Category Archives: Futurist

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.

More here:
Austin Rotter on Why Good Content Must Be Forward-Thinking and Futuristic - The Ritz Herald

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has rehashed one of his favorite talking points yet again, warning of the dangers of having fewer children, something that he says could lead to the collapse of human civilization.

At least maintain our numbers, he said during a conference in Miami earlier this week, as quoted by Insider. We dont necessarily need to grow dramatically, but least lets not gradually dwindle away until civilization ends with all of us in adult diapers, in a whimper.

He also opined that having fewer kids is better for the environment is total nonsense.

The environment is going to be fine, he said, even if we doubled the size of the humans. (We can only assume he meant doubling the size of the human population, rather than doubling the size of every individual human.)

In other words, the kids will be alright, so have more of them before we run out.

Musk provided no evidence to back up his rather controversial claims. But, in his defense, there may be at least some credibility to his predictions.

On one hand, research has shown that fewer people could drastically cut carbon emissions. According to a 2017 study, having just one fewer child had the greatest effect, compared to other lifestyle changes, to reduce annual personal emissions, cutting on average 58 tons of CO2 emissions. Ditching the car came in second,cutting 2.4 annual tons of CO2.

On the other hand, though, experts have found that living a climate-friendly lifestyle could actually outweigh the effects of having more children. Besides, carbon emissions range massively depending on where the person lives or how much they travel internationally, complicating the picture significantly.

The disparity in per person emissions is most stark between rich and poor countries, with the average Indian emitting less than a tenth of the average American or Canadian, a 2020 report by Founders Pledge, a London-based charity and think tank, concluded. Monthly emissions per person in rich countries are usually higher than yearly emissions per person in the poorest countries.

And it is true that most researchers now agreethat Earth is headed for an astonishing population decline, which could have several knock on effects. Some argue that with fewer babies being born, the carbon footprint offsets may actually be a moot point, considering well be dealing with a rapidly aging population.

In short, human-driven climate change is rapidly deteriorating the environment, and without drastic changes to our behavior, our carbon footprint will likely only rise in the short term if the global population keeps growing.

But with several countries, notably Japan and China, entering periods of natural population decline, those effects become harder to grasp.

Will humanity truly end in a whimper, as Musk has repeatedly warned, if we have fewer kids? Its might bea scenario we wont even get to see play out if we dont take drastic action to ensure that a rapidly warming planet doesnt put an end to us first.

READ MORE: Elon Musk says we cant let humankind end in adult diapers and that the environment would be fine if we doubled our population [Insider]

More on population collapse: Chinas Population Projected to Fall by Half Within 30 Years

Continued here:
Elon Musk Warns That Humankind Will "End Up in Adult Diapers" - Futurism

The metaverse could transform commerce, fashion, social media, and almost everything in between. Its been framed as a utopian dreamworld and a dystopian nightmare. To help get a clearer idea of what the metaverse is and where it might be leading us, The Drum recently spoke with tech futurist, author and strategist Cathy Hackl.

There are few people in the world today who spend as much time thinking about the metaverse as Cathy Hackl. A graduate of Harvard Kennedy School, Hackl has quickly become one of the most influential voices in the tech world. She was recently listed by BigThink as one of the Top 10 Most Influential Women in Tech Right Now, and shes been featured in major media outlets including 60 Minutes+, Wired and The Wall Street Journal. Shes published two books, which explore various impacts of emergent technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR). Shes also the author of a newsletter called Metaverse Weekly and the host of two podcasts, one of which is focused on the intersection between marketing and the burgeoning metaverse.

All of this has earned her a sobriquet: The Godmother of the Metaverse.

The Drum recently spoke with Hackl via Zoom to learn more about the current state of the metaverse and what the future may have in store.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

How did the nickname the Godmother of the Metaverse come into being?

[Reddit co-founder] Alexis Ohanian tweeted last year, asking which women and folks he should be following in web3. My friend Andrew Schwartz, who works at Nikes metaverse team, listed a few people and then he tweeted: Oh, and dont forget about Cathy Hackl, shes the Godmother of the Metaverse. So [that was] the first time anyone ever used that. And someone took a screenshot, they sent it to me, and people started using the term. I wear it as a badge of honor, to be honest.

