philip lelyveld The world of entertainment technology

The New Normal

This is a nice collection of single-sentence quotes; some profound and some self-serving.

See them all here: https://qz.com/is/new-normal/#academia

Original and Licensed TV Shows Available on U.S. Streaming Services

https://blog.reelgood.com/original-and-licensed-tv-shows-available-on-u-s-streaming-services?mkt_tok=eyJpIjoiTnpKaVlqUmhOMlZqTlRNMiIsInQiOiJIcW4rQWdnT3Y5Q3lwNkpURFNtVitQWjdJNVFJc3J4QW5QOUx6OUhCazVBN05kSTd5Sk5pU0RHTWVqK29aMjB1Q1V5SnJqUDUyK0hQQ2s4T05MR2tQOGVSVW9RTmo0RXVONVgzM1BURldLTytBU1RZRWZIb1E4MEFlUXV2bDFBZCJ9

Discord is rebranding to shift away from gaming

"Games are what brought many of you on the platform, and we’ll always be grateful for that," the company said. "Today, many of you use Discord for day-to-day communication. You’re sharing thoughts about books, music and art, creating servers to just be yourself and share moments with friends."

Toward the end of the blog post, Discord offhandedly mentions "$100 million in additional funding." Before today, Discord's most recent funding round saw the company raise $150 million at a $2 billion valuation. ... A lot has changed since then, especially in recent months due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since the start of the year, the number of people using the app daily has increased by 50 percent in the US, doubled in Spain and France and tripled in Italy.

That also means that its investors, one of which is Riot Games owner Tencent, now expect more of Discord.

See the full story here: https://www.engadget.com/discord-rebranding-151953314.html

Study: Students work harder when they think they are being watched

During the experiment, more than 300 seventh and eighth graders in 18 classrooms spent a week using instructional math software that had performed well in previous studies. In some classes, the teachers were randomly assigned to use the smart glasses and, in others, they were told not to use them. At first, the results seem to confirm the usefulness of student data. Students in classrooms where teachers wore the glasses improved more on a math test than students in classrooms where teachers didn’t wear the glasses.

The researchers assigned some teachers to wear glasses with the data analytics turned off.

The students in classrooms with teachers wearing turned-off glasses learned a lot, too. Indeed, more than half the learning gains that the researchers documented from access to the data were achieved merely by the teachers wearing the functionally limited glasses.

But more importantly, Holstein thinks it would ultimately fail. “In terms of fostering a good classroom climate, I don’t think I would encourage the feeling of being policed by the teacher,” he said. “Although you might argue that the students already feel this, to some extent, these tools might amplify that.”

See the full story here: https://hechingerreport.org/the-psychological-impact-of-student-surveillance-on-learning/

A virtual reality: What Singapore’s social scene is like in the new normal

But in this challenging climate, luxury brands have come to the realisation that it is imperative to stay in touch with their customer base as much as possible.

Premium vodka label Belvedere, for example, worked with its brand ambassadors from different bars such as Jigger & Pony and Manhattan to stream a series of #CheerswithBelvedere cocktail classes on IGTV. Viewers then shared their own creative spin on the cocktails in a competition to win bottled drinks and Belvedere spirits.

Tina Lee, managing partner of Directions Group Inc, which represents Roger Vivier and Sulwhasoo, added: “Other brands have been communicating with their customers through regular messaging, personalised care packs, electronic direct mailers and incentives to shop, especially for the brands with online capabilities.”

“Do we miss physical shopping? Definitely! Along with the sensorial stimulation that brings endless delight to us, seeing familiar faces, catching up, indulging in a bit of retail escapism!” – Dr Adrian Ng and Dr Loh May-Han

Andrew Li, CEO of Zouk Group, said: “We thought about cloud clubbing quite early on as we saw the initiative in China when clubs were shut. And with teams all over the world we could create a lot of content and push it out on our different country channels. It is not so much a revenue stream as it is about staying connected with our audience.”

See the full story here: https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/virtual-events-singapore-social-scene-12897426

Will Artificial Brain Synapses & Neuromorphic Computing Open the Next AI Hardware Frontier?

Dr. Geoffrey Hinton has commented on the heavy demands that tomorrow’s AI might place on today’s neural networks: “There are one trillion synapses in a cubic centimeter of the brain. If there is such a thing as General AI, it would probably require one trillion synapses.“

A typical AI chip is wired with different types of ANNs that can be mapped onto crosspoint arrays of resistive switching elements. The artificial synapses and neurons can thus be “operated through conduction channels (filaments) that are associated with ion movements driven by electric field, Joule heating or electrochemical potential,” explains the Bridging Biological and Artificial Neural Networks paper.

