Monthly Archives: July 2022

Outcome of first kidnapping trial can’t be used as evidence in second trial, judge rules – Michigan Radio

Posted: July 31, 2022 at 9:03 pm

Another federal trial is scheduled to begin in two weeks for two men accused of conspiring to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

But jurors wont be told much about their previous trial. In a final pretrial hearing Tuesday afternoon in Grand Rapids judge Robert Jonker ruled on what will and wont be allowed to be presented as evidence in the upcoming trial. One thing that jurors wont hear, Jonker said, is that two other men were found not guilty of the kidnapping conspiracy during the previous trial in the fall.

Adam Fox and Barry Croft are facing trial for the second time, after a jury deadlocked on their charges in the spring. Two other men - Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta - were both acquitted.

But the outcome of the first trial should not be part of deliberations for jurors in the second trial, Jonker told attorneys Tuesday. In particular, evidence of the acquitals for Harris and Caserta cant be introduced as evidence in the trial, though Jonker said jurors may ultimately hear about it.

Defense attorneys for both Fox and Croft tried to argue that jurors may already come to the case knowing about the prior case.

The outcome of the first trial was somewhat unusual and it did gather a lot of press, said Christopher Gibbons, an attorney for Fox.

I think it needs to come out, argued Joshua Blanchard, Barry Crofts attorney.

Jonker acknowledged that some of the potential jurors in the case could have been following it closely, and could blurt out the outcome during the jury selection process - thus informing any other potential jurors about the outcome. But, he said, that didnt mean the acquittals could be treated as evidence by attorneys in the trial.

Another complicating factor could be that Caserta and Harris could be called as witnesses in the new trial, in which case jurors would likely find out about their acquittal. But Jonker said its also possible they would invoke their fifth amendment right to not self-incriminate. In that case, jurors wouldnt hear from them at all.

Jonker also ruled on other bits of possible evidence - including texts from a confidential informant in the case to his FBI handler, and evidence that one of the FBI agents in the case was trying to launch his own business on the side. Jonker ruled that, as in the previous case, most of that information would be inadmissible in the new trial.

A total of 14 men were charged over the alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer in 2020. Of those 14, six were charged in federal court. Two of them pleaded guilty, two were found not guilty and two are being retried. Eight other men face charges in state court, and have yet to face trial.

Jury selection for the trial against Croft and Fox is scheduled to begin August 9.

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Washington County woman held in death of 5-year-old son – Herald-Mail Media

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Washington County prep football stars are ready for 2022 season

Highlights from players across Washington County who will be back on the gridiron this fall.

Herald-Mail Sports, Wochit

Saying there is no way to protect the community by releasing her from jail, a judge Friday afternoon declined to set bond for a mother charged with causing the abuse that resulted last week in the death of her 5-year-old son.

The ruling by Washington County District Judge Terry A. Myers means Catherine Thrasher, 30, will remain behind bars along with her boyfriend, Timothy Lee Haselden II, 33, who is also charged in the death of Thrasher's son.

Haselden was watching the boy and two of the child's siblings July 22 at Thrasher's house north of Interstate 70 and west of Greencastle Pike, according to charging documents filed in the case. The 5-year-old became unresponsive and Haselden told police he noticed a brown substance coming from the boy's nose.

He called Thrasher at work, who got a ride home. When she arrived, she called 911 regarding the boy's condition. Arriving medics found the boy in cardiac arrest and told Washington County Sheriff's Office deputies that his injuries were consistent with abuse. The boy also had a swollen head, apparently from a potential skull fracture, and there were signs of strangulation, according to court records in the case.

Previously:Washington County man charged with first-degree child abuse and death of 5-year-old boy

The boy was taken to Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown and then to Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., where he died.

Haselden, who is facing charges including first-degree child abuse causing the death of a child under 13-years-old, continued to be held without bond following a hearing Monday in district court.

Thrasher continued to be held without bond this week at the Washington County Detention Center after her bond hearing was postponed until Friday. She was taken into custody at the Washington County Sheriff's Office on Monday following an interview with authorities.

She is also charged with first-degree abuse causing the death of a child younger than 13 years old, which carries a potential life sentence.