Youve described VR as being a single point of entry into the metaverse. Looking five to 10 years out, how pervasive do you think the metaverse will be in the life of the ordinary person, and what do you think the most popular point of entry into that metaverse will be?

Whatever comes after the mobile phone. For many of us, that vision is glasses AR or spatial computing. But not necessarily VR. So I think whatever comes after the mobile phone and occupies our time will be the most important entry point.

Because theres Ready Player One, and people see the movie or read the book, they feel like thats the metaverse thats the vision that theyve been sold. Thats a pretty dystopian view. Thats the whole point of a sci-fi novel like that one ... its presenting a dystopian view of the future. We dont want that kind of world. Right? I always say: I think the future is less Ready Player One, and more seamlessly blending virtual and physical.

So for me, VR is one of the enabling technologies. Its an entry point into how were going to experience the future of the internet. Its not the only one ... So [in] five to 10 years, depending on on how fast things are built ... what I envision is glasses that replace our phones. And maybe eventually those glasses are able to go between VR and AR ... eventually the idea is that one device will do both. But that is a very hard thing to solve. I think people underestimate how hard it is to put a supercomputer on someones face. Thats extremely hard to do, from the battery life, to the optics, to the field of view, to the weight, [to] the ergonomics, the design of it.

So when is that? Im not sure. Well have to see.

So is it fair to say that youre not envisioning a future in which were all walking around wearing giant, uncomfortable VR headsets, and that well eventually have wearable technologies that are sleeker, less cumbersome and more fashionable?

I call it the Ray-Ban moment when we have glasses that we actually want to put on because they look great [and] we like them ... Are we gonna be walking around with bulky VR headsets? No.

There appears to be a dichotomy emerging between the corporations that are working to build the metaverse, such as Meta, and the dyed-in-the-wool web3 idealists mostly coders and creators who are working to build the metaverse in the name of of decentralization. In other words, to take the power to control the flow of information out of the hands of big tech companies.

How do you see that dichotomy evolving over time? Is there room in the world of web3 for both camps?

One of the reasons that Meta might be spending so much money at Reality Labs [and] obviously, theyre backtracking a little bit is because, I believe, that they understand that the ad revenue model that made them what they are in web2 is probably not going to be an effective [model] as we head forward ... When I envision the future, I am working toward an open, decentralized metaverse. That is the ultimate goal. Thats what I think is going to be really wonderful and great.

That being said, is the future all open and decentralized? I dont know. There possibly is going to be some walled gardens over here that people might want to go into for some reason or another ... Are we all wanting to work toward an open and decentralized metaverse where theres more transparency, where you own your data through the blockchain? Yeah, I hope so. Is it all going to be open and decentralized? Im not sure ... So thats what I would envision.

When we talk about specifically Meta ... theyre gonna have to, in some ways, play nice with the web3 community in the open and decentralized space if they want to move away from those ad revenue models that theyve been so focused on in web2. Web3 and the metaverse are not the same thing. Theyre intrinsically linked, but theyre not interchangeable. For me, web3 is how people ... are connected in this future of the internet. [The] metaverse for me is how you experience it. So from a hardware perspective, I feel like Metas playing more on the experience side than they are over here, but theyre gonna have to play in web3 [where] things are connected, and theyre gonna have to play nice there.

Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the overall impacts that the metaverse will have on society?

Im neither utopian or dystopian. Im in the middle. I believe that technology will make society better, but there will be a lot of challenges ... I dont think this is going to slow down ... We need to have hard conversations today about where were heading, so we can start getting ahead of the game.

Will there be challenges that we didnt foresee? Yes. Im sure therell be horrible things potentially that we dont even know are gonna happen, because theres no way for us to get ahead of that. But we can have some conversations right now around data, around privacy, around biometric data, around keeping kids safe in these spaces. There are things that we can [do] now to have those very uncomfortable conversations and to try to [figure out how we can] solve for something thats not even here.

Whats one point of confusion related to the metaverse that you frequently encounter?

Theres so many differing opinions on it. Is it one metaverse? Or is it multiple metaverses?

This is how I explained it to myself: [theres] the capital M Metaverse, like that greater vision of the metaverse, and then within that greater vision theres metaverse platforms [those are] metaverses [with a] lowercase m. Thats, I think, still up for debate.

