Page 560«..1020..559560561562..570580..»

Category Archives: Transhuman News

Tech futurist Cathy Hackl lays out her expectations for the metaverse in 2022 | CNBC News – Oakland News Now

Posted: December 29, 2021 at 10:10 am

Oakland News Now

video made by the YouTube channel with the logo in the videos upper left hand corner. OaklandNewsNow.com is the original blog post for this type of video-blog content.

Cathy Hackl, Metaverse expert, Tech Futurist, and CEO & Chief Metaverse Officer at The Futures Intelligence Group, joins

via IFTTT

Note from Zennie62Media and OaklandNewsNow.com : this video-blog post demonstrates the full and live operation of the latest updated version of an experimental Zennie62Media , Inc. mobile media video-blogging system network that was launched June 2018. This is a major part of Zennie62Media , Inc.s new and innovative approach to the production of news media. What we call The Third Wave of Media. The uploaded video is from a YouTube channel. When the YouTube video channel for CNBC News uploads a video it is automatically uploaded to and formatted automatically at the Oakland News Now site and Zennie62-created and owned social media pages. The overall objective here, on top of our is smartphone-enabled, real-time, on the scene reporting of news, interviews, observations, and happenings anywhere in the World and within seconds and not hours is the use of the existing YouTube social graph on any subject in the World. Now, news is reported with a smartphone and also by promoting current content on YouTube: no heavy and expensive cameras or even a laptop are necessary, or having a camera crew to shoot what is already on YouTube. The secondary objective is faster, and very inexpensive media content news production and distribution. We have found there is a disconnect between post length and time to product and revenue generated. With this, the problem is far less, though by no means solved. Zennie62Media is constantly working to improve the system network coding and seeks interested content and media technology partners.

Oakland News Online Links From Oakland's Only News Aggregator Blog

Oakland News Now Archives Oakland News Now Archives Select Month December 2021 (34900) November 2021 (32789) October 2021 (8926) September 2021 (1111) August 2021 (843) July 2021 (725) June 2021 (431) May 2021 (393) April 2021 (463) March 2021 (320) February 2021 (315) January 2021 (356) December 2020 (319) November 2020 (349) October 2020 (444) September 2020 (445) August 2020 (496) July 2020 (462) June 2020 (391) May 2020 (301) April 2020 (289) March 2020 (239) February 2020 (221) January 2020 (262) December 2019 (161) November 2019 (183) October 2019 (226) September 2019 (173) August 2019 (231) July 2019 (239) June 2019 (194) May 2019 (137) April 2019 (224) March 2019 (164) February 2019 (142) January 2019 (181) December 2018 (147) November 2018 (168) October 2018 (173) September 2018 (192) August 2018 (183) July 2018 (176) June 2018 (125) May 2018 (28) April 2018 (18)

Read this article:
Tech futurist Cathy Hackl lays out her expectations for the metaverse in 2022 | CNBC News - Oakland News Now

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Tech futurist Cathy Hackl lays out her expectations for the metaverse in 2022 | CNBC News – Oakland News Now

Art in (a bit south of) Tribeca: Flyboy at The Battery – Tribeca Citizen

Posted: at 10:10 am

The Battery Conservancy and NYC Parks has installed The Great Debate a monumental sculpture by Hebru Brantley that will be on display for the next year. The 16-foot, painted fiberglass structure depicts Brantleys Flyboy signature character.

A Chicago native, Brantley is best known for his Afro-Futurism approach to anime and graffiti. His paintings and sculptures often depict fictional versions of his younger self, as well as pop culture or art historical figures such as Keith Haring and Jean-Michel Basquiat. He named this one for the positive side of public discourse.

No matter if we agree or disagree, what is important is that we have the freedom to do so. My hope is that Flyboy at The Battery will serve as a consistent reminder to hold your head high, stand firm in what you believe in, and keep pushing forward with confidence. The Flyboy character that I have created has become a pillar of hope and optimism for people around the world. He challenges people to transcend their circumstances and believe they are worthy of their dreams, no matter the color of their skin or the neighborhood they grew up in.

More here:
Art in (a bit south of) Tribeca: Flyboy at The Battery - Tribeca Citizen

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Art in (a bit south of) Tribeca: Flyboy at The Battery – Tribeca Citizen

Capture All the Action with the Best GoPro Cameras – Futurism

Posted: at 10:10 am

For nearly two decades, the name GoPro has been synonymous with action and adventure. So much so that people often refer to any action camera as simply a GoPro. When looking for the best GoPro cameras, keep in mind that the current GoPro lineup continues that legacy, thanks to premium video features like class-leading resolutions and frame rates up to 5.3K at 60 frames per second and arguably the most sophisticated image stabilization ever put into an action camera: HyperSmooth.

With the notable exception of the GoPro Max, the current roster of available GoPro cameras are all part of the HERO Black series. That series starts with the beginner-friendly HERO7 Black and ends with the current king of all action cams, the HERO10 Black. Each generation of HERO camera offers something new, something more advanced than its predecessor, though those upgrades dont automatically mean the newer generations of HERO cameras are better than the older theyre just more powerful.

In this guide, well discuss who might need the extra power newer models provide, as well as those who would be better served with a less expensive though fully capable model. Well also go over what to look for when shopping GoPro cameras on your own, including which features to prioritize and which to disregard.

Best Overall: GoPro HERO10 BlackBest for Beginners: GoPro HERO7 BlackBest for Vlogging: GoPro HERO9 BlackBest for 360 video: GoPro MAXBest Value: GoPro HERO8 Black

Normally, when we review action cameras, we prioritize features like video quality and stabilization to separate the good cameras from the not-so-good. However, because every current GoPro camera offers both high-quality video quality and highly effective digital stabilization, we refined our review process to consider how important those features were to specific use-cases and popular applications (e.g., what is the best GoPro for vlogging). Here are the features we looked at and how we judged them.

