newsmakers: Honoring the Futurists and the Influencers - RisMedia.com

Dove Cameron went bold for her debut on the Met Gala red carpet, wearing an otherworldly interpretation of gilded glamour.

The actress attended fashion's biggest night in a skeletal Iris van Herpen gown paired with earrings by Brilliant Earth, rings by Marli and the Residency, heels by Le Silla, and a Roger Vivier bag. Cameron explained that since the Gilded Age was all about using new technology and textiles to make grand fashion, grand design, and cutting-edge designs that no one had ever seen before, I think that Iris and I wanted to carry that same intention into tonight and have a modern and futuristic take on the Gilded Age.

She also pointed out that, for her, the theme is all about excess and new cutting-edge exploratory design. Its the celebration of the furthest reaches of fashion and grandiose, larger than life sort of images and shapes. I think the look that Iris and I worked on definitely embodies all of that and more. And while the entire gown was stunning, Cameron said her favorite detail had to be the clavicle leading up to the neck. It reminds me of a spine, and I love how intricate and detailed it is. Its something Ive never seen before and definitely makes me feel feminine, divine, and very much like myself.

By Alex Lyon.

Of course, while the Met Gala is totally focused on the over-the-top fashions, for the attendees, it's also about getting yourself mentally and physically prepared to walk up that grand staircase. Cameron is no stranger to the red carpet, explaining that she usually prepares by using an LED face mask to get that extra bit of glow as she feels like it brings blood to the surface, wakes up my skin, and helps other products sink in. She continued, But for my mental health, because carpets can make me quite anxious, I will stretch and do yoga, sit in silence, meditate, and even blast music and dance around. I definitely like to make an all-day event of getting ready for a carpet. But when it came to the Met Gala, that routine got a little more extensive. I definitely did extra skin care. I saw Joanna Vargas this morning, who I love, she said. I also do a lot of gua sha. I also feel like Im more hydrated now than Ive been in months. I think because its probably the biggest carpet in the world, theres just been extra preparation and thinking about it a few weeks out rather than just a few days.

By Alex Lyon.

Here is the original post:
Dove Cameron's Iris Van Herpen Gown Gives a Futuristic Take on the Gilded Age at the 2022 Met Gala - Vanity Fair

Recently, we sat down with Austin Rotter to discuss why good content has to be futurist and forward-thinking. Austin is a digital marketing strategist with over a decade of experience helping brands and entrepreneurs thrive in media relations and online branding.

Hi, Austin. Were glad to have you with us today. As you might imagine, Im quite excited to unfold this topic with you. Please tell us why you think content marketing needs an overhaul.

Austin Rotter: The main reason is that the landscape has evolved dramatically over the years. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, we know many small businesses sprouted up online, and many closed their doors permanently. As an aftereffect, consumer behaviors altered a lot, affecting marketing strategies and tactics in tandem.

Now, roughly two years into the pandemic, the way people consume content has completely changed. The way brands produce content has evolved alongside, but the marketing sector hasnt been able to keep up the pace.

You hit the nail on the head there. How do you think the landscape has changed?

Austin Rotter: There are a few reasons for this. First, the way we interact with content has changed. We now have much more control over when, where, and how we want to consume some information. We can block adverts, skip TV commercials, unsubscribe from emails, download and customize the content, and much more.

The way brands produce content has also changed significantly. With the rise of social media and self-publishing platforms, anyone can be a publisher. That means theres much more noise out there, and its harder for brands to cut through the clutter.

Finally, I think the way we define content marketing has changed. Initially, it was more inclined towards creating and distributing information to attract and retain customers. Now, its gravitating towards creating and distributing content that drives conversions and sales. In this regard, many emerging brands go overboard with their claims, so thats not going to be a sustainable model in the long run.

What can we do to make our content more interactive?

Austin Rotter: One of the most crucial aspects is to ensure that our content is mobile-friendly. If youre expecting an enormous viewership that converts, this element is integral. Besides this, brands need to share information that directly answers their prospects concerns, not reams of pointless text, which they must sift through to get to what theyre looking for. When I say this, infographics, how-to guides, carousels, and videos can all prove to be a seed of success.