The big thing for me is moving away from the hype of words such as metaverse and NFTs ... and having people just sit down and think about this [as] the future of the internet. How did the internet change your life in web1? How did social media and the connectivity of everything that came with that change it? Where are we heading? Hows [that] going to change as we head into this new iteration of whats coming?

[We need to step] away from the terms because ... they carry some baggage at times. I think a lot about things like virtual air rights. If things are within eyesight and earshot of me, who owns that, who can post there, what can I hear, what can I see? Right? In the future that were heading into, the internets gonna be all around me, so I think therell be a lot of considerations and a lot of things to think about.

Another misconception and oh my gosh, this drives me nuts is when I hear someone talk about the real world versus this other part. Its the physical world and the virtual world. Because if you ask any kid what theyre doing in Roblox and Fortnight, [theyll say] theyre playing with their friends. And those are real friends, even though theyre gaming. My sons first concert was Lil Nas X in Roblox its very real to him. He talks about it in first-person. Right? During the pandemic, you had Zoom Hanukkah or Zoom Christmas. And just because it happened on Zoom didnt make it less real. You werent there physically, but you still have those memories.

[We need to change] how we sometimes talk about where were heading; its not [the] world versus the virtual world, its [the] physical world and [the] virtual world. Its not a versus.

For more, sign up for The Drums Inside the Metaverse weekly newsletter here.

Link:
Q&A With Cathy Hackl, AKA 'The Godmother Of The Metaverse' - The Drum

Dads: As old as the hills, rustic as the smell of gasoline or maybe just that guy who taught you 782 different ways to make spaghetti with butter and parmesan. When Fathers Day rolls around and its time to honor your dad, you may find yourself thumbing through the gift rack at the mall, vacantly searching for another printed tie. But never fear: whatever sort of father youve got, we have the gift picks that will get your dad as excited as the day he got his first bicycle.

Because no father is the same, we included a wide variety of gifts on this list. We have gifts for the artistic, the outdoorsy, the techy, and the tabletop gamer. We made sure that every item on this list is something we can stand behind. Many are items we own and love, and others weve thoroughly vetted. Whatever your pick, youll be sure to land something special.

Best for the Outdoorsy Dad: Black Diamond Storm 400 Best for the Tabletop Gamer Dad: Wingspan Best for the American-Made Dad: 118 Products: Hikers Backpack Best for the Artistic Dad: Grovemade Pencil Kit Best for the Musical Dad: Orba by Artiphon Best for the Beach-Loving: Rumpl Everywhere Towel Best for the Dad Who Commutes: Troubadour Bag Best for the New Father: Panasonic Baby Monitor Best for the Handy Dad: Arrow Shed Best to Keep Tabs on Dad: ElliQ Best for the Diver Dad: Garmin Marine Quatix 7 Series

Key Selling Point: Black Diamond makes headlamps that are reliable enough for years of use, and bright enough to justify leaving the Maglight at home.

When I bought my Black Diamond, the salesperson told me that theyd worn theirs around the world; flash to now and I can say the same thing. Ive traveled with mine on multiple backpacking trips and relied on it for endless nights of camping.

This simple headlamp is made right. Running on four AAA batteries, the Black Diamond features a bright LED lamp that emits up to 400 lumens on its highest setting. Brightness is easily adjusted by holding the on/off button. The stretchy band keeps the light consistently fastened onto your forehead, where it angles with a clicking mechanism. The Storm series comes with strong IP67 water and dust proofing that ensures it will keep glowing, even if your dad takes a spill from the kayak. This is a great gift for any dad who loves solid camping gear, or outdoors adventuring, but also distinguishes itself as a great headlamp for any hobbyist who works on precise projects and could use some extra illumination such as car mechanics or model-train builders.

Key Selling Point: The runaway-hit tabletop board game that will have your dad spotting grebes and purple gallinules everywhere he goes bird up.

Can you distinguish a cormorant from a merganser? Perhaps you wouldnt think youd care to; but thats subject to change with Wingspan. Wingspan is the sensational tabletop board game that has you collect birds and pair them to create the most productive habitat. With 170 lavishly illustrated bird cards that each include game mechanics and powers related to that birds real-world traits, Wingspan is both a birders dream game, and one of the most compelling and addictive engine-building strategy games out there. Play birds in the forest, grasslands, or wetlands, collect food, lay eggs, and accumulate a flock. The game usually takes one to three hours, and can be played with up to five people, or alone. Theres also an app version, for those whod rather bird on their tablet or computer. It should be stated that I am completely addicted, as are my dad and mom so this one comes with the highest personal recommendation.

Key Selling Point: From their home in North Carolina, this all-American-made store delivers exceptional-quality niche goods.

Perhaps most famous for their line of handmade raw selvedge denim created in the original home of Levis denim, White Oak Mill in North Carolina, Hudsons Hill delivers exceptional American-made goods. This Hikers Backpack is a classic Americana piece thats as reliable as the aesthetics it was modeled on. Made of original 1940s U.S. Army tent duck fabric, the backpack is durable and classic. Its finished with leather, metal hardware, and cotton military webbing. Its a perfect daypack for a dad who likes to get away into the hills for the afternoon, but makes just as good of a gift for a father who totes their sketch pad and watercolors wherever they go.

Key Selling Point: This pencil kit is as distinguished as it is high quality.

The shine of light on compressed graphite theres something ineffable about a pencil drawing. Any artist will appreciate a great pencil set, whether theyre sketching from Caravaggios at the National Gallery, or doodling in the margins of memos at work. The Grovemade Pencil Kit is a statement piece. The collection features 12 top-quality cedar Blackwing pencils, a beautiful walnut stand, and an aluminum sharpener outfitted with a German steel blade. Even after dad gets through the 12 included pencils, the sharpener and pencil stand makes for a striking addition to their desk that will last them a lifetime.

Key Selling Point: This electronic instrument looks like a miniaturized Hang drum, but functions as a highly capable midi controller thats as fun as it is powerful.

Electronic instruments are getting more and more varied. The Orba by Artiphon is one of the most fun digital midi controllers weve seen on the market. This small spherical controller interacts with your computers electronic music software in novel ways, working as a synth, looper, and midi controller that pairs touch buttons, with tilts, shakes, and bumps, for a truly reactive musical device. Pairing with the Orba app, its intuitive enough to make a good gift, yet powerful enough to make a strong addition to any serious musicians arsenal.

This is a great novelty piece for a musical dad that already seems to have everything in their collection, thats fun enough for a casual musician, and portable enough for a musician on the road. All in all its a great electronic music piece for anyone whos musically inclined.

Key Selling Point: This bright microfiber towel is just as good for beach days in the sun as it is for packing into your dads next camping trip.

A splash of color for the beach paired with hyper-absorbent microfiber that folds down to a tiny size: the Rumpl Everywhere Towel is the perfect accompaniment to days by the water. Designed to nod to the aesthetics of the 1960s and 1970s, this is a towel you cant miss. Because microfiber is so absorptive, these towels also make great outdoor products for backpackers, and fold up to slip into a daypacks side pocket. The Rumpl is a great gift for any dad gearing up for a summer spent on the beach or messing about on boats.

Key Selling Point: This vegan leather travel bag is understated and elegant; its laptop pocket will make sure he keeps his things protected.

Sometimes the best gifts are those for travel. The Troubadour Bag is a deeply stylish travel bag with a European sensibility. The bag is designed with clean lines, excellent quality materials, and all the right pockets. It nails the elements needed in a bag meant for travel. Even the name Troubadour denotes the intended use, this is a bag for those on the move. If youre looking for gifts for him, you cant get classier than the Troubadour.

Key Selling Point: This baby monitor is a wonderful tool for any new parent who wants to keep tabs on their newborn.

Good tech gear can make your life as a parent so much easier. Need a movie night but want to keep tabs while the baby sleeps? The Panasonic Baby Monitor is a powerful and secure baby monitor system that ensures you can keep an eye on your sleeping infant from anywhere in the home. This discreet camera comes with multiple points of control, allowing you to pan, zoom, and tilt. It also streams night vision, and sends you alerts if the baby wakes or calls out. Unlike so many home camera systems, Panasonic uses a secure DECT network to transfer video, so that no one can connect to the camera without the included screen. The system also has the capability to expand to four cameras for growing families.

Key Selling Point: This steel outdoor tool shed makes a perfect workshop or storage space for the handy dad who likes to keep his tools and equipment close.

Ready for mechanics, carpenters, gardeners, wood workers, or even perhaps fletchers the Arrow Shed is an easily assembled steel shed thats perfect for your handy dad. Shipping with a gable roof that ensures water will roll off, a finished rust-resistant exterior, and 43 square feet of storage, the shed is further accessorized with numerous add-ons, including various shelving kits. The 8 x 6 foot shed ships at 189 pounds, so be sure that you have the space and power to assemble it before you buy.

Key Selling Point: An excellent tool for aging parents, ElliQ keeps parents connected to family with photos, enables them to easily book appointments and interact with the web, and interacts with them throughout the day in a friendly way.

Part motivational tool, part interactive digital personality, part connectivity hub, ElliQ is a great tool for the aging parent. Filling many of the roles of an iPad and Alexa, ElliQ is a home companion that helps older adults who might live alone navigate their days and the wider world. ElliQ can be used to book rides, schedule appointments, upload photos, send messages, and video call. It also interacts, telling jokes, spinning trivia, and engaging in small talk. If your dad is living alone this fathers day consider ElliQ as a means to help him navigate his world and keep him company.

Key Selling Point: This admiral-grade smartwatch is equipped with all the features a boat enthusiast needs.

If youre after unique gifts for your seafaring dad, then look no further than the Garmin Marine Quatix 7 Series. This admiral-grade smartwatch is decked out with all the features hell need for fooling around on boats. With a silicone band and a crystal face, the watch is sturdy, and is rated for 10 atmospheres of pressure (100 meters). The watch has a battery life of 6 days in always-on mode, and up to 16 days in normal mode.

The Garmins controls are easy to operate, and youll want them to be with such a host of digital features. The watch is capable of standard smartwatch tasks, such as sending and receiving texts, as well as heart rate monitoring, however, it shines on the water. The watch uses multi-band frequency support that allows it to sync with multiple navigation satellite systems beyond GPS, such as Galileo, keeping dad on track in isolated areas where GPS doesnt penetrate. This feature syncs beautifully with the Quatixs stunning array of maps, including freshwater maps of the United States, global coastal maps, topography, ski slopes, and golf course maps. Beyond maps, the watch connects to multiple systems on your boat, allowing you to monitor wind, and water depth, set waypoints, and even operate autopilot.

With so many features the Garmin Marine will be a beloved tool for any water enthusiast, whether a surfer pairing it with digital surf gear, a diver checking maps underwater, or a captain steering their boat across the Sargasso Sea.

Fathers Day is a great chance to honor our dads with something special. Whatever you choose, personalized gifts are sure to be a hit: that might be a gift to augment their musical chest of curiosities, such as the Orba by Artiphon. A Hikers Backpack made of classic American-made materials is a great choice for those who appreciate quality craftsmanship. We recommend Wingspan for the father who has an interest in games or birds; we think its a great gift for anyone who wants to bring the whole family together. The Black Diamond is an excellent choice for a gift for a dad who likes to spend his time outdoors, while the pricey Garmin Marine Quatix 7 Series is the best gift for the dad whos dedicated to boating. Whatever you choose, make sure its something that youre excited about giving, it doesnt have to be expensive to be good, it just needs to be special, in the end thats the most important part of fathers day building your relationship with your dad.

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.

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Best Fathers Day Gifts of 2022 - Futurism

One of Africas most distinguished philosophers, Professor Mogobe Ramose, will be heading to Kigali next week for eLearning Africa, the continents leading conference on digital learning, training and skills development. In the Rwandan capital, he will meet a senior futurist, Dr Njeri Mwagiru of the University of Stellenbosch, and other experts for discussions about the role of learning in transforming Africa.

Professor Magobe Ramosa has been described as one of Africas key thinkers, having helped to popularise African philosophy and, specifically, its Ubuntu tradition. He and Dr Mwagiru are scheduled to join Rwandas Education Minister, Dr Valentine Uwamariya, Mark West of UNESCO and Albert Nsengiyumva of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) at the opening plenary session of the annual eLearning Africa conference. Conference organisers are not hesitating to emphasise the significance of their discussions, which provide an opportunity not only to focus on how education on the continent is changing, but also about its fundamental purpose in an era that is increasingly defined by rapid technological change

eLearning Africa Founder Rebecca Stromeyer says that participants at this years conference, which is being held in real time for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, will be looking for answers to fundamental questions.