Video Quality: Because every current GoPro camera delivers high-quality, digitally stabilized video, we judged their video quality by how relevant it was to a particular category or use. For example, when we were looking for the best GoPro overall, we went with the model that has the very best video quality, the HERO10 Black. Our thinking was that the best GoPro should be the one with the best video footage. For categories where having the very best video quality wasnt as relevant to the use (e.g., the best beginner GoPro,), we didnt rank video quality quite so high.

Rugged Design: Like any good action camera, a GoPro needs to be tough and reliable. It needs to stand up to the elements, to survive the impact from a steep fall, and to withstand a reasonable level of water and/or dust immersion. We reviewed each GoPro camera using this criterion; we also judged the vulnerability of their more sensitive components, such as the camera lens and display.

Battery: Having enough battery to support recording high-quality video for at least an hour is critical. Bonus points if the battery is removable, so you can swap it out for a fresh one when necessary.

Live Streaming: Although its relevance changes from use-case to use-case, the ability to effectively transmit live footage is something we looked at when reviewing the GoPro lineup. Specifically, we considered how well a particular GoPro could stream live video when judging its potential as a vlogging camera or webcam. Learn more about the best GoPro accessories.

Related: The Best Digital Cameras of 2022.

Why It Made the Cut: Featuring best-in-class resolution, frame rates, and image stabilization, the HERO10 Black is the most advanced GoPro camera you can buy and our pick for the best GoPro camera overall.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 5.3K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 23MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1720mAh

Pros:5.3K60/4K120/2.7K240 VideoNew GP2 ProcessorHyperSmooth 4.0 Image StabilizationWaterproof to 33 feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:Premium features mean a premium price

Though it bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, the GoPro HERO10 Black is a far superior device. The secret to its superiority is the HERO10 Blacks powerful new processor, the GP2, which allows it to shoot 5.3K video at up to 60 fps thats double the frame rate of its predecessor. Along with its upgraded CPU, the HERO10 Black also features a new 23MP image sensor and the latest version of GoPros signature stabilization tech, HyperSmooth 4.0. Both of these features are notable improvements over the previous gen.

Sheer power alone isnt the only reason the HERO10 Black is the best GoPro overall. It also boasts the most features and is the most accessible, meaning it has the widest appeal. For example, not only is the GoPro HERO10 Black a world-class action camera, its also a great webcam solution thanks to its 1080p Live Streaming feature. The ability to live-stream in Full HD, coupled with the HERO10 Blacks new front-facing display, also make it a great camera for vloggers.

Though it features several new hardware elements, the HERO10 Black uses a near-identical design, which means many of the accessory mods that worked with its predecessor are also supported by the HERO10 Black. Not only that, but all of the fan-favorite features and popular video modes of earlier models are built into the HERO10 Blacks softwaremany of which have been updated to utilize the new processor and stabilization tech.

That extensive list of new and upgraded features, combined with the enhanced processor, image sensor, and video quality, make the HERO10 Black the most sophisticated action camera on the market, and the best GoPro overall.

Why It Made the Cut: The GoPro HERO7 Black pairs a low price point and easy-to-use interface with high-quality 4K video, making it a great entry point for action cam users, and the best camera for beginners.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 4K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 12MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1220mAh

Pros:Video Resolution: Up to 4K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 12MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1220mAh

Cons:Far less features than newer models

While its no longer part of the current GoPro lineup, the GoPro HERO7 Black still packs a ton of great features that make it especially suitable for beginners. Among those highlights is the ability to shoot stabilized 4K60 video, which is generally considered the standard of high-quality video for action cameras.

While it lacks many of the advanced features of the newer HERO models, the HERO7 Blacks clean and easy-to-access interface make it a breeze to navigate and use. Beginners will no doubt appreciate how streamlined the menus and operations are, especially those that just want to get out and start shooting.

Although it doesnt have all the software bells and whistles of the later models, the HERO7 Black is every bit as rugged. Featuring a compact design that is waterproof down to 33 feet and every bit as tough as the future models, the HERO7 Black offers the signature ruggedness the GoPro brand is known for a trait that beginners, especially young ones prone to dropping things, will appreciate. Read a full review of the GoPro HERO7 Black.

Why It Made the Cut: Thanks to a new front-facing color display and across-the-board upgrades, the HERO9 Black is one of the best GoPro cameras for vloggers.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 5.3K at 30fpsPhoto Resolution: 20MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1720mAh

Pros:5.3K30/4K60/2.7K120 Video1080p Live Streaming & Webcam ModeHyperSmooth 3.0 Image StabilizationWaterproof to 33 feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:Bulkier than predecessor

The GoPro HERO9 Black introduced several enhancements to the HERO lineup, including a new front-facing 1.4-inch color display that allows users to frame shots using its live-view feature, making the HERO9 a great option for vloggers.

In addition to the upgraded display, the HERO9 Black also features a new 23.6MP image sensor capable of shooting video up to 5K at 30 fps a notable step up from its predecessor, which maxes out at 4K60 (the HERO9 can also shoot 4K60). Supporting the HERO9 Blacks new sensor and 5K video capability is HyperSmooth version 3.0, which adds gimbal-like stabilization to all your video, regardless of resolution or frame rate.

Top those features off with a powerful new battery that promises 30 percent more life than its predecessor and youre looking at an action cam that lasts longer, shoots better footage, and features a handy front display thats perfect for framing your next shot or live stream.

Now, although the GoPro HERO9 Black isnt as powerful as the current flagship model, the HERO10 Black, it is significantly less expensive. On top of that, the HERO10 Blacks powerful hardware is likely overkill for conventional vlogging, making the HERO9 Black the best GoPro for vloggers.

Why It Made the Cut: Though it is only one of two 360 cameras ever produced by GoPro, the GoPro Max outranks and outperforms its predecessor in every single category, making it the best 360 camera you can buy.

Specs:Video Resolution: 5.6K at 30fps (Spherical); 1440p60 (Standard)Photo Resolution: 16.6MP (Spherical); 5.5MP (Standard)Image Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1600mAh

Pros:5.6K30 Spherical VideoCaptures Spherical and Standard (Wide-Angle) Video and StillsMax HyperSmooth Image StabilizationWaterproof to 16 feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:No 4K video in HERO mode

As the only current GoPro camera that can shoot spherical video, the GoPro MAX is the obvious choice if youre looking for the best 360 GoPro. However, just because the GoPro MAX is the only spherical shooter GoPro currently offers, that doesnt mean its light on features.

The GoPro MAX outputs 360-degree video at a resolution of 5.6K30 and standard HERO-style video at 1440p60. Stabilized with GoPros proprietary Max HyperSmooth software, the MAXs video footage ranks among the very best in the 360 camera category. A third video option is using the GoPro MAX for live streaming. Capable of transmitting live video in 1080p, the GoPro MAX is great for vloggers or anyone who wants to live broadcast to social media.

In addition to excellent video and versatility, the GoPro MAX offers almost everything you could want in a 360 cam. Its rugged build is designed to withstand the rigors of even the most harrowing adventures, including being submerged in water down to 16 feet deep. Its companion editing software gives you full creative control over all your footage, allowing you to cut together dynamic clips and action-packed scenes.

While its true that the GoPro MAX is the only 360 camera GoPro currently offers, its important to know that the MAX can stand toe-to-toe with any 360 camera out there, and likely come out on top. Excellent video quality, best-in-class stabilization, sturdy design, and versatility help make the MAX the best 360 GoPro you can buy, and one of the very best 360 cameras in the world.

Why It Made the Cut: With its relatively modest price tag and long list of advanced features, including 4K60 video and HyperSmooth 2.0, the GoPro HERO8 Black is the best GoPro for the money.

Specs:Video Resolution: Up to 4K at 60fpsPhoto Resolution: 12MPImage Stabilization: DigitalBattery Capacity: 1220mAh

Pros:4K60/2.7K120 Video12MP SuperPhoto with HDR SupportHyperSmooth 2.0 Image StabilizationWaterproof to 33 Feet without HousingWi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons:No front-facing display

With the ability to shoot professional-grade video in resolutions up to 4K at 60 fps and 1080p at 240 fps, the GoPro HERO8 Black offers flagship-worthy performance at mid-tier price, making it our pick for the GoPro that offers the best value.

In looking for the best GoPro cameras, we compared the video quality of the HERO8 Black against its successor, the HERO9 Black. On paper, the HERO8 Blacks 4K video cant keep up with the 5K footage of the HERO9 Black.

In practice, however, the difference between the two cameras max resolution video is hardly striking, and in some cases, mostly undetectable. Similarly, the HERO8 Blacks HyperSmooth 2.0 isnt as sophisticated as the HERO9 Blacks HyperSmooth 3.0 stabilization, but the difference isnt as noticeable as the difference in price would lead you to believe.

The extra difference in cost, then, seems the result of the HERO9 Blacks new front-facing display and larger battery, which can last up to 30 percent longer than the HERO8 Black. For vloggers, the new display adds some serious supplemental value to the HERO9, but because its more of a niche use case, its quite enough to tip the scales.

Improved battery life, on the other hand, is something that every GoPro owner wants and values. And although 30 percent is a major boost in runtime, we still didnt see it as enough of an increase to warrant changing our pick. In terms of what you get for what you pay, the HERO8 remains our top choice.

When shopping for a new GoPro, its tempting to just go with the latest and greatest. After all, the undisputed king of the GoPro cameras, the HERO10 Black, can do just about everything better and faster than any other GoPro. However, its important to remember that the best GoPro overall isnt necessarily the best GoPro for you. Before purchasing your new GoPro, take some time to consider what you plan to do with your camera, as well as these important factors:

Video Resolution and Speed: Regardless of how you plan on using your GoPro, you no doubt want the video quality to look smooth, sharp, and vibrant. Two factors responsible for determining the video quality are the resolution (measured in pixels) and the speed (measured in frames per second). The current GoPro HERO roster is great because every model supports at least 4K video at 60 fps, which is your baseline for high-quality video. Certain GoPro models offer even higher resolutions and frame rates up to 5.3K at 60 fps enabling the highest video quality possible.

Stabilization: Of course, high video resolution and fast frame rates wont mean a thing if the camera shakes without any kind of image stabilization. Luckily, GoPro pioneered one of the most effective digital stabilization platforms ever used in an action camera: HyperSmooth. What you need to know about HyperSmooth is that the original version was an effective digital stabilizer that helped fix shaky footage. Were now on version 4, and its gotten better. When shopping GoPros, consider how turbulent your adventures might be, and choose the appropriate level of stabilization.

Ruggedness: When it comes to action cameras, one word marketers love to use is rugged (ruggedness, ruggedized, etc.) to the extent its lost some the original meaning. However, even though overuse has diluted what it means to be rugged, you should always consider the build quality of the device youre shopping for to ensure that it can withstand whatever adventures you have in mind. Ruggedness might not be a quantifiable measurement, but rugged characteristics are. Check to see if the device has an IP rating, whether its waterproof, dustproof, and/or shockproof. Consider the form factor as well: Is it designed to withstand some abuse or are there obvious points of structural weakness and vulnerability? Accurately considering a devices ruggedness will prevent you from having to consider it again when it doesnt survive your next extreme endeavor.

Live-Streaming: Though it doesnt determine how well a GoPro can capture video, the ability to livestream footage is an important feature to consider for anyone interested in vlogging or using the GoPro as a webcam or teleconferencing device.

Q: Which GoPro is easiest to use?The HERO7 Black is the easiest GoPro to use if for no other reason than it doesnt have as many features or the extensive settings options of the other GoPro cameras.

Q: Which GoPro is best for water?All current GoPro HERO Black models are waterproof down to 33 feet (10 meters), meaning each can be considered the best GoPro for water.

Q: Which GoPro has the best battery life?The GoPro HERO9 Black has the best battery life. Both the GoPro HERO10 and HERO9 Black feature a rechargeable 1720mAh battery. However, because the HERO10 Black has more powerful hardware and stabilization tech, it draws more battery power, making its battery life shorter in some instances. The difference isnt major, but its enough to give the HERO9 Black a slight edge in the battery life category.