See the full story here: https://syncedreview.com/2020/07/04/will-artificial-brain-synapses-neuromorphic-computing-open-the-next-ai-hardware-frontier/

See the full story here: https://syncedreview.com/2020/07/04/will-artificial-brain-synapses-neuromorphic-computing-open-the-next-ai-hardware-frontier/

6 STEP GUIDE FOR CIOS TO IMPLEMENT AI FOR BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

The guide to implementing AI is not a piece of cake, here is a blueprint guide, CIOs may consider implementing Artificial Intelligence in modern enterprises-

1. Understanding Artificial Intelligence
2. Decoding AI for the Enterprise
3. Importance of AI to the Enterprise
4. Building AI Use Cases
5. Addressing AI Challenges
6. AI adoption to the Enterprise

See the full story here: https://www.analyticsinsight.net/6-step-guide-for-cios-to-implement-ai-for-business-transformation/

Augmented Human: 5 Times I’ve Used Technology To Augment Myself

As a woman who works in tech, I’ve often wanted to explore the idea of how technology can help us live longer and live better. I’m in some ways, what my futurist friend Kate O’Neil has coined, a tech humanist.

In this article, I’d like to share six times that I’ve personally used technology to augment myself and share some of the lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Touch and Feel

I look forward to seeing how VR hardware OEMs use peripherals like haptic gloves to give users the feeling of touch, and I’m sure that neural interfaces are on the horizon as well.

Is it Brain Power or Telekinesis?

Neurable,... NextMind’s BCI ... I was able to switch channels using just my thoughts, play duck hunt with my thoughts, and dim lights by just focusing on them. After this demo, I realized how much my brain enjoyed this workout. ... Neurosity’s Notion BCI developer kit, ...

X-Ray Vision

...Accuvein’s Vein Visualization device...helps take the guesswork out of finding the vein.

Smell the Virtual Redwoods

... Treehugger: Wawona where I put on a VR headset with a scent device over my noise and gloves with tracking devices. ... I walked away from this tree-hugging experience feeling energized as we had just done a whole hour of yoga. It’s been one of my favorite VR experiences to date. ...

Living as a “Cyborg”  

...I was living connected to a medical device that had to be on 24/7 and that needed to be charged often. ... See, while being a cyborg would seem cool, I felt more like a Tesla more than a cyborg. ...

Bio-Digital Convergence?

...got me thinking a lot about what the strategic foresight consultancy, Toffler Associates, refers to as the Bio-Digital Convergence, which is the intersection of human and machine, and the impact this convergence will have on our lives, our laws and even our sense of self.

See the full story here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/cathyhackl/2020/07/05/augmented-human-5-times-ive-used-technology-to-augment-myself/#606d89323c82

Virtual reality: How the Illini have adapted their recruiting during a pandemic

College basketball programs had to get creative on the recruiting trail. Or, more correctly, off it. Recruiting has gone 100 percent digital. Zoom calls are the new in-home visit.

So Goode was in early on virtual recruiting. He conducted Zoom calls with Michigan State and Marquette in addition to Illinois. By April 17, he was ready to commit. The Illini were the choice, his recruitment sealed with the presentation executed by coach Brad Underwood’s staff.

Illinois showed Goode clips from the its bounceback 2019-20 season. Clips of Goode playing for Indy Heat on the Nike EYBL circuit were integrated into videos of the Illini’s playing style showing just how he would fit on the court.

A PowerPoint presentation highlighted other aspects of the program and university.

“The way they present everything to you on the Zoom is pretty cool,” Goode said. “The coaches would expand on those bullet points and give the deeper explanation of what those meant. They described campus and the team’s play style and the basketball culture and the weightlifting program. Most of the stuff you would get on a visit to campus.”

See the full story here: https://www.news-gazette.com/sports/virtual-reality-how-the-illini-have-adapted-their-recruiting-during-a-pandemic/article_851c9943-382b-5a39-8741-6b9d57c5b45c.html

Sci-Fi Film Made In Area Weaves Virtual Reality Throughout Storyline, Draws Thousands Of Views

Jamie Monahan, the writer, director, and star of "Lucid," said the film takes place in a near-distant future and follows Charlie, a young woman undergoing virtual reality therapy after being sexually assaulted.

Monahan set out to make the film after becoming frustrated by the lack of complex female characters on screen, and curious about recent developments in virtual reality research.

During the film, the main character, Charlie, becomes addicted to how VR makes her feel, and she slowly loses interest in the reality in which her friends live.

Watch the full 14 minute short at the link: https://dailyvoice.com/connecticut/fairfield/lifestyle/sci-fi-film-made-in-area-weaves-virtual-reality-throughout-storyline-draws-thousands-of-views/790243/