How can a business ascertain if its customers are happy, angry, or even hostile in response to its content?

Austin Rotter: Numbers play a pivotal role in determining the success of your content. There are a number of engagement metrics businesses can keep track of to assess how engaged their audience is. The most critical metrics include the time users spend on a page or website, their scroll depth, and social shares. If theres a sharp drop-off in any of these numbers, it could be an indication that the audience is not happy with the content.

Do you believe that harnessing technology to power content marketing is a viable strategy?

Austin Rotter: It definitely is! Technology can help you jump on the bandwagon and ensure that your content is always up-to-date. It can also help you automate many tedious processes, such as data collection and analysis.

Lastly, what would you advise folks who still rely on mass-produced content?

Austin Rotter: You direly need to rethink your strategy! Mass-produced content is no longer effective. People nowadays are looking for more personalized and targeted content. Try to understand what they want to learn about and what challenges theyre facing. Provide them with solutions that match their emotional needs. Thanks!

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to share your incredible insights with us, Austin. Ideally, it will help businesses realize why their content needs to be both futurist and forward-thinking.

See more here:
In Conversation With Austin Rotter - Why Good Content Has to Be Futurist and Forward-Thinking - The Ritz Herald

Exploring the Architecture of Star Wars: In a Galaxy Far Away, Using the Tangible for Futuristic Visualizations

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Depicting architectural visualizations of the future is no easy feat, so it makes much sense for designers to use aspects of our existing architecture as a foundation for these fictional worlds. Despite recent advancements in terms of animation technologies and CGI, there is still substantial use of existing architecture to provide tangible structural elements in film.

In terms of recycling architectural aesthetics, elements of the past and future are often integrated to create a hybridized style, an amalgamation of Retro, Dystopian, Modernist and Futuristic themes. From the resurgence of ancient pyramids and temples, to skylines reminiscent of the city of New York, visualizations vary depending on different notions of what our future may look like.

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Perhaps the most varied Sci-fi movies in terms of architectural visualization is the Star Wars saga. On George Lucass fictional desert planet of Tatooine, a location lacking natural resources, the architecture presents itself as unrefined, modest and unornamented. Ghorfas were predominantly featured in the film Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace, from multiple locations in Southern Tunisia including the Ksar Hadada. Used as rooms to store grain, these simplistic earth forms have been transformed into high-density dwellings. Primitive forms in contrast with the high-tech.

In Episode II, Attack of the clones, contrary to the modest quarters on Tatooine is the architecture of the planet Naboo. With Utopian cities built by advanced civilizations, the city of Theed can be seen envisaged using the Plaza de Espaa in Seville, Spain. Designed by Architect Anibal Gonzalez for the 1929 World exhibition in Seville, it is built in the traditional revival style. The ornate pavilion, colonnade and fountains offer a magnificent setting for this prosperous metropolis.

The city of Coruscant, the capital of the old republic and the home of the Jedi temple, portrays a dense ecumenopolis. As a cosmopolitan city and galactic capital, visually it is as futuristic as conceivable. With a skyline based upon those of streamline Moderne New York and the contemporary cities of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, it depicts architecture of the future to be densely populated, a hive of activity dominated by urban sprawl.

Ancient themes still saturate visions of the future, the temple of the Jedi presents itself within the typology of a Mayan temple. Designed as both a stronghold and a place of worship, it presents cladding for extra defensive strength. With five spires, including the tranquillity spire, they offer similarities with the minarets at Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey.

Modelled upon the historic long room library of Trinity College, Dublin (1712-1732) is the Jedi archives. As one of the most impressive libraries in the world its not hard to see why there are echoes of influence between the library in the movie and that of real life. A very similar arched barrel vault runs the entire length of the room and a selection of busts and figures mirror those seen at Trinity College. It suggests the timeless nature of library design, how it can continue to evolve yet remain the same at its core. Traditional architectural elements that can be transferred into future visualizations.

Jabba the Hutts palace, an exotic temple with rounded Brutalist forms and Byzantine influence presents a monumental yet unconventional approach to palace architecture in stone and steel. With influence from the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul and perhaps the neka Meteorological Observatory in Poland (1974) it combines both traditional and Modernist themes to create an innovative perception of futuristic palaces.