Q: How many hours can a GoPro camera record?The amount of hours a GoPro camera can record depends on several factors, including the model of camera, battery life, video resolution, etc. Generally speaking, any of the current GoPro cameras can record between 1 and 2 hours on a full battery.

Q: How much does a GoPro cost?The cost of a GoPro varies depending on the model. Beginner models, like GoPro HERO7 Black typically cost in the $250 range, while the current GoPro flagship, the HERO10 Black, costs upward of $500.

Q: How can I recycle my old camera?GoPro no longer offers any kind of trade-in or recycling program. However, several companies will take certain GoPro models off your hands if you want to sell or donate them. Selling old GoPro cameras on websites such as eBay is also a viable option.

Thanks to its powerful new image sensor and GP2 processor, the HERO10 Black outperforms every other GoPro model. It records 5.3K video at double the frame rates of its predecessor, the HERO9 Black, and its HyperSmooth 4.0 is arguably the most sophisticated digital stabilization ever put in an action cam. Simply put: the HERO10 Black is the best GoPro camera you can buy.

Related: The Best Inkjet Printers of 2022

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.

Care about supporting clean energy adoption? Find out how much money (and planet!) you could save by switching to solar power at UnderstandSolar.com. By signing up through this link, Futurism.com may receive a small commission.

Here is the original post:
Capture All the Action with the Best GoPro Cameras - Futurism

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Capture All the Action with the Best GoPro Cameras – Futurism

Foresight for 2022: Watch These 4 Megatrends – Agweb Powered by Farm Journal

Posted: at 10:10 am

You have two choices. As trends change, you can adapt your farm and capitalize on the opportunities, or you can stay the course and watch your business decline. Today is the slowest rate of change we will experience, says Jack Uldrich, a futurist and former naval intelligence officer. Our world is not slowing down; the pandemic unexpectedly accelerated the future by five to 10 years. What trends will shape the next year or five? Watch these areas.

In somewhat simple terms, Uldrich says, blockchain technology is a distributed digital ledger. What it allows businesses to do is have a secure, trustworthy and transparent view of the supply chain, he says. With blockchain in the not-too-distant future, both consumers and businesses are going to know exactly where their crops came from, how they were grown, how they were shipped, how they were stored, etc.

On the farm level, Uldrich says blockchain technology allows companies such as Cargill, PepsiCo and General Mills to hold farmers accountable for their production practices and resource usage.

I know this will not sit well with all farmers, he says. What Im saying is customers will work with producers who they think are doing the best in limiting their water use, reducing methane or reducing CO2 emissions, and blockchain will give them the technology to do that.

Big food companies are betting on regenerative agriculture to thwart climate change, Uldrich says. That is translating into paying farmers to sequester carbon and adopt conservation practices.

Were seeing European governments be more aggressive on requiring agribusinesses and farmers to get more se-rious about regenerative agriculture, and the Biden administration will likely provide financial incentives for farmers to store carbon in their land. This is a huge opportunity for farmers; its not too soon for every farmer to begin getting up to speed on this issue.

By 2025, electric vehicles could total $330 billion, according to consulting firm AlixPartners. Electric vehicles now represent 2% of total global vehicle sales and could be about 24% of total sales by 2030.

How many people are buying electric cars? Is battery technology improving?

Pay attention to those trends because I think electric vehicles are going to take off faster than most farmers are currently estimating, he says. If so, demand for gasoline goes down, which means demand for ethanol goes down. If ethanol demand goes down, the demand for corn goes down. My point is not to say that will happen, but corn farmers should be prepared for that possibility.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, plant-based meat sales soared to high levels.

That had a lot of folks worried, says Jayson Lusk, Purdue

University agricultural economist. But, that sales growth seems to have leveled off a bit in the past few months.

While the growth in sales has slowed, keep an eye on plant-based proteins (meat and eggs) and milk, Uldrich says: Plant-based protein is going to begin eroding some sales of traditional meat, milk and eggs. It is not going to become 100% of the market, but I think that its going to grow faster than other food segments.

As a business owner, take time to think about the future, advises futurist Jack Uldrich. He offers these three ways to have an AHA moment about the future.Awareness: Be aware of how fast the world is changing and what trends will affect us.Humility: What served us well yesterday in our jobs or our industry might not be sufficient in the world of tomorrow.Action: If your action solves the wrong problem, your efforts are worthless. Instead, ponder this question: What is the tomorrow problem you must begin solving today? That will help lead you to the best action.

Visit link:
Foresight for 2022: Watch These 4 Megatrends - Agweb Powered by Farm Journal

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on Foresight for 2022: Watch These 4 Megatrends – Agweb Powered by Farm Journal

How ‘Concrete Park’ creator Erika Alexander pushed for representation in sci-fi and NFTs – Mashable

Posted: at 10:10 am

Erika Alexander was once told that science fiction isn't for Black people.

This exchange took place in a meeting with a major Hollywood studio president, where Alexander an actor known for the likes of Get Out and Wu-Tang: An American Saga along with ex-husband and collaborator Tony Puryear, was pitching a science-fiction series starring Black actors. The response by the white studio executive startled and angered her.

"[He said] Black people didn't like science fiction because they didn't see themselves in the future," Alexander tells Mashable.

The evidence against that theory is vast. Black voices have soared through the spaces of science fiction and futurism for decades just look at afrofuturism as a prominent cultural movement in itself. Black sci-fi writers like Octavia E. Butler, N. K. Jemisin, Nnedi Okorafor, Justina Ireland, and Troy L Wiggins to name a few have long penned evocative tales in the genre across novels and comics, championing sci-fi despite some experiencing racism in the industry, as Alexander did.

Representation and perception matter, and mainstream science fiction is rooted in Eurocentric tropes and myths. Sci-fi writing has a long way to go to address its tangible lack of diversity and inclusion. In 2016, a study found that less than two percent of published speculative and science fiction stories were written by Black authors.

But fantasy, magic, and speculative storytelling can be reclaimed and reenvisioned.

"The fact that he didn't understand that science fiction or the idea of science fiction, or futurism, was something that was uniquely built into the DNA of African Americans because their past had been taken away from them, was absurd," says Alexander. "They had no name. We have no name. We have the name of our oppressors and our kidnappers. We definitely have everything around us recreated in of the form of what could happen in future because the present was so painful."

Alexander and Puryear were fueled not only by the bigotry they experienced, but by those Black writers who have paved the way in science fiction, moving to release their own passion project: the sci-fi graphic novel series, Concrete Park.

Credit: Dark Horse

Credit: Dark Horse

Launched in 2014, the comic series' story is one of exile, struggle, and perseverance. Published by Dark Horse Comics, the superpower behind Sin City, Concrete Park follows a young outcast from Earth who finds himself on a far-off desert planet plagued by violence. Themes of darkness and light, good and evil, and the path to redemption are the backbone of the tale, which has accumulated awards and acclaim.

"We thought we should create a multiracial, non-homogenous, grassroots movement and satisfy the demand for change. That is Concrete Park," says Alexander. She emphasizes the worlds of science fiction and its facets comic books, cosplay are spaces that Black people belong in.

Come 2021, Concrete Park has found new ground. Alexander looked towards the future once again, finding it to be in blockchain. The creators of the graphic novel partnered with Curio, an NFT platform focused on entertainment collaborations. Alexander and Puryear released "Concrete Park Bangers", a collection of thousands of unique non-fungible tokens that represent the characters (or "Bangers") from the comics. Ten percent of the profits from the drop will go towards Black Girls Code, a group devoted to teaching Black girls computer programming and coding in order to establish equal representation in the tech sector.

Credit: Curio / Concrete Park.

The first drop in the Concrete Park collection, in April of this year, sold out within minutes of its release. "I keep saying the power of the pixel is fascinating," Alexander laughs. The collection of works in the Curio drop were drawn by Puryear, in his distinctive, provocative, vibrant style. The characters are the "heart and soul" of their series, representing the values of sacrifice and transformation that Concrete Park holds close.

"It's revolutionary. But ultimately, it comes down for us to art and life and storytelling," she says. "And [with NFTs], you get to be a person who has a piece of it and say I was there and here's my piece of it. And it means something and it has value."

But even within the NFT market, there are issues of diversity and inclusion.

Curio COO Rikin Mantri tells Mashable that collaborating with creators like Alexander and Puryear, ones that carve space for diverse voices, aligns with the company's own ethos. "In the blockchain community, theres a lot of underrepresentation," he says. "[That's why] we want to look at creators and artists who are pushing the edge."

In the blockchain space, stories of discrimination and inequality have indeed emerged in the past few years. The New York Times unveiled the case of Black workers leaving cryptocurrency startups like Coinbase, explaining that they'd been tokenized, bullied, and faced lack of support within the tech institution. Meanwhile, CryptoPunk NFTs have been flagged for price imbalances within the collection depending on race and gender CryptoPunks that skew white and male, Bloomberg reports, are selling for far more than their counterparts.

Aside from the environmental concerns and brand bandwagon-jumping apparent in the NFT space, there are some benefits especially for creators. Though Mantri found that the NFT space began with a sort of "bro culture," the market could further expand by diversifying its artist base, for one. NFTs has been a golden ticket of sorts to the art world, bringing back contemporary art sales, sprouting entire museums, and revitalising the industry worldwide. When Mantri first heard of NFTs, back in 2017, he said he couldn't sleep at night. "I was just like, this is gonna change the world," he says.

In such a booming, lucrative space, inclusivity for marginalized creators must be forged. When asked how this representation can be facilitated, Mantri turns to the example of the Concrete Park collection, and how it evolved from comic book to collectible. "We think to ourselves: let's create a new environment and use this technology," he says. "What does it enable, in terms of storytelling? What can we do that's new and different?"

As for Concrete Park, the creators appear to just be getting started. A television show is in the works, and plenty more NFT drops are on their way, too the last drop in December was a one-off collaboration with Queen Latifah.

The future is bright.

Related Video: A beginner's guide to NFTs, the crypto potentially worth millions

See more here:
How 'Concrete Park' creator Erika Alexander pushed for representation in sci-fi and NFTs - Mashable

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on How ‘Concrete Park’ creator Erika Alexander pushed for representation in sci-fi and NFTs – Mashable

REPLACED Game: What is the Release Date? – GIVEMESPORT

Posted: at 10:10 am

REPLACED looks set to be one of the most aesthetically pleasing platforming titles to be released on Xbox and PC during this generation, but what is the release date of the game?

The 2.5D sci-fi retro-futuristic action platformer has been drawing admirers since the reveal of the title at E3, with many putting it among their most anticipated upcoming releases.

Sad Cat Studios, the team behind REPLACED, appear to have perfectly captured the Blade Runner/Cyberpunk aesthetic alongside the gameplay styling of Another World, and the hype is only building ahead of the games launch.

Heres everything you need to know about the potential release date of REPLACED on Xbox Series X|S and Microsoft PC.

Read More: REPLACED Game: Release Date, Platforms, Gameplay and Everything You Need to Know

REPLACED is set to be released in 2022 on Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S and Xbox Game Pass.

Unfortunately, the developers have not given a more specific date for the game beyond that, and there doesnt appear to be any indication that we will get an official date in the near future.

What is known is that the game will be released as an Xbox Game Pass Day One release, which means that players who are subscribed to the service will be able to play REPLACED on launch day at no extra cost.

Xbox Game Pass has a huge amount to offer gamers at a cost of 10.99 per month, including:

Microsoft has also recently implemented the Cloud Gaming version of Xbox Game Pass, meaning that players are also able to play titles on the likes of the Xbox Series S without having to download the game and use up storage space.

Were hoping that Sad Cat Studios will confirm a more concrete date of release at some point in early 2022, with players eager to get their hands on the stylish 2.5D platformer with some great nostalgic nods to Paul Verhoeven-esque futurism and Blade Runner-styled visuals.

We will update this page as and when Sad Cat Studios confirms the official release date for REPLACED on Xbox Series X|S and Microsoft PC!

Enter the Giveaway to win up to 500 worth of GiveMeSport Merchandise!