Thrasher also is charged with a first-degree count of causing abuse that resulted in severe physical injury to a child in her custody; a second-degree count of causing abuse of a child in her custody; causing sexual abuse to a child in her custody; first- and second-degree assault; and neglect of a minor, charging documents state.

Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Flores argued before Myers on Friday afternoon in Thrasher's bond hearing that Thrasher should not be released on bond.

As Thrasher looked on through a closed-circuit TV link from the Washington County Detention Center, Flores said Thrasher's charges stem beyond the fact that she is the mother of the boy. Flores said evidence shows that Thrasher was a participant in acts resulting in his injuries, which included new and old bruises over his body.

"These are not bruises from one incident," Flores said.

Flores also argued that Thrasher is a flight risk, adding that she has only lived in the area for a couple years.

"She has no ties here, no career holding her here," Flores said.

During a hearing for Thrasher on Tuesday, Acting District Public Defender Eric Reed asked for a postponement due to a potential conflict of interest. Reed and the public defender's office represented Haselden, who has past criminal cases, at his Monday bond hearing. Reed said he planned to seek a different attorney for Thrasher.

Hagerstown Attorney Robert L. Kline III told Myers during Friday's hearing that he will be representing Thrasher.

Kline requested that Thrasher be given an unsecured bond and that she perhaps be fitted with a home monitoring device.

Kline detailed Thrasher's state of mind the day her son died. When Haselden called her to report what happened to the boy, Thrasher "promptly obtained a ride home. She was the one who called 911," Kline said. "She cooperated with police later that day," he said.

That's in contrast to Haselden, who declined to provide information to authorities under this Fifth Amendment rights, Kline said.

After ordering Thrasher to be continued to be held without bond, Myers said there is no way the community can be safe with her out of jail. He said the fact that the case is a serious one is an "understatement."

Preliminary hearings for Thrasher and Haselden have been scheduled for Aug. 23 at 8:30 a.m. in district court.

A deputy who responded to Thrasher's house on July 22 said he found the boy's two siblings sleeping. He said the children were not well kept and the youngest child appeared to have lesions and/or abrasions on his face, court documents state.

At least one of the siblings had been taken to Children's National Hospital.

The sibling was released from the hospital and both siblings were in foster care through Child Protective Services, the sheriff's office said earlier this week.

Haselden is also charged with first- and second-degree rape; first- and second-degree assault; sex abuse of a minor; neglect of a minor; abuse of a child in his custody that resulted in severe physical injury; and second-degree abuse of a child in his custody.

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What Did the Dissenting Justices Think About the Power of Military Authorities & More – The Soldiers Project

Posted: at 9:03 pm

There is a lot to cover when learning about Modern History and the topic of the court order Korematsu v United States in the Second World War. Among them is the question, What did the dissenting justices think about the power of military authorities? On Quizlet and other quiz-studying sites, you will find 4 typical choices:

Of these choices, you will earn a mark if you opt-in or tick There should be limits to military action when martial law has not been declared. And this was on the grounds that the court ruling of Korematsu v the United States was racially discriminatory.

However, to make sure you can answer questions that require longer writing (if you do happen to come across them), keep reading. We will dive deep into the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and the exclusion order within the power of Congress.

First, we must look at the background context to get a complete understanding.

After the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack, the U.S War Department established military areas, which could exclude any or all Americans. This was authorized by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on the basis of the Executive Order 9066 in February 1942.

The Western Defense Command responsible for coordinating the defense of the West Coast then ordered that anyone of Japanese ancestry, including non-aliens and aliens, had to relocate to internment camps.

But Fred Korematsu, a 23-year-old Japanese American, refused. He believed that it was a violation of the Fifth Amendment.

Yet, the justices ruled that the protection against espionage by Japan was to be prioritized over the rights of Japanese Americans. Korematsu was arrested and convicted. This decision was criticized for being racially discriminatory, and the criticizers were referred to as dissenting judges.

As many as 120000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed and confined

More than 110000 Japanese Americans were sent to relocation centers in remote portions of the country

There were 3 dissenting judges. Their names were Justice Murphy, Justice Roberts, and Justice Jackson.