That is scarcely what I would call a palace, Artoo. It looks more like an iron foundry - C-3POto R2-D2 as they approach Jabba's Palace

Ron Herrons A Walking City, as part of the Archigram movement of the 1960s, bares striking resemblance to the All terrain armoured transport (AT-AT) walkers seen in the franchise. As an Avant-Garde and Neo-futuristic architectural movement that based much of its work upon the ideas of a dystopian future, it drew inspiration from technology to create a new reality with architecture that would be both mobile and dynamic. The Walking City (1964) vision proposed a city that could walk across both water and land; a nomadic city that would remain adaptable to its environment. The AT-AT also presents these adaptable qualities, at a height of 22.5 meters this incredibly intimidating war machine could face combat in an array of diverse planetary environments.

To depict the stark contrast between the republic and the galactic empire, the saga used heavy influence from Brutalism to represent the brutal nature of the empire itself. The austere and dehumanizing qualities of the heavy materials and forms in the Brutalist style create menacing overtones, setting the scene. The Death Star embodied much of these qualities with further influence form the idea of Suprematism, an abstract movement originally defined by the Russian artist Kazimir Malevich in the 1910s. This concentrated ideas of block colour and geometric forms floating in space, much like the space station suspended in space.

The future of architectural visualizations in Star Wars will continue to use influence from a diverse array of existing architectural sources to provide a feasible portrayal of the future, since the franchise does not have a unique architectural style. It has to narrate a broad area of the galaxy, with each planet with its own history climate and civilization; varied architecture for varied worlds. As a movie that is shot in our own world and not entirely animated/with virtual sets like Avatar, the producers have to use real locations whether they be historic sites, cities, desert dwellings or temples to create an enchanting depiction of the future. Hybridization of existing styles to remain compelling, plausible and most importantly of all striking, for cinematic effect.

This article is part of the ArchDaily Topics: The Future of Architectural Visualizations, proudly presented by Enscape, the most intuitive real-time rendering and virtual reality plugin for Revit, SketchUp, Rhino, Archicad, and Vectorworks. Enscape plugs directly into your modeling software, giving you an integrated visualization and design workflow.

Every month we explore a topic in-depth through articles, interviews, news, and projects. Learn more about our ArchDaily topics. As always, at ArchDaily we welcome the contributions of our readers; if you want to submit an article or project, contact us.

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Exploring the Architecture of Star Wars: In a Galaxy Far Away, Using the Tangible for Futuristic Visualizations - ArchDaily

Purpose-built as a ride-hail car, or a taxi cab to be specific, the Arrival Car has the footprint of a small vehicle, but the spacious legroom of a much larger automobile.

Created in partnership with Uber, the Arrival was designed to be the perfect car for ride-hailing. Unlike regular cars that were designed for ownership and just co-opted by Uber drivers, Arrival was built with the specific mindset of being a car meant for ride-hailing. This singular vision helped develop the cars overall design, as its focus shifted from pure desirability and performance to efficiency, comfort, reliability, and affordability. A taxi cab for the future, Arrival even replaces the iconic yellow cabs design with a modern, minimalist overhaul, trading in nostalgia for futurism a concept Uber knows too well.

Designer: ARRIVAL

The Arrival cars design language stands out for a bunch of reasons its prime one being its ability to wonderfully blend into the background. Most cars are designed to catch eyes, but the Arrival isnt about projecting desirability and oozing dynamics. Its sleek and simple on the eyes, using visual cues that make it camouflage on the road until you need to spot it. Unlike the yellow taxi that needs to be visible so you can holler and wave at it on the streets, Arrivals relationship with its rider is much more discreet. Book the car on an app and it arrives to you its a simplicity that allows the Arrival car to look as easy-on-the-eyes as it does. The car uses primitive boxy proportions and straight-ish lines that allow it to wonderfully merge into most blockish neighborhoods, while the use of silver/grey and black still make it look decidedly modern.