You can find all of the latest gaming news right here at GiveMeSport.

Go here to read the rest:
REPLACED Game: What is the Release Date? - GIVEMESPORT

Posted in Futurism | Comments Off on REPLACED Game: What is the Release Date? – GIVEMESPORT

How Your DNA Test Could Send a Relative to Jail – The New York Times

Posted: at 10:02 am

That morning at the Idaho Falls Police Department was a slow one, which is to say an average one given the size of the town, punctuated with residents wandering in to ask about a missed jury summons or surrender old medication. And then, in the space of about half an hour, dozens of people turned up. There were tweens and great-grandmothers, toddlers and adults just to the far side of middle age, a number of the women bearing a resemblance to one another and also it was clear if you had studied the posters tacked up in the hallway to Angie Dodge, homicide victim, 6/13/1996.

Theres not a person in this city who doesnt know the story of this case, the police chief, Bryce Johnson, told me. It has defined the police department. Its part of the DNA of it. Eventually, the crowd headed down the street to watch Johnson take the lectern in the City Councils chambers, where he told the room that, the previous afternoon, near the Oregon border, officers had walked up to a 53-year-old man named Brian Leigh Dripps Sr., asked him to come in to the local police station for a chat and coaxed forth a confession. Then Moore stepped up to explain the long research process, detailing how Dripps the missing seventh direct male descendant of the right couple had evaded her; when she finally found him, she realized he had been Dodges neighbor in 1996.

This was my first time seeing Moore, and she seemed to conjure, with her long double-helix curls and black pantsuit and sleek rectangular glasses, a glamorous yet relatable detective in a TV procedural. She spoke in crisp paragraphs, with a preternatural ability to hit all her marks. (Moore has racked up dozens of IMDb credits for playing herself.) After the conference ended, she navigated effortlessly among disparate parties, including the police, judicial-reform activists, journalists and Angie Dodges mother, Carol, with whom she had been in touch throughout her investigation. In one episode of The Genetic Detective, Moore drives around Idaho Falls with Carol and works her way through Drippss superimposed family tree like Tom Cruise in Minority Report. With every victorious arrest announced, with every prime-time mention, investigative genetic genealogy was finding new audiences, wider acceptance and more opt-ins. The victim profiles were also becoming more varied, no longer just white, middle-class and female. Moore evangelized not by argument but by loving the work and looking hypercompetent while doing it.

What happened? Karole Honas, the plain-spoken doyenne of the local ABC affiliate, asked the police during the Q. and A. She meant that Dripps had no other serious legal trouble. He just went wacko bananas? Later, outside the police department, amid Mylar fund-raising pinwheels and the last falling crab-apple petals, Moore told me that, yes, in her best guess Honas was right: In the days before the murder, Drippss first child was born and his wife had been trying to leave him, and it seemed as if something had simply gone wrong in his head. Many of her cases resemble this, with offenders who commit one horrific offense and then largely stay in line, though that analysis rests on many assumptions. Only a minority of violent crimes leave behind pertinent DNA evidence, a problem that may be compounded by broad awareness of forensic science and how it can and cannot be evaded. Police noticed that one suspect identified through genetic genealogy had a three-month-old newspaper on a table, open to an article about Talbotts arrest.

On a day like that one in Idaho Falls, Moore seemed like a magician who could pull off any trick. In her final flourish, she had also cleared the name of Chris Tapp, who had served two decades for Angies murder despite having no DNA link to the crime. At the news conference, Tapp was profuse with hugs, handshakes and tears, and in another two months, he would be formally exonerated by a judge. Its the only unqualified joy Ive experienced in law-enforcement work, Moore told me. Everything else has been so heavy.

Two days later, GEDmatch became all but useless to Moore.

Following the Golden State Killer arrest, in 2018, the site had posted a warning to users that police were uploading profiles, and hastily instituted a policy restricting such use to homicides, sexual assaults and unidentified bodies. But a few weeks before the Idaho Falls announcement, it emerged that one of the sites founder-operators had, in a somewhat nave, grandfatherly way, made an exception for a detective in Utah investigating a recent attempted murder. Moore was the one tasked with identifying the suspect (and did). Around the same time, it also emerged that FamilyTreeDNA, a consumer site with more than two million users, had been discreetly allowing the F.B.I. to upload suspect profiles to its database for genetic-genealogy searches.

Continued here:
How Your DNA Test Could Send a Relative to Jail - The New York Times

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on How Your DNA Test Could Send a Relative to Jail – The New York Times

New exhibit to feature matches discovered through DNA testing – Reston Now

Posted: at 10:02 am

The Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art will kick off the new year with the work of Laurel Nakadate, a Boston-based artist who traveled across the country to photograph familiar matches she discovered through DNA testing.

Nakadates work, which is presented in partnership with George Mason University, will be on display at the institute from Jan. 22 through May 29. The artist focuses self-representation, identify formation, representation and loneliness.

Her DNA-based series Relations began in 2013. It also features direct relatives of her mother who died shortly after Nakadate completed work on that series. Each photograph features individuals at night with a single light source at a location of their choice.

I realized at a certain point it wasnt just about the people, but it was about these landscapes. It was about standing in these landscapes and night. And it was about the sort of ways that I could still be surprised by photography, Nakadate wrote in a statement.

Tephra will also offer a first look at a series in which technicians edited photos of Nakadates mother with her newborn son, who was born shortly after Nakadates mother died.

The arts institute offered a quick look at upcoming exhibitions as well:

Travis Childers(Feb. 10-June 28): The component parts of one of Childers artworks are often recognizable manufactured objects, such as pencils or model railroad trees and figurineseven his works on canvas are comprised of images lifted from printed newspaper using scotch tape.Through a process that errs on the side of obsession, he assembles works that are deeply influenced by his personal experience of the Northern Virginia suburban landscape and his memories of a more rural childhood.In reference to a collage made from hundreds of skies excerpted from the background of published newspaper images, the artist reflects, There is just something reassuring about seeing so many horizon lines.