What is the post-pandemic, African agenda for education? As the continent begins to evolve towards a single market, what do Africans expect from their education system? And what can Africa teach the world about the real purpose of education? These are very important, urgent questions for education professionals and decision makers.

I am delighted that well joined by such a distinguished panel for the opening plenary session, which will set the tone for three days of debates, discussions, interaction and networking. Its wonderful that were going to be meeting together again for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic. eLearning Africa is a unique network of professionals and our conferences bring people together from all over the world, which results in a huge amount of knowledge-sharing, as well as the formation of many new partnerships and projects in the field of digital learning and training in Africa.

eLearning Africa was founded in 2005 and has been held in cities across the continent ever since. In the past, the conference has hosted more than 20,000 participants from over 100 countries around the world, with more than 3,730 speakers talking about every aspect of technology supported learning and skills development. In the last 14 years it has also been the occasion for a ministerial round table meeting, at which African education and technology ministers exchange ideas and experience with leading figures from the private sector.

The eLearning Africa conference is accompanied by an exhibition, at which leading international eLearning manufacturers, suppliers and service providers present their latest products and services, providing visitors with an opportunity to gain an insight into the latest developments in the EdTech market.

Plenary speakers Professor Ramose and Dr Mwagiru will also be taking part in the eLearning Africa debate at the close of the conference on the evening of Friday 13 May. The motion for discussion, at what should be a very lively debate, is This House believes Africa urgently needs an African education model.

More details on the conference can be found here: https://www.elearning-africa.com/conference2022/

For more information (and Media Inquiries):

For more information about the elearning Africa, including booking details and a guide to taking part, please visit the website at elearning-africa-conference.com, or contact info@elearning-africa.com.

eLearning Africa - Africa's Home for Ideas, Innovation and Sustainable Solutions for Education, Training and Skills Development since 2005

Secretariat: ICWE GmbH, Leibnizstrasse 32, 10625 Berlin, GermanyContact: Rebecca Stromeyer, info@elearning-africa.comTel: +49 (0)30 310 18 18-0, Fax: +49 (0)30 324 98 33

Platinum Sponsors: HP. TooShare, Class Technologies, OneConnect

MRT Sponsors: HP. Cypher Learning, Coursera for Campus

Gold Sponsors: Appliansys, Moodle, Deviare

Silver Sponsors: ETS, Panopto, Vigilearn, Coursera for Campus

Sponsors: Alison, Certiport, Kamaleon, Bookt

Partners: UNESCO, Mastercard Foundation, EdTech Hub, Enabel, AHEEN, Hasso Plattner Institut, Atinigi, iMove, Africa Connect3, Association for the Development of Education in Africa, Global Business Schools Network, Smart Africa, Kepler, mEducation Alliance

Co-Hosted by: Rwanda Convention Bureau

Official Carrier: RwandAir

Media Partners: Checkpoint eLearning, Learning News, Africa News Agency, EduGist, The New Times

Stay connected:eLearning Africa News PortalFacebook GroupFacebook PageInstagram PageLinkedIn GroupLinkedIn PageTwitter: @eLAconference #eLA22

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eLearning Africa 2022: Philosopher and futurist top the bill for 'fundamental' discussions - BusinessGhana

Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Tourism Ajay Bhatt called upon the scientific community to make advancements in technologies, such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), to ensure that the nation is prepared to deal with future threats.

He was addressing an event on the occasion of National Technology Day organized by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in New Delhi on Wednesday.

The government is making all efforts to meet the defence requirements through domestic procurement exhorting all sectors of the defence ecosystem to work together to achieve excellence in cutting edge technologies, said Bhatt.

The minister lauded the efforts of DRDO in establishing a self-reliant Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem that provides the armed forces with state-of-the-art equipment, in line with Prime minister Narendra Modis vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.

DRDO has proved itself through design, development and production of highly-sophisticated weapon platforms/systems. It has enhanced the involvement of the private sector. Due to these efforts, India is now among the top 25 nations exporting defence equipment, he said.