The Arrivals approach to design marks a major departure from how cars are usually designed because its prime focus is the cars interior, rather than its exterior. A typical vehicle will drive 12,000 kilometers (7500 miles) per year, whereas a cab will cover more than 4x that amount, driving almost 50,000 kilometers each year (31,000 miles). That statistic immediately calls for a focus on two things the cars performance, but more importantly, its comfort. Designed to have significantly more legroom, the Arrival Car prioritizes driver comfort, allowing them to drive for hours at an end without feeling the fatigue of navigating roads daily. In fact, its interiors were designed in consultation and collaboration with various Uber drivers, factoring in their inputs and suggestions. The passenger cabin is designed to be much more spacious too, allowing them to travel in the lap of luxury a user experience thats arguably most important to Uber.

Following the launch of Ubers Clean Air Plan in London two years ago, more than 135m has been raised to support drivers with the cost of switching to a fully electric vehicle. Ubers focus is now to encourage drivers to apply for EV Assistance under the Clean Air Plan.

The Arrival Car will join Arrivals previously announced commercial products, the Bus and Van, to provide cities with a multi-modal zero-emission transportation ecosystem that they require in order to meet their sustainability goals over the coming years, said the Arrival team in a press release. This integrated transportation ecosystem will create cleaner, more equitable mobility solutions for people living in cities that Arrival believes will have a radical impact on their health and opportunities.

Excerpt from:
This futuristic Uber cab was designed like a TARDIS - compact on the outside, spacious on the inside - Yanko Design

Canadas largest blockchain and cryptocurrency event returns to Toronto, Canada on August 9-10, 2022 as Untraceable presents the fourth annual Blockchain Futurist Conference

Blockchain Futurist Conference 2022 represents the return of the flagship conference that has over the years attracted some of cryptos most notable heavyweights. Previous speakers include Vitalik Buterin (Ethereum), Charles Hoskinson (Cardano), Anatoly Yakovenko (Solana), Zac Prince (Block-Fi), Robert Lessner (Compound), Brock Pierce (Crypto Pioneer), Elena Sinelnikova (CryptoChicks), and the late Larry King. This year will feature over 100 world-class speakers, with more than 60 sessions, panels, workshops and roundtables.

With a successful track record of attracting thousands of participants from over 40 countries around the world, Untraceables Blockchain Futurist Conference 2022 is a fusion of the Web3 world. This year the conference brings together Crypto, Metaverse, DeFi, GameFi, NFTs, DAOs, and more to create an immersive experience not to be missed.

The conference will once again take place at the Rebel Entertainment Complex and Cabana in Toronto, featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting stage, VIP cabanas, an outdoor marketplace, and two levels of exhibitor booths. Designed as a fully interactive crypto experience, the conference features crypto-powered marketplaces, NFT Galleries, Crypto ATMs, and more.

In previous years, Untraceable has brought blockchain technology to life with first-of-its-kind activations, such as tracking fresh produce from farm-to-table using blockchain technology, crypto-enabled helicopter rides, and Live NFT Gaming Tournaments.

New this year the conference will include the ETHToronto Hackathon, a three-day hackathon competition that lets participants build the future by developing the next innovation in blockchain technology. Contestants can meet other developers, connect with hiring companies, attend speaker sessions and compete to present their builds on the Futurist mainstage.

Blockchain Futurist Conference is more than a conference, its a statement to the world that Canada remains a blockchain leader, said Untraceable Founder & CEO, Tracy Leparulo. Toronto is the birthplace of Ethereum, and since those early days we have witnessed this city grow into a vibrant hub for blockchain innovation. Im so happy to have had an opportunity to help foster this culture, and events like Blockchain Futurist Conference allow me and my team to continue to contribute to this amazing space and all the incredible things coming out of it!

Early-bird tickets for Blockchain Futurist Conference 2022 are on sale now. Interested in sponsoring or having your brand featured at the event? Contact the team at Untraceable Team. Learn about the future and join the Web3 movement with Blockchain Futurist Conference. The future is here.

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DisclaimerAll the information contained on our website is published in good faith and for general information purposes only. Any action the reader takes upon the information found on our website is strictly at their own risk.

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Blockchain Futurist Conference Returns to Toronto for the Fourth Year - BeInCrypto

Living with a miniaturized computer on your wrist can be a profound experience with connectivity, and with the best Apple Watch bands, your iWatch stays snug where its meant to be. The best will turn your Apple Watch into an accessory that enhances your aesthetic, and will style nicely with your wardrobe. These wristbands run the gamut of styles and materials: some are made with woven nylon, others use high-quality leathers, while still others use metals, silicone, or reinforced hard plastics.