Danni OBrien (July 14-Oct. 11): Danni OBrien is fascinated by the history of the plastics boom that took place in the mid-twentieth century.Looming in the corner of her studio, an overburdened wire shelf serves as a library of collected refuse. Boxes and bins of found and scrapped objects are sorted intuitively by criteria such as texture, shape, material, and color.OBrien speaks about her process as caring for the objects as she meticulously integrates them into monochromatic wall mounted works, whose compositions are drawn from diagrams similarly loosened from their original contexts as instructions for home renovations, sewing, or understanding human anatomy.

Dominic Chambers (Fall 2022): Chambers most recent bodies of work feature his friends and acquaintances engaged in acts of leisure and contemplation. Too often, the Black body has been located in our imaginations as one incapable of rest, Chambers explains. Often when we imagine what the Black body is doing it is usually an act of labor, rebellion, or resistance. Instead, his subjects are depicted reading or lost in thought, their gaze fixed on points that seem far beyond the realm of the picture plane.

Image via Laurel Nakadate/Tephra Institute of Contemporary Art

See more here:
New exhibit to feature matches discovered through DNA testing - Reston Now

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on New exhibit to feature matches discovered through DNA testing – Reston Now

Cuyahoga County prosecutors genealogical DNA unit IDs three more men accused of raping women in the 1990s – cleveland.com

Posted: at 10:02 am

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael OMalleys office has used burgeoning DNA technology to identify three men who are accused of carrying out a combined six sexual assaults across Cleveland in the 1990s.

Two of the men, who were indicted in recent years as John Doe defendants, have pleaded not guilty to charges including rape. The third man died in 2020, prosecutors said.

OMalley and Assistant Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Mary Weston said that they went as far as to get a search warrant to get a sample of the tissue of the man who died from the Cleveland Clinic, where he had been treated for pancreatic cancer, so they could test his DNA against that taken from one of the rape kits.

OMalleys office teamed up with the Texas-based genetic testing company Gene by Gene and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yosts Offices forensic crime lab to use the same technique -- and the same genealogist -- that led to the 2018 arrest of the notorious Golden State Killer.

The process, which began with grant money from the U.S. Department of Justice in 2019 and is known as the G.O.L.D. Unit, identified the first defendant earlier this year. OMalley and Weston hope it will help them identify dozens more.

Its a tremendous asset that this technology has evolved to the point that were able to do the things were doing, OMalley said.

Weston said she hopes the technology can bring solace to the minds of the women who were attacked. Weston said one of the women told her that when she stands in line at a Starbucks or in a grocery store, she sometimes wonders if the man who raped her is in line behind her.

These women dont have to look over their shoulder anymore, she said. You take that anxiety out of the equation when you solve the case, even if the person is dead.

John Doe 11

OMalleys office identified John Doe 11 as Thomas Graham, who died in October 2020 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, according to his obituary. Graham is accused of raping three women in the citys West Side neighborhoods from 1993 to 1997.

In each case, Graham picked up women in their 20s off the street, drove them to another location and sexually assaulted them, prosecutors said.

He raped a 25-year-old woman at knifepoint on June 7, 1994, after he picked her up on Madison Avenue and drove to West 48th Street and Storer Avenue, prosecutors said. He picked up a 20-year-old woman near West 44th Street and Clark Avenue on Nov. 22, 1994, drove to Woodbridge Avenue and raped her, prosecutors said.

Four years later, on Aug. 30, 1998, Graham raped a 27-year-old woman in his car after he picked her up at Lorain Avenue and West 47th Street, prosecutors said.

Grahams DNA profile was indicted in 2013 alongside two other men known as John Doe 9 and John Doe 10.

The genealogy company the prosecutors office works with sent OMalleys office Grahams name as a potential match for John Doe 11s DNA profile earlier this year. Once investigators learned he died last year, they surreptitiously obtained an item from one of Grahams relatives and pulled their DNA off it and sent it to be tested. Investigators matched the DNA to a descendant of John Doe 11, prosecutors said.

OMalley said that since his office was unable to get a confirmation sample directly from Graham, he had his office obtain a search warrant to get a tissue sample from the Cleveland Clinic where Graham had received treatment for pancreatic cancer.

The hospital complied with the warrant and DNA testing confirmed that Grahams DNA matched John Doe 11s, prosecutors said.

Weston filed a motion to dismiss the charges against John Doe 11 as abated by death on Dec. 16.

John Doe 64

Leo Bradley Scott Jr., 60, is charged with three counts of rape and two counts of kidnapping in separate attacks of two women on Clevelands East Side in 1994 and 1998.

Prosecutors said Scott grabbed a 22-year-old woman on Oct. 14, 1994, while she was walking on Euclid Avenue near East 118th Street and dragged her to nearby train tracks, where he sexually assaulted her.

In April 1998, prosecutors say Scott pulled up to a 26-year-old woman who was walking home from a party at the Zulu Motorcycle Club and offered her a ride. When the woman said no, Scott pulled her into the car, drove to a parking lot in East Cleveland and raped her inside the car, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors indicted a DNA profile contained in the rapes as John Doe 64 in 2014.

The genealogy company identified Bradley as a potential match to the DNA profile this summer, and investigators pulled a DNA sample off of an item he had touched and testing confirmed the match. The U.S. Marshals office arrested Bradley in July.

John Doe 102

Prosecutors also identified 48-year-old Rayshawn Hundley as the man who was indicted as John Doe 102 in the burglary and rape of a 16-year-old girl on New Years Eve in 1995.

The girl, who lived in Alabama but was visiting family in Cleveland for the holidays, told police she woke up to find a strange man going through the house. The man then attacked the girl and sexually assaulted her, then stole a VCR and videotapes, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors indicted the DNA profile contained in the girls rape kit in 2015. The genealogy tests gave prosecutors the names of two possible suspects as a match for the profile, and they independently obtained samples from Hundley and matched his DNA to the profiles, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors named Hundley as a defendant in court filings in September. His trial is set for February 2022.

The girl, who was then in her early 40s, died this August as prosecutors were waiting to confirm the identity of her attacker, prosecutors said.