National Technology Day is observed on May 11 every year to commemorate the nuclear tests conducted in Pokhran in 1998. The theme this year is Integrated Approach in Science and Technology for Sustainable Future.

Ajay Bhatt said that the theme underlines the importance of all-round development of science and technology for the progress of a nation.

During the event, the minister distributed DRDO awards for the year of 2019 to the scientific fraternity for displaying outstanding acumen in realising the technological dreams of the Nation.

The category of awards included awards for Life-Time Achievement, Technology leadership, Senior Scientists Awards, Academy Excellence, Techno-Managerial, Self-Reliance and Performance Awards.

Shri Ajay Bhatt also released two monographs Endeavours in Self-reliance Defence Research (1983-2018) authored by former Director DRDO Dr KG Narayanan and Concepts and Practices for Cyber Security by former Director General at DRDO Dr G Athithan.

A Defence Technology Spectrum was also released on the occasion. The event also witnessed three orations from DRDO scientists on advanced technologies.

Continued here:
Advancements in futuristic tech need of the hour: MoS Ajay Bhatt - The Siasat Daily

The steep path known as the Radical Road, running along Salisbury Crags was closed in 2018 due to safety concerns after 50 tonnes of rock fell from cliffs onto the path.

BBC Scotland has now cited a study revealing the walkway as one option, as well as reopening the route at users' own risk; installing avalanche-style shelters like those at Lochcarron or wire mesh; or shutting it permanently.

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Ramblers Scotland and Edinburgh heritage watchdog the Cockburn Association reportedly said they wanted it reopened, echoing previous calls to do so.

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) manages the site, and an internal report into its risk-management is said to cite the sky walkway at Jasper National Park in the Canadian Rockies as an example that could be emulated.

The Radical Road is deemed historically significant, and was where geology pioneer James Hutton examined exposed horizontal bands of dolerite rock. At one exposure, now known as Huttons Section, he was able to better understand the relationship between the different layers of rock, using the example to support his theory that igneous rocks are formed from magma.

The road got its name in the aftermath of the Radical War of 1820, when unemployed west of Scotland weavers protesting at what they felt were unjust conditions paved the track round Salisbury Crags, in a plan suggested by author Sir Walter Scott.

Ramblers Scotland director Brendan Paddy is quoted as saying "much more detail" was needed about the true risk to walkers using the path, and he said people are usually left to take their own call about the dangers involved with outdoor activity, as these are usually hugely outweighed by the benefits.

Concerns

He added: "While we recognise HES has a duty of care to people on the route, we are concerned that it seems to be treating Salisbury Crags a natural geological feature like it would a crumbling historic building."

James Garry, the assistant director of the Cockburn Association, deemed the plan for a sky walkway an "excessive and inappropriate intervention", adding: "Other more sustainable and more sensitive options may be possible. It would be interesting to hear from the managers of similar sites worldwide who have successfully tackled the same sort of issues. HES needs to raise its game to deliver what Scotland's capital deserves."

A HES spokeswoman was quoted saying the risk of rockfall could "cause death or severe injury" on part of the Radical Road.

"We continue to consult external specialists and partners on what is the most appropriate option to best remedy this situation," she added. "This includes a number of options including the permanent closure of the path to the general public and scoping the feasibility of intervention methods.

"We will be undertaking further technical assessments before coming to a decision. However, no final decision has been taken yet."

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Could this futuristic option help reopen a key pathway on Edinburgh's Arthur's Seat? - The Scotsman

Sweden-based Volta Trucks on Thursday announced plans to enter the United States market with its Zero electric commercial trucks.

The company said in a press release that it plans to "appoint an experienced U.S.-based manufacturing partner in late 2022." It plans to start U.S. production with this partner in 2024-2025.

Prior to that, Volta plans to deploy a pilot fleet of 100 trucks for U.S. customer evaluation, starting in Los Angeles in 2023. They'll be built at Volta's existing contract manufacturing partner in Steyr, Austria.

Volta Zero

Those initial trucks will be Americanized versions of the Volta's European 16-tonne (35,000-pound) model, equivalent to Class 7 by U.S. standards. A modular battery system will offer a range of 95-125 miles, according to Volta. Trucks will have 19-kw AC charging that can add 12 miles of range in one hour, and DC fast charging that will deliver a full charge in the same amount of time, the company said.