The wristband you choose for your Apple Watch will live with you day in and day out, so make sure to choose an iWatch band that says you: that might be a wristband thats designed for your daily workouts, a rugged watch case and strap that will stand up to a physically demanding job, or a designer wristband that adds a pop of color to your outfit.

Best Overall: Apple Sport Loop Best Budget: SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro Best Leather: Nomad Traditional Band Best Metal: EPULY Best Designer: Kate Spade New York

To compile our list of the best Apple Watch bands, we researched the best-selling and best-reviewed watch bands out there, looking for the standouts in a number of categories. Along the way we considered a few factors.

Comfort is all-important in a watch band thats meant to be worn all day. We looked for watch bands that dont include lots of little orifices that pull out hair, or textures that get sweaty and cause itching. We also looked for bands that use non-toxic materials, like nylon.

Style is an inextricable part of any accessory. We looked for watch bands that would fit well with lots of different personal aesthetics.

Build quality is important in any accessory thats meant to be worn daily. We looked to highlight watch bands that have the quality required to be there for you day after day.

Why It Made The Cut: Made of non-toxic woven nylon that comes in a range of colors, theis is an excellent breathable sports band for your Apple Watch.

Specs: Material: Nylon Compatible watch models: 42, 44, and 45 mm. Apple Watch models Wrist size: 5.7 to 8.7 inches

Pros: Breathable non-toxic nylon weave feels great on skin Lots of color options

Cons: Somewhat expensive for nylon

Naturally, when Apple makes a sports band for their product, they do it right. The Apple Sport Loop is an excellent woven nylon sports band. The nylon feels great on your wrist, its weave is breathable enough that it wont give you rashes, yet it also doesnt pinch hairs. The band uses a hook-and-loop fastener that holds on to keep your watch firmly on your wrist, even when you do sprints.

The Sport Loop comes in lots of colors, some of which are so bright theyll catch the eye with any outfit. Others come in discreet combinations that arent overbearingly loud. The loop comes in a regular size and an extra large size, and fits most models of Apple Watch with no trouble. Or if you prefer another device to keep tabs on your health metrics, these are the best fitness trackers.

Why It Made The Cut: With a double-tongue buckle, raised bezels to protect your watch screen, and high-quality shock absorption, this affordable case packs all the protection your Apple Watch needs.

Specs: Material: Plastic Compatible watch models: Apple Watch 7, Watch 6/SE, Watch 5, Watch 4 Wrist size: 6.7 to 9.25 inches

Pros: Excellent protection Affordable price

Cons: Not as good looking as some others

A budget Apple Watch case shouldnt only be affordable, but should protect your investment. The SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle Pro is one of the most rugged cases around, and it also comes for a fair price. The plastic case comes with a snap-on Watch screen protector with raised bezels that pairs with a scratch-proof plastic band. The band buckles with a two-tongue clasp that will keep your watch from flying away from you, even in the most extreme settings.

This is a great Apple Watch band for folks who work on construction sites, in the outdoors, for cooks, and anyone who wants to ensure they get the most value out of their Apple Watch investment. The bezels and shock resistance help keep the screen free of scratches and your watch in working order. SUPCASE also offers watch bands that are designed for other Apple Watch models with different dimensions.

Why It Made The Cut: Made with Horween leather that develops a patina as you wear it and stitched with linen, this strap imparts enduring style.

Specs: Material: Horween leather, linen thread, stainless steel Compatible watch models: All Wrist size: 5.9 to 8.26 inches

Pros: Beautiful Horween leather that ages well Rugged look Made in the USA

Cons: Not meant to get wet or submerged

For those who want traditional luxury goods paired with a dose of modern connectivity, the Nomad Traditional Band brings high-quality leather to your Apple smartwatch. Using American Horween leather stitched with linen thread and outfitted with stainless-steel hardware, this is a watch that looks great out of the box, but only gets better. Horween leather develops a wonderful mottled patina with use, so that as you grow to love your watchband it grows with you.

The Nomad is a watch strap that invokes wranglers on the ranch, leather furniture in studies, and classic Americana luxury goods. The watch straps only drawback comes from its lack of waterproofing. As is the case with all leather goods, this watch strap is better off kept out of the dish bucket or shower. It will wear down if soaked through. However, if you take proper care of it, this watch strap will age with you.

Why It Made The Cut: Made of stainless steel, this classic metal watch band makes for a great accent to your Apple Watch.

Specs: Material: Stainless steel Compatible watch models: 45, 44, and 42 mm. Apple Watch models Wrist size: 7 to 9 inches

Pros: Sturdy stainless steel is good for daily use Lots of colors to choose from Relatively inexpensive

Cons: Stainless steel loses its finish with time

Looking for a classic metal watch band for your new Apple Watch? The links in the EPULY stainless-steel watch band are sure to impress. For an impressively affordable price, this watchband comes in a variety of colors: from lustrous silver, to forest green, or pink. Its a watch band that invokes automatic winding watches from days past.

While the stainless steel is rugged enough to be nearly immune to denting, its finish is not. Youll likely see the color burnish off the edges of your watch strap with time as it rubs on countertops and tables. On models that have been finished with a color, these burnished areas will scrape down to raw steel, on silver models this burnishing may only present as a reduction in luster. Still, this burnishing isnt a dealbreaker for such an affordable watch accessory all in all, EPULY is a budget-friendly watch strap that delivers a solid product.

Why It Made The Cut: This printed silicone Apple Watch strap is a great choice for the fashion-conscious Apple Watch user.

Specs: Material: Silicone Compatible watch models: 38 and 40 mm Apple Watches Wrist size: Undisclosed

Pros: Bright pop of flair Suitable for the office Interchangeable

Cons: Might not be as comfortable as some of the sports-focused options

Sometimes a watch should be treated as more of a fashion accessory than a tool. With this printed Apple Watch band from Kate Spade New York, convert your Apple Watch into a stylish fashion accessory that will provide a nice accent to your wardrobe. Made of silicone and outfitted with a polished metal clasp, this watch band is comfortable to wear all day but also wont slip off for Thursday night samba lessons.

We love the floral patterns and curves of these Kate Spade watch bands, and think theyd look right at home with your contemporary office casual look, while also dressing up well for Saturday night out. However you style it, Kate Spade Apple Watch bands provide a nice pop of color. We think theyre some of the best watch bands for those who have fashion on the brain.

Before you invest in a new band for your Apple Watch, theres a few things to consider.

Not every model of Apple Watch is the same. While some iWatch bands easily connect to any model of iWatch, others dont. Apple Watches are up to Generation 7 now, and many of the generations have different sizes. Apple uses millimeters to describe these sizes. Make sure that the Apple Watch band you select will pair well with your iWatch before you buy. Apple Watch sizes are broken down below:

Series 7: 41 or 45 mm SE, Series 6 to Series 4: 40 or 44 mm Series 3 to Series 0: 38 or 42 mm

Apple Watch bands come at all sorts of price points. Sometimes name-brand wristbands cost dramatically more than third-party bands that are made of the same materials. For example this 3-pack of nylon wristbands from DaQin costs significantly less than the official Apple nylon wrist band. Before you buy a name brand wrist band, consider if its value lives up to its name.

Since Apple Watch bands are generally easily interchangeable, it might be worth considering whether multiple bands for different occasions could be useful. Some people might benefit from having one wristband for the gym and another for date night. It can be fun to mix and match watch bands.

Since nylon reliably feels great on the skin. The Apple Sport Loop is the most comfortable wristband for all day use.

To find your wrist size, simply wrap a piece of paper around your wrist, then mark where the paper meets, lay the paper flat against a ruler, and measure the paper from the end to the mark. Most watch bands state the wrist size range that they are compatible with. Compare your wrist size to this number.

Whether your Apple Watch band will stretch greatly depends on the material its made of. Metal wristbands will not stretch. Silicone, on the other hand, may. A nylon weave shouldnt stretch much unless it contains elastic to make it stretchy. Leather shouldnt stretch.