He was in office as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from February 5, 1940, to July 19, 1949.

Here is a photo of him:

Who was in office as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from June 2, 1930, to July 31, 1945.

Here is a photo of him:

Who was in office as an associate justice of the Supreme Court from July 11, 1941, to October 9, 1954.

Here is a photo of him:

Justice Frank Murphy

He issued a fervent dissent. In his words, the exclusion of the Japanese falls into the ugly abyss of racism and is no different from the treatment by dictatorial tyrannies of minority groups that the U.S pledges to destroy. Simply put, the U.S, in order to defeat dictatorial tyrannies, is becoming one!

Murphy also compared the treatment of Japanese Americans with the treatment of Americans of German and Italian ancestry to highlight that race was the trigger for the exclusion order and not security.

Justice Owen Roberts

Like Justice Murphys dissent, Justice Robertss dissent acknowledges the racism inherent in the case. He does not use the term racism but recognized that Korematsu was being punished based on his ancestry.

Justice Robert H. Jackson

Justice Robert Jackson wrote that even if the courts should not have to second-guess or interfere with the orders of the military, they should not have to enforce orders if they are unconstitutional. In addition, he wrote that he would (if he could) reverse the judgment and discharge Korematsu. Here is his exact write-up:

Jackson also warned that the Korematsu precedent would likely last past the internment and the war.

His quote is as follows

Justice Antonin Scalia

Scalia said, the Supreme Courts Korematsu decision upholding the internment of Japanese Americans was wrong, on February 3, 2014, in a discussion with students at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.

In October 2015, he also told law students that he admired Justice Jacksons dissenting opinion the most, It was nice to know that at least somebody on the court realized that that was wrong. This was at Santa Clara University.

Mentions in Other Court Cases

Chief Justice Roberts stated that Korematsu v. the United States was wrongly decided and quoted Justice Robert Jacksons dissent. His exact words were Korematsu was gravely wrong the day it was decided, has been overruled in the court of history, andto be clearhas no place in law under the Constitution, and the forcible relocation of U.S. citizens to concentration camps, solely and explicitly on the basis of race, is objectively unlawful and outside the scope of Presidential authority.

Justice Gorsuch in his dissent of United States v. Zubaydah reiterated that Korematsu was negligent. He criticized the court for using state interest as a justification for suppressing judicial proceedings, and cited Korematsu as a reason against doing such (again).

This is a federal law (signed by President Ronald Reagan) that granted reparations to Japanese Americans who had been interned by the government during World War II. The act stated that the interning acts of the government were based on race prejudice rather than security reasons and thereby, reflected a failure of political leadership.

Here are the specific stated objectives of the act:

Since 1990, surviving internees have been $20,000, which is $39,000 in 2020 value. Two offices were formed to meet the acts provision: the Office of Redress Administration and the Civil Liberties Public Education Fund.

Now that you have read this article, you know that the answer to What did the dissenting justices think about the power of military authorities? is that there should be limits to military action when martial law has not been declared. And this was on the grounds that the ruling of the Korematsu v. United States court case was racially discriminatory.

Feel free to bookmark this to come back to it as you study. And if your classmates are also looking for this studying material, share it with them! They will surely appreciate it!

I am Everett Bledsoe, taking on the responsibility of content producer for The Soldiers Project. My purpose in this project is to give honest reviews on the gear utilized and tested over time. Of course, you cannot go wrong when checking out our package of information and guide, too, as they come from reliable sources and years of experience.

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Whipping the votes in Suffolk – Newsday

Posted: at 9:03 pm

Daily Point Veto-override test for campaign finance

DoesSuffolk Countys public campaign financing system have the votes?Twelve are needed to override County Executive Steve Bellones veto of a bill passed by the Republican legislative majorityaimed at repealing the 2017 law.With at least two votes uncertain, the stage is set for a significant battle at Tuesdays meeting of the legislature.

Both Bellone and Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey say theyre cautiously optimistic their side will prevail.

One wild card has already been exposed.

GOP Legis. Rob Trottahas been outspoken against the massive impact of money on Suffolks politics and the county Police Benevolent Associations outsized influence, which he says derives from illegal dues collections from officers and banned transfers of and donations of money from the PBA.