Read more:
Cuyahoga County prosecutors genealogical DNA unit IDs three more men accused of raping women in the 1990s - cleveland.com

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on Cuyahoga County prosecutors genealogical DNA unit IDs three more men accused of raping women in the 1990s – cleveland.com

DNA evidence processed in Amory homicide investigation | News | djournal.com – Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Posted: at 10:02 am

Country

United States of AmericaUS Virgin IslandsUnited States Minor Outlying IslandsCanadaMexico, United Mexican StatesBahamas, Commonwealth of theCuba, Republic ofDominican RepublicHaiti, Republic ofJamaicaAfghanistanAlbania, People's Socialist Republic ofAlgeria, People's Democratic Republic ofAmerican SamoaAndorra, Principality ofAngola, Republic ofAnguillaAntarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S)Antigua and BarbudaArgentina, Argentine RepublicArmeniaArubaAustralia, Commonwealth ofAustria, Republic ofAzerbaijan, Republic ofBahrain, Kingdom ofBangladesh, People's Republic ofBarbadosBelarusBelgium, Kingdom ofBelizeBenin, People's Republic ofBermudaBhutan, Kingdom ofBolivia, Republic ofBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswana, Republic ofBouvet Island (Bouvetoya)Brazil, Federative Republic ofBritish Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago)British Virgin IslandsBrunei DarussalamBulgaria, People's Republic ofBurkina FasoBurundi, Republic ofCambodia, Kingdom ofCameroon, United Republic ofCape Verde, Republic ofCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChad, Republic ofChile, Republic ofChina, People's Republic ofChristmas IslandCocos (Keeling) IslandsColombia, Republic ofComoros, Union of theCongo, Democratic Republic ofCongo, People's Republic ofCook IslandsCosta Rica, Republic ofCote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of theCyprus, Republic ofCzech RepublicDenmark, Kingdom ofDjibouti, Republic ofDominica, Commonwealth ofEcuador, Republic ofEgypt, Arab Republic ofEl Salvador, Republic ofEquatorial Guinea, Republic ofEritreaEstoniaEthiopiaFaeroe IslandsFalkland Islands (Malvinas)Fiji, Republic of the Fiji IslandsFinland, Republic ofFrance, French RepublicFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabon, Gabonese RepublicGambia, Republic of theGeorgiaGermanyGhana, Republic ofGibraltarGreece, Hellenic RepublicGreenlandGrenadaGuadaloupeGuamGuatemala, Republic ofGuinea, RevolutionaryPeople's Rep'c ofGuinea-Bissau, Republic ofGuyana, Republic ofHeard and McDonald IslandsHoly See (Vatican City State)Honduras, Republic ofHong Kong, Special Administrative Region of ChinaHrvatska (Croatia)Hungary, Hungarian People's RepublicIceland, Republic ofIndia, Republic ofIndonesia, Republic ofIran, Islamic Republic ofIraq, Republic ofIrelandIsrael, State ofItaly, Italian RepublicJapanJordan, Hashemite Kingdom ofKazakhstan, Republic ofKenya, Republic ofKiribati, Republic ofKorea, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea, Republic ofKuwait, State ofKyrgyz RepublicLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanon, Lebanese RepublicLesotho, Kingdom ofLiberia, Republic ofLibyan Arab JamahiriyaLiechtenstein, Principality ofLithuaniaLuxembourg, Grand Duchy ofMacao, Special Administrative Region of ChinaMacedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic ofMadagascar, Republic ofMalawi, Republic ofMalaysiaMaldives, Republic ofMali, Republic ofMalta, Republic ofMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritania, Islamic Republic ofMauritiusMayotteMicronesia, Federated States ofMoldova, Republic ofMonaco, Principality ofMongolia, Mongolian People's RepublicMontserratMorocco, Kingdom ofMozambique, People's Republic ofMyanmarNamibiaNauru, Republic ofNepal, Kingdom ofNetherlands AntillesNetherlands, Kingdom of theNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua, Republic ofNiger, Republic of theNigeria, Federal Republic ofNiue, Republic ofNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway, Kingdom ofOman, Sultanate ofPakistan, Islamic Republic ofPalauPalestinian Territory, OccupiedPanama, Republic ofPapua New GuineaParaguay, Republic ofPeru, Republic ofPhilippines, Republic of thePitcairn IslandPoland, Polish People's RepublicPortugal, Portuguese RepublicPuerto RicoQatar, State ofReunionRomania, Socialist Republic ofRussian FederationRwanda, Rwandese RepublicSamoa, Independent State ofSan Marino, Republic ofSao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic ofSaudi Arabia, Kingdom ofSenegal, Republic ofSerbia and MontenegroSeychelles, Republic ofSierra Leone, Republic ofSingapore, Republic ofSlovakia (Slovak Republic)SloveniaSolomon IslandsSomalia, Somali RepublicSouth Africa, Republic ofSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSpain, Spanish StateSri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic ofSt. HelenaSt. Kitts and NevisSt. LuciaSt. Pierre and MiquelonSt. Vincent and the GrenadinesSudan, Democratic Republic of theSuriname, Republic ofSvalbard & Jan Mayen IslandsSwaziland, Kingdom ofSweden, Kingdom ofSwitzerland, Swiss ConfederationSyrian Arab RepublicTaiwan, Province of ChinaTajikistanTanzania, United Republic ofThailand, Kingdom ofTimor-Leste, Democratic Republic ofTogo, Togolese RepublicTokelau (Tokelau Islands)Tonga, Kingdom ofTrinidad and Tobago, Republic ofTunisia, Republic ofTurkey, Republic ofTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluUganda, Republic ofUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom of Great Britain & N. IrelandUruguay, Eastern Republic ofUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuela, Bolivarian Republic ofViet Nam, Socialist Republic ofWallis and Futuna IslandsWestern SaharaYemenZambia, Republic ofZimbabwe

Read more:
DNA evidence processed in Amory homicide investigation | News | djournal.com - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Posted in DNA | Comments Off on DNA evidence processed in Amory homicide investigation | News | djournal.com – Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal

Page 560«..1020..559560561562..570580..»