In addition to the Class 7 truck, Volta also recently unveiled Class 5 and Class 6-equivalent models for the European market. All three share futuristic exterior styling. Volta claims that its commercial trucks afford better visibility for the driver, as it places them down at street view, with a centered seating position.

Volta also indicated that it will offer its "truck as a service" model in the U.S. Pitched as an alternative to traditional ownership or leasing, it gives fleet operators access to vehicles and charging infrastructure for a single monthly fee, with maintenance, insurance and driver training included.

Volta Zero

Volta's plans to build and sell vehicles in the U.S. aren't unexpected. The company has worked with U.S. suppliers for some time, sourcing batteries from California-based Proterra and e-axle units from Michigan-based Meritor.

Electric trucks will help reduce emissions, but that's not the only benefit. Freightliner noted that in test fleets drivers suffer from less fatigue in electric trucks. So far, though, the infrastructure for electric commercial trucks is lagging.

The grid can handle itmostlybut megawatt-capable stationswill come more slowly than light-vehicle fast-charging stations. California is working on deploying the infrastructure to support heavy-duty electric trucks, however.

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Volta plans to build its futuristic-looking electric trucks in the US, teases truck-as-a-service offering - Green Car Reports

That's pretty big.Survival 101

A team of researchers from Nanjing University in China say lunar soil could be used to support long-term human survival on the Moon because it provides extraterrestrial survival resources like oxygen and fuel.

The scientists published their research Friday in the journal Joule, analyzing samples collected during Chinas 2021 Change-5 mission. It was the first to bring back fresh lunar soil in 40 years, according to SciTechDaily. The team says lunar dirt might facilitate human exploration to the Moon and beyond, as long as they can convert carbon dioxide into others resources on a large scale like they did for the study.

Chinas accomplishments in space are, of course, a good thing. Its great to learn details that could help us survive when we get to the Moon again, or even when we colonize Mars like Elon Musk and SpaceX hope to do. Even better, a previous report about Chinas upcoming lunar missions said the country would consider collabing with others.

The US and Russia certainly arent getting along any time soon, and life aboard the ISS has been seemingly dramatic of late. Successful missions will probably continue putting astronauts from different countries together on the same ships and stations, so if China can bring everybody together and find helpful Moon expertise, we say good on em.

More on off-world news: Scientists Capture the Mournful Wailing of a Black Hole

Excerpt from:
Scientists Say They've Figured Out How to Turn Moon Soil Into Spaceship Fuel and Oxygen - Futurism

B.I released the music video teaser video for the pre-release single 'BTBT' of part 1 of the 2022 global album project 'Love or Loved (LOL)', which will be released on May 13th through the official social media handles on May 11.

Following the teaser poster released the day before, B.I, who appeared with silver hair and rider jacket styling, shows a sensual appearance in the background of various spots such as the pier, in the car, and on the roof in this teaser video. In particular, the trendy sound and B.I's voice of "Make me go beep" were unveiled for the first time in this teaser video. Here B.I has raised the curiosity about the euphemisms by expressing his own sensibilities with his unique colors.

'BTBT' is the initials of the adverb 'Beetle Beetle', and it is a song that expresses the strong attraction of love that makes it impossible to walk straight. B.I improved the song's perfection by working with the famous American rapper Soulja Boy, the aspiring domestic artist DeVita, and the producer team Stereotypes, who had been nominated for three Grammys in the United States.

B.I was one of the contestants on Show Me the Money 3. In 2015, he debuted as the leader of the boy band iKon under YG Entertainment and is credited with the production and songwriting for all releases by the group. After his departure from iKon in 2019, B.I was appointed as the executive director of IOK Company in 2020 and continues to record under IOK Music affiliate 131 Label.

B.I debuted as a solo artist in 2021, with the release of his self-written charity single album Midnight Blue (Love Streaming) and full-length charity studio album Waterfall. He released the first part of his self-written second studio album, Cosmos, on November 11, 2021.

ALSO READ: SEVENTEEN members dazzle in the first concept photos for upcoming album Face The Sun

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WATCH: B.I welcomes viewers to the futuristic world of BTBT featuring Soulja Boy and DeVita - PINKVILLA