But hes also been outspoken in opposing Bellone, on nearly everything and says Bellone himself has been an outsized beneficiary of PBA largesse.

His next move seemed unclear, but on Friday Trotta told The Point hes 99.9% sure hell be abstaining, which in this instance means siding with Bellone and public financing.

I know it [public financing]is going to cost $2.6 million, Trotta said. But were it not for the PBAs outsized influence, the last police contract could have been done with raises that matched the actual cost-of-living increase at the time, rather than doubling it. And that would have saved the county $200 million. But Im also going to rail against Bellone, who by my figuring has received at least three times as much PBA money as any other county executive."

So thats one Republican siding with the Democrats.

Last month, Legis. Al Krupski (D-Riverhead) voted with the Republican majority to end the program while Legis. Manuel Esteban Sr. (R-Commack) was the only Republican abstaining.

Krupski has said hes sticking with his opposition to public financing, and Friday McCaffrey said, with a chuckle, Manny has told me he is with me, but to be clear, that was yesterday.

If that all plays out as planned (and it has been extremely fluid), the issue will be decided by Democratic Legis. Thomas Donnelly who abstained during last month's vote.

Friday, Donnelly did not return a call seeking comment.

And McCaffrey, summing it all up, said: The one thing I know for sure is were not going to know for sure until we count the votes.

Lane Filler @lanefiller

With New Yorks Aug. 23 congressional primaries getting close, CD2 Republican challenger Robert Cornicelli is turning to a familiar face: controversial former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Cornicellis new video ad features a pictureof the candidate and Flynn, a retired Army lieutenant general,standing together in dress uniforms, while Cornicellis voice-over describes himself as a trained military leader and relentless defender of freedom.

Cornicelli and the former Trump official go far back: In October, when he was briefly running to replace Rep. Lee Zeldin in CD1, Cornicelli released an endorsement from Flynn that called him a true patriot, noting that Flynn met Robert seven years ago when we worked together at the Defense Intelligence Agency. (Asked for more details about Cornicellis service, DIA public affairs said the agency does not confirm employment of current or former officers.)

By the spring, Cornicelli had switched congressional districts but still appeared to have Flynn in his camp, promoting a Facebook ad video in which Flynn, sitting informally in front of a houseplant and white window shutters, said he couldnt have been more excited when he learned Cornicelli was running for Congress.

But now, Cornicelli is running ina primary against first-term Rep. Andrew Garbarino, who is the only Long Island member of Congress seeking reelection this wild cycle. Garbarino voted for last years bipartisan infrastructure bill and did not object to the certification of the 2020 election the kinds of stances that Cornicelli is now using to question Garbarinos loyalties to the GOP and Trump.

The challengers new video says that the radical left and Andrew Garbarino do not believe in America First.

Flynn may be a useful figure as Cornicelli seeks to make that case the general calls Garbarino a RINO in that spring video and is popular among Trump fans but the strategy comes with risks.

Flynn, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI before Trump pardoned him, is a polarizing figure with a lot of baggage, including being ousted as head of the DIA during the Obama administration and calling for the military to seize voting machines after the 2020 election. More recently, the former military man pleaded the Fifth Amendment when asked under oath by Liz Cheney if the violence on Jan. 6 was justified.

Mark Chiusano @mjchiusano

Credit: politicalcartoons.com/Dave Granlund

For more cartoons, visit http://www.newsday.com/nationalcartoons

Michael Dobie @mwdobie

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Experts clash on where virtual reality sits in the Metaverse – Cointelegraph

Posted: at 9:00 pm

Virtual reality (VR) will eventually have a place within the Metaverse, but not for the foreseeable future given its slow adoption rates, according to experts.

There isnt much that can rival the experience of having ones senses almost immersed in a virtual world which is why many believe that the technology will have a natural fit for the Metaverse.

It's a technology that Mark Zuckerbergs Meta is betting big on by introducing Meta accounts that it says will allow users to access its Meta Horizons platform more easily through Oculus VR headsets.

Founder and CEO of metaverse platform CEEK Mary Spio is also one waving the VR metaverse flag. In an interview with Cointelgraph, Spio argues that the true power of a Metaverse cannot be realized unless users are totally immersed through the use of VR devices.

Spios metaverse platform CEEK helps digital content creators, including musicians and athletes, connect directly with their fanbase in a virtual world setting.

Spio said that her platform opted for a focus on VR immersion because the benefits of the Metaverse cannot be fully realized in the non-VR mode:

However, Spio admits that their metaverse needs to allow for both VR and non-VR accessibility, as content, ease of use, and accessibility are all still required for the mass adoption of VR technology.

She believes that a quantum leap will be in the next two to three years for Metaverse and VR adoption.

Janine Yorio, CEO of metaverse ecosystem developer Everyrealm, however, disagrees.

To Yorio, Metaverse platforms and VR technology should develop exclusively of each other without mutual consideration.

By her estimation, a very small portion of Metaverse experiences are being built for VR like CEEK, noting VR making a significant change in the world likely wont happen in any meaningful horizon.

The reasons for this lie in technological obstacles and simple human preference for the most casual applications of technology:

Her view is backed by the numbers, as Statista found that the VR market size was about $4.8 billion in 2021 from only 2.4 headsets per hundred households,according to Virtual Reality Marketing. Compare that to Web2 metaverse companies that enjoy a $14.8 trillion market cap and the metaverse token market worth $7.1 billion,according to CoinGecko.

Related: The opportunities and risks of Metaverse for small businesses

Meanwhile, the creative and technical director at Human Park, Rick Pearce, took a middle-ground stance on the issue.

He told Cointelegraph in an interview that it might be five to ten years before VR becomes a Metaverse-ready item due to developer-side limitations, as well as the various hurdles to mass adoption though he admitted that VR implementation isnt off the cards.

To Pearce, the main hurdle is the headset, which he says Oculus has solved for the most part by making the device more accessible. However, connectivity and gameplay will remain a difficult challenge for least the next five years.

Pearce added that some of the limitations of integrating VR and the Metaverse may have no solution because of physical limitations that stop those things from connecting on a fundamental level:

Human Park has not yet implemented VR to its platform, but says it is a possibility for the future.

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Meta lost $2.8 billion on its virtual reality ambitions during Q2 – CNBC

Posted: at 9:00 pm

Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, speaks during the virtual Facebook Connect event, where the company announced its rebranding as Meta, in New York on Oct. 28, 2021.

Michael Nagle | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Facebook parent Meta lost $2.81 billion on $452 million in revenue from its virtual reality division, Reality Labs, during the quarter ending in June as it forecast a second consecutive quarter of declining revenue on Wednesday.

The substantial sum is the latest sign that CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Meta continues to spend heavily to pivot the social media giant to developing virtual reality and augmented reality products and the so-called "metaverse."

It's a substantial but affordable expense to a company that earned $8.36 billion in operating income on $28.82 billion in total sales during the quarter.

Zuckerberg and other Meta leaders believe that virtual and augmented reality headsets will be the major next-generation computing platform and are willing to spend heavily on technologies that might be years out and prototypes that aren't ready to be released, as well as a substantial staff of technical experts, in order to compete with Apple, Google, Microsoft, and other companies eying the industry.

Meta's Quest 2 headset is currently the most popular VR headset on the market, although the overall market remains small. Meta said earlier this week it will raise the price from $299 to $399.

Meta plans to release more advanced goggles later this year that will use cameras on the front of the device to "pass through" the real world to the user inside the headset.

Meta has also spent to acquire VR companies and startups that develop core headset technologies. But the FTC sued them on Wednesday to block it from buying the maker of the popular VR app Supernatural, suggesting that any future acquisitions would face significant regulatory scrutiny.

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New virtual reality experience to open in West Chester – dayton.com

Posted: at 9:00 pm

Zero Latency offers a free-roam experience that allows users to move in a large, unrestricted arena with a group of friends working together in a campaign or battling each other in virtual reality. Players wear a headset and have a controller and play the game. The arena is about 54 ft. by 27 ft. Players become immersed in the game.

You will be roaming. Youre in the game, and you feel like youre covering much more ground even than that. Theres not anything tethering you to anything else. So, you feel like youre taken away, all the way into another realm, Reamsnyder said.

Zero Latency has also developed partnerships with leading hardware and software companies to launch VR versions of industry leading games such as Far Cry.

Zero Latency offers eight different games for ages 12 and up. Games include Far Cry VR, Sol Raiders, Singularity, Engineerium, Adelaide, Undead Arena, Zombie Survival, Outbreak Origins, and Mission Maybee. Overall, the experience is about 45 minutes in length, which will include a 15-minute mission briefing and up to a 30-minute game. Pricing starts at $49 per person.

With 57 locations in 26 countries, Zero Latencys mission is to provide a new entertainment option for people who have a passion for gaming. However, you dont have to be a gamer to play. This is the 13th location in the U.S. Latency VR opened the worlds first free-roam VR entertainment venue in 2015. Another new Ohio location opened in Cleveland in March.

We were drawn to the area, and we plan to open more locations in the future, but this is our first one, said Reamsnyder.

Watch for a grand opening celebration later in Aug. Zero Latency is located at 9405 Civic Centre Blvd. in The Streets of West Chester. Hours of operation are Wed. and Thurs. from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 3 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sun. 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Zero Latency is only open for private events on Mondays and Tuesdays.

Were very excited to open, and to bring this level of entertainment to the community, and watch it grow, Reamsnyder said. This is unprecedented. Theres nothing like this in the areaIts a remarkable experience.

For more information on Zero Latency, visit http://www.zerolatencyvr.com, and connect with Zero Latency Cincinnati on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. Community members can make an advance registration on the Zero Latency reservation portal at booking.zerolatencyvr.com. Walk-ins will be accepted, if time slots are available. Zero Latency is also available for corporate events and birthday parties.

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Grant to Advance Virtual Reality Equipment and Training at Albright College – bctv.org

Posted: at 9:00 pm

Albright Colleges Game and Simulation Development program has been awarded a Create with VR grant from Unity and Meta Immersive Learning. Meta is partnering with Unity to help educational institutions and nonprofits bring their visions for immersive and collaborative learning experiences to underserved learners in technology.

The grant awarded 15 virtual reality (VR) headsets for use in our Game and Simulation Development major, as well as a complete curriculum to train faculty members in VR development, explained Mike DErrico, Ph.D. DErrico is chair of the Albrights Music Department, as well as director of music technology and composition and assistant professor of music and computer science.

The new Meta Quest 2 VR headsets will be used to deliver immersive instruction across a range of subjects and to train students to become the creators in the growing, high-wage industry of virtual reality. In addition, Albright faculty will have access to cutting-edge professional VR development opportunities.

Demand for workers with virtual reality skills is growing rapidly across gaming, education, healthcare, automotive, architecture, engineering and beyond. A PwC report on the economic impact of the industry estimates that, by 2030, 23 million jobs will be enhanced globally by augmented and virtual reality. Salaries in the industry also provide ample promise, averaging $158K annually, according to Hireds 2022 report on the State of Software Engineers. The Create with VR grant will equip Albright faculty with new technology and skills to launch students on this exciting career path.

Unity is the worlds leading platform for creating and operating real-time 3D content. Creators, ranging from game developers to artists, architects, automotive designers, filmmakers and others use Unity to make their imaginations come to life. Unitys platform provides a comprehensive set of software solutions to create, run, and monetize interactive, real-time 2D and 3D content for mobile phones, tablets, PCs, consoles, and augmented and virtual reality devices. Meta is investing $150M to help develop the next generation of metaverse creators, fund high-quality immersive experiences that transform the way we learn, and increase access to learning through technology.

Named a top national college by Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education, Albright College (founded 1856) is home to a diverse community of learners who cultivate integrity, curiosity, connection and resilience. Through learning experiences that engage a students creative and innovative capacities across all disciplines, both inside and outside of the classroom, an Albright College education guarantees that each student learns how to engage the world, understand the world, and is prepared to make an impact on a rapidly changing world. Located in Reading, Pa., Albright is home to undergraduate students, adult learners and graduate students.

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Research team develops workforce training that integrates virtual reality, gamification – Rochester Institute of Technology

Posted: at 9:00 pm

More than 1,000 openings in the Finger Lakes region for skilled machinists are projected in the coming years. Labor trained by local academic and workforce programs are expected to fill only a small percentage of those needed. Shortages will come about because of retirements, but also because fewer apprentices are seeking positions in the field.

Local academic researchers and industry partners are developing new training options to fill the expected gapsintegrating gaming and virtual reality to appeal to a younger generation of manufacturing professionals.

Rochester Institute of Technology researchers Rui Liu and Yunbo Zhang received a $650,000 grant from the National Science Foundations Advanced Technology Education (ATE) program as part of the NSFs focus on the future of work and the integration of technology with training and learning. The project uses new technologies such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality to benefit trainees by increasing skills needed in industries today and allowing for those who may be deaf or hard-of-hearing better access to career fields in need of machinists.

Is there an easier way to get machinists trained? We are looking to bridge the gap between supply and demand, those interested and the companies that need skilled people to fill these important jobs, said Liu.

Zhang agreed. This area is very special and this is a cross-college, multiple-institution project that includes different sectors of the workforce because the nature of this problem is not something that only one department or one sector can solve. We have included people we think are essential to solving this problem.

Liu and Zhang, both faculty-researchers in RITs Kate Gleason College of Engineering, lead a team that consists of campus partners from the universitys Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences, the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, as well as faculty from the ESL Global Cybersecurity Institute. Monroe and Finger Lakes community colleges have faculty involved as well as those from regional BOCES programs. Industry partners such as Gleason Works and input from regional economic development representatives round out the team.

Project members are developing and field testing a set of training modules based on the cognitive apprenticeship modelinstruction that combines formal coursework and apprenticeshipsfor learning complex skills coupled with artificial intelligence and virtual/augmented reality.

Machining is a skillset needed to build and produce precision parts. Learning often begins with an apprentice working side-by-side with a seasoned professional. Trainees practice with supervision until they are able to work independently, often taking a year or more to master equipment and processes.

Both faculty researchers have done extensive work in gathering data about skills needs and gaps from the regional economic organizations. Findings indicate that while there are workforce gaps, the area is rich in varied industries with open positions, as well as academic institutions to provide levels of training development.

Components of the program focus on modernizing machining education programs with new technologies, said Liu. We have integrated a lot of new technologies into this training program, including gamification. This a new concept. We think this might be the thing that attracts young people into industries. We are also adding some online training. For some prospective students from rural areas, it may not be easy to get to the area.

Plans include preparation of customizable materials for some independent study, but also for integrating human behavioral considerations to better understand trainees background. Modules can provide information to fill gaps and update skills needed to address Industry 4.0 topics such as automation and monitoring, sustainable machining, and cybersecurity. But the core focus is on consolidating skills and requirements.

Right now, we have very diverse training requirements, for students and for retraining current workers, with different requirements from college and from the companies, so that is the reason we want to make the training program flexible. Just trying to coordinate the curriculum from different training providers, each with their own machining training programs. All different materials, how can we synchronize them together? said Zhang.

Added to this are different machines and systems to master as well as the multiple procedures to complete processes. And if apprentices want to attain degrees and further their education, recognized standards for coursework and experiences are needed, said Zhang.

Students who complete their associate degree and want to finish with a bachelors degree might need courses and trainings they took to be compatible for transfer to four-year colleges, said Zhang. If students want to transfer, it will be really easy for them to evaluate their background. We can we synchronize the curriculum so they pursue a higher degree.

Data from the U.S. Department of Labor indicates that 30 percent of the machinists today are over the age of 55 with retirements expected in the next 10 years. Nearby training institutes and community colleges can train more than 100 new machinists per year. In the Finger Lakes region, there are estimates of more than 800 to 1,000 job openings per year.

Training prospective machinists and updating current employees in the machining field is only one of several economic development initiatives underway in the region. RITs engineering college has been recognized for its online programming, and the university recently launched RIT Certifiedan applied education and training pathway. Last month, Monroe Community College opened its Economic and Workforce Development Center. The combined resources of these and other training programs are aimed toward building a new economy workforce in the region.

The research team will continue curriculum development through the summer and begin module testing by the fall. Partners in the research program are: Liu and Zhang, both assistant professors from the Kate Gleason College of Engineering; Chao Peng and Hanif Rahbari, both assistant professors from the Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences; and Michael Thurston, research faculty from the Golisano Institute for Sustainability. Collaborating partners are Monroe and Finger Lakes Community Colleges and the regional BOCES programs.

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Research team develops workforce training that integrates virtual reality, gamification - Rochester Institute of Technology

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BreakPoint: Augmented-reality babies are not the route to parenting – Chattanooga Times Free Press

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Nineties kids (and their parents) may remember the Tamagotchi craze, a tiny egg-shaped video game that dominated toy markets for a time. Kids would raise a virtual pet that could hang from their backpack like a key chain. I've been told it was a great toy the trauma of forgetting it somewhere and then finding it had passed on to greener digital pastures notwithstanding.

Now, in the age of the Metaverse, something else is here ... and it is even creepier. "Augmented-reality babies" offer users the virtual experience of "parenting" an algorithm designed to behave like a real baby. Using virtual-reality goggles, or even potentially wearable gloves that can simulate physical touch, users can interact with a digital baby as it grows ... or, optionally (and even more creepily), as it stays exactly the same.

Some gurus are heralding AR babies as a new age of parenting. "Make no mistake that this development, should it indeed take place, is a technological game-changer which ... could help us solve some of today's most pressing issues, including overpopulation," says Catriona Campbell, a former technology adviser to the British government and author of the book "AI by Design: A Plan for Living With Artificial Intelligence."

Some argue this new development could also ease loneliness for those who want children but are unable to have them or for those who feel they can't afford to have children. While the average kid costs about $230,000 by the time they reach age 17, reports the New York Post, "a digital kid ... could have all its needs met for less than $25 per month." And as a bonus, no changing diapers!

In light of these possibilities, Campbell offered a somewhat unsettling prediction: "I think it would be reasonable to expect as many as 20% of people choosing to have an AR baby over a real one."

On one hand, it's hard not to be cynical of Campbell's bright-eyed tech optimism, especially given the current dubious state of Mark Zuckerberg's Metaverse. No matter how good it gets, augmented reality simply cannot replace many of life's best experiences. Playing a video game in the Metaverse, for example, is fun. Eating a slice of cake ... not so much.

By misunderstanding why people become parents in the first place, many proponents of augmented reality misunderstand the essentials of what it means to be human. Logging off from an AR "baby" might be easier, but all the labor spent on an actual child is something that simply cannot be simulated or replaced by a simulation.

And of course, the entire idea of global overpopulation continues to fall apart as its predictions continue to prove false. Should it actually work, this technology will almost certainly be adopted in countries where the most acute problem is underpopulation, not to mention increasingly devastating rates of loneliness. It's a common trend in the modern world much like prescribing marijuana to combat anxiety that our "cures" only further aggravate the problem.

Spending over seven hours every day staring at screens for work, leisure and connection has led many people to think technology can replace real relationships. But the opposite is true. Technology can do wonders, but putting a virtual baby in the hands of a lonely person is akin to giving a glass of salt water to someone dying of dehydration.

Likewise, it is simply not true that a life free of responsibility is the one which will produce the most happiness. As any parent knows, real kids are noisy, expensive and inconvenient. There are days when they seem to constantly take our reserves of energy and, sometimes, the last strands of patience. But they're worth it.

Jesus' words that "it is more blessed to give than to receive" aren't just a pious aphorism. They're describing a core piece of what it means to be human. The surprising source of real life, joy and vitality is from serving others, not just ourselves.

No matter how sophisticated they may someday be, virtual babies will always be just a piece of code, a vain attempt to meet the felt needs of lonely adults while never providing for their true needs. If that's what people want, it would be best to avoid any pretense of "parenting" and buy them a Tamagotchi instead.

From BreakPoint, July 20, 2022; reprinted by permission of the Colson Center, breakpoint.org.

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BreakPoint: Augmented-reality babies are not the route to parenting - Chattanooga Times Free Press

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