Most Apple Watch bands are compatible with a number of specific Apple Watches. Some are universally compatible. Its worth taking a look at the specific size of your Apple Watch and comparing it to the compatibility numbers given by the company that makes the Watch band that you are interested in. Keep your Apple devices ready to go with the best MagSafe chargers.

Many people tend to wear their watch on their non-dominant hand. For a smartwatch this is more important than ever, as youll likely use your dominant hand to manipulate the apps. For righties, this means your left wrist is usually a good bet. However, in practice its important to wear your Apple Watch on whatever wrist feels comfortable.

When youre outfitting your Apple Watch with a new wristband, the wristband you choose can make your watch into something new. Multi-colored nylon and rustic leather create very different moods, but they also feel different. Thats why its important to select a wristband that will fit with your lifestyle. For a great rustic leather band that will develop a wonderful patina with use, consider the Nomad Traditional Band. The SUPCASE Unicorn Beetle is a great option for those looking for some affordable armor for their watch. The Apple Sport Loop on the other hand is a wonderful multicolored nylon band made by Apple, that will keep up on a marathon, and look good the whole while.

This post was created by a non-news editorial team at Recurrent Media, Futurisms owner. Futurism may receive a portion of sales on products linked within this post.

Originally posted here:
Best Apple Watch Bands of 2022 - Futurism

Russian space chief Dmitry Rogozin may have it out for his own space agency.

He was demoted from being Russias deputy prime minister to lead Roscosmos in 2018 and has since brought a very different tune to the countrys space efforts.

He never wanted this job, an anonymous NASA source told Ars Technicas Eric Berger. He was essentially demoted, and he has spent his time at Roscosmos trying to get back into Putins good graces. And so it has just been an extraordinarily different kind of leadership than weve seen before, to the detriment of everyone.

Rogozins behavior and communication style at Roscosmos have been so bizarre that at times experts have been divided on what hes even trying to say.

Thats been on full display in recent days, with Western media outlets including Bloomberg and Axios interpreting Rozozins latest outburst well inform our partners about the end of our work on the ISS with a years notice as a threat to pull out of the International Space Station entirely in response to sanctions against Russia.

That type of aggressive discourse in the space research community is unprecedented, even during the height of tensions with the Soviet Union.

Going back to the Cold War, there was an unwritten rule where [USSR space officials] and NASA would not criticize one another, the former NASA official told Ars. No matter how bad things got on Earth, the two space agencies would never share an ill word. Rather, they would continue to work together and let the politicians do the fighting.

Well, that changed dramatically with Rogozin, the source added, arguing that the Russian space boss was simply spending his time at Roscosmos trying to get back into Putins good graces.

The latest dustup comes from Rogozin going on Russian state TV to say that a decision about the ISS future has been taken already, were not obliged to talk about it publicly.

But on closer inspection, Rogozins strange edicts, which are often communicated over Twitter, can be ambiguous.

A closer reading of his most recent remarks, for instance, suggests that he might simply be saying that Roscosmos will be informing international partners of Russias eventual plans to leave the station with a years notice, as Berger points out, something Rogozin has implied in the past as well.

In short, its not a matter of if Russia will abandon the ISS, but when. And reading tea leaves in the form of the biased and muddled messages coming from Russian state media is likely a fools errand.

Besides, Roscosmos has a lot to lose. Leaving the ISS means the country will no longer have a permanent presence in space, at least for years to come. Russia also recently launched and docked a brand new segment to the ISS, a module which has been in the works for decades.

That sunk cost, Bergers NASA source said, means that even the leadership of Roscosmos still desperately wants and needs this activity to continue, because if they drop out of the ISS they lose their space program. We are literally talking about the death of the Russian civil space program.

Its nearly impossible to read between the lines and get a clear message from Rogozin. Bergers outlook?

What I have learned about covering Dmitry Rogozin for the last decade,he wrote, is that, by far, the best policy to adopt toward him is to ignore what he says publicly.

READ MORE: The Western space community should put Dmitry Rogozin on ignore [Ars Technica]

More on Rogozin: Former Astronaut Muzzled by NASA Unloads on Russia Again

See the rest here:
Former NASA Official Says Russian Space Head Is Trapped, Trying to Escape - Futurism