new Not only will innovation stimulate substantial growth and create new markets, we believe it also will disrupt sectors which historically have stoked high inflation. We believe that global oil demand is likely to peak within the next few years as electric vehicles begin to scale and as autonomous electric taxi networks account for an increasing share of miles traveled. DNA sequencing will introduce science to health care decision-making in a way never before possible, minimizing the guess work and eliminating waste. At the same time, robots will serve not only as an antidote to labor shortages that are cropping up in the US, Japan, China, and elsewhere, but also should increase productivity, one of the most powerful forces against inflation. — Ark Invest, 9h ago

new Policies. Securing a social license for the use of any new, particularly disruptive technology is crucial to its success. This need will be especially acute with autonomous agents making and implementing decisions with minimal-to-no human oversight. Formal regulation may take time, but to generate and maintain widespread societal buy-in, companies should be hypervigilant in enforcing guardrails to ensure safe and appropriate use. Until regulation is in place, self-regulation, as demonstrated by numerous industries in the past, is also a responsible step that will help in the pursuit of a social license. Self-regulation on its own, however, is not a sustainable long-term solution. Organizations should be actively engaged with regulators to help craft the right approach for governing and monitoring the use of these emerging technologies. — Fortune, 9h ago

new In the fast-paced world of courier services, where packages crisscross cities, countries, and continents, the importance of reliable and comprehensive courier insurance cannot be overstated. Courier companies, whether large enterprises or small local services, face a myriad of risks during the intricate process of package delivery. From potential damages to theft or accidents during transit, the challenges are numerous. This article explores the benefits of courier insurance, highlighting how it serves as a crucial safeguard, offering not only protection for the company but also peace of mind for both the courier service and its customers. — The European Business Review, 18h ago

new Simulations show how urban environments offer a unique set of challenges for UAVs due to the turbulent flows generated by infrastructure. Current designs are susceptible to these gusts in specific scenarios and may not have the response times necessary to overcome these flows. While there are exciting possibilities for the development of these technologies, further work must be done to ensure the steadiness of the UAVs and the safety of deliveries and future passengers. The view of Jetson-like flying cars dotting the skies is still found most often in animated films or Star Wars. But that can be changing rapidly so the newer buildings and infrastructure in urban areas should start to look like it can sustain those air taxis and Amazon delivery drones being talked about. — Connected World - IoT and Digital Transformation, 2d ago

new ...deTour 2023 is presented by PMQ and sponsored by Create Hong Kong of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This 10-day grand design festival will present various programmes for the art and design communities both in and outside Hong Kong. These programmes include creative installations and exhibitions, workshops, design dialogues, movie screenings, guided tours, and many more. 10 years of deTour at PMQ Started in 2014, PMQ's deTour celebrates the 10th anniversary this year. A unique theme has been assigned to each edition of deTour to explore how design could solve social problems and improve our lives. To commemorate this journey, a 10-year retrospect exhibition will be featured in this year's deign festival to look back on the highlighted exhibits and behind-the-scenes of the past decade of PMQ's deTour. This part of the exhibition will be held during the same period as deTour 2023 Design Festival at PMQ and admission is free, as everyone is invited to witness the road to success of deTour, as the contribution of PMQ and deTour in pushing forward the development of the local design industry. The theme of deTour 2023 – "New Know How" – the Interweaving of "Craft", "Design" and "Technology" Working around "New Know How" as the theme, deTour 2023 aims to pave the road to craft design future which takes off with appreciation of traditional craftsmanship. When working, craftsmen are laser focused, highly precise and people oriented, and these qualities are collectively deemed as the "spirit of craftsmanship", which are also regarded as "Know How". Curators of deTour 2023 stated that "this valuable artisanship ought to be applied to different industries. It, together with design thinking and advanced technology, will help take each industry to a new level. By achieving this, problems can be solved more effectively, and through analysing obstacles from a new angle and perhaps trying solutions with new materials and techniques, new creations that are more thoughtful might be possible – this is what we meant by 'New Know How'." Through this design festival, curators hope to bring the industries to re-appreciate traditional crafts from a new angle and make good use of "New Know How" in different sectors. Three Exhibition Areas with 20 International and Local Works The exhibition of deTour 2023 Design Festival is divided into three parts: International Collaboration, Feature Exhibitions and Selected Entries, which are curated under the five specific directions of New Value, Storytelling, Craft Enhancement, Innovation and Heritage. Scattered all over the PMQ premises, 20 design works from the Nethelands, Japan and local designers are open to the public for free appreciation. . In addition, over the 10 days of the design festival, there will be a fruitful programme of a total of 40 workshops, 12 design dialogues and sessions of documentary screening of "Food and Design". International Collaboration: Craft by Nature by Biobased Creations (The Netherlands) deTour 2023's International Collaboration has invited Biobased Creations from the Netherlands, which is a creative studio formed by a group of designers, researchers and artists who aim to encourage the use of biomaterials - also known as renewable eco resources - in daily lives, so as to evolve our world into a regenerative and circular one. Biobased Creations presents Craft by Nature which is an exhibit specially designed for deTour 2023. Shaped like a house, the exhibit allows visitors to find multiple designs made from biobased materials such as furniture, clothes, shoes and socks, and household items. All of these designs are eco-friendly, light in weight and with a minimalistic design, created by designers from Hong Kong and the Netherlands. Outside the house in the garden, visitors can see the "originals" of the materials used in the designs, including common reed, silvergrass and shells, something that we are familiar with. Other than that, Biobased Creations will also display 40 biomaterials that can be applied in architecture and heat insulation, and visitors are welcome to hold and feel these materials and scan the QR code to instantly learn how these biomaterials are made. Craft by Nature is an innovative installation demonstrating how materials that are ignored or abandoned can be transformed into chic designs, and this allows us to rethink our relationship with the nature and invites us to take one more step forward to make our world better. Feature Exhibitions: Exploring traditional crafts with a fresh eye... — SME Business Daily Media, 1d ago

new Nation-states that employ drones for gathering intelligence and as weapons of attack in armed conflict by and large have the capabilities to use these technologies within legal limits. There are notoriously grievous exceptions, such as Russia’s attacks on defenceless civilians in Ukraine. Over the two-plus decades since the 9/11 attacks, targeted killing by drones have taken dozens of al-Qaeda commanders, bomb makers, trainers, and operatives off the battlefield. Drone strikes have disrupted plots that would have targeted international aviation, transit systems, cities, and troops in the field. Arguably targeting a terrorist with a drone may cause fewer casualties than seeking to arrest him in hostile territory. — The Globe and Mail, 2d ago

new The sensor fusion market for automotive in Europe is anticipated to experience heightened demand, primarily driven by stringent safety regulations. The EU has set a targeted goal to reduce fatalities and injuries by 50% by the year 2030. As part of this strategic initiative, the EU has mandated the inclusion of major safety features, including lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and drowsiness and attention detection, in new vehicles. These regulations came into effect in July 2022, reflecting a comprehensive approach to enhance automotive safety. Several European countries, including Germany, France, and the UK, have already granted approval for the utilization of automated vehicles on specific roadways. Notably, Germany took a pioneering step in July 2021 by enacting the Autonomous Driving Act, positioning itself as the first country globally to permit sensor fusion-based level 4 automated vehicles to operate on public roads without the requirement for a human driver as a backup control. In 2015, the French government declared its intention to mandate the installation of automatic emergency braking (AEB) and lane departure warning (LDW) systems in all new heavy trucks, contributing to an increased demand for safety systems within the country. Furthermore, the support from OEMs and the burgeoning presence of numerous startups dedicated to the development of sensor fusion technology are expected to be pivotal factors propelling market growth in the European region. — marketsandmarkets.com, 2d ago

new ...pick up programs (Block Bins, The Urban Canopy, Collective Resource) with participants noting that "the service areas of many of the smaller food scrap haulers appears to be expanding", thus indicating an increase in demand for these services. Although 70 communities in our region offer municipal compost pick up services, comments on this topic were general rather than specifying the name of the hauler or municipality offering these services. Comments do, however, reflect the patchwork of collection services being offered in the region. Processing infrastructure is limited with few large-scale commercial composting facilities located within the city limits (Green Era Anaerobic Digester, Denali 3 with other facilities located well beyond city limits in places like Romeoville, Grayslake, and DeKalb. New efforts to bolster infrastructure included the City of Chicago’s free food scrap composting pilot at six community gardens, seasonal food scrap ride along programs with yard waste haulers, and that SWALCO was purchasing bins for residents in Lake County to purchase at a reduced cost and use. It was also noted that UIC is researching a new way to process food scraps using black soldier flies. A list of comments on Current Efforts in Infrastructure are displayed in Table 5, Appendix 1. POLICY current efforts were also not well-documented by attendees. Many comments lacked a clear relationship to policy or could be reclassified as infrastructure needs or policy opportunities. This may demonstrate a weakness of the group and/or a gap that needs to be filled in building a culture of composting in greater Chicagoland. This may also reflect who was in the room as only 13% of attendees identified as government representatives or policy makers. As noted above, compost laws and policies in the City of Chicago are not always understood or well-enforced. In the greater Chicagoland area, laws on composting are an unevenly distributed patchwork. Attendees also struggled to differentiate between policy and infrastructure barrier (a “chicken-or-egg" question of what should come first, policy or infrastructure). Specific policies mentioned included the 1990 State of Illinois Yard Waste Ban , the Chicago Compost Ordinance, and efforts to allow landscape waste processors to accept food scraps . It was also noted that Illinois Food Scrap & Composting Coalition has a Policy Committee. Efforts that could help build support for policy changes include the fact that in 2023 "the State of Illinois adopted Illinois Compost Awareness Week" and the "[Materials and Management Advisory Committee] MMAC 2021 Report to ILGA recommends looking @ permitting to facilitate allowing landscape waste facilities to accept & process food/organics."... — extension.org, 2d ago

new Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Communication, Information Processing and Ergonomics FKIE are now looking to close a gap in the provision of disaster management services with a new technology: In the future, drones equipped with microphone arrays will be able to precisely locate cries for help and other acoustic signals from victims from the air and supply information about their location to the rescue teams. This significantly increases the chances of a rapid rescue for victims who cannot be spotted by camera. — techxplore.com, 2d ago

new Oakland residents are angry. One by one, business owners, community organizers, church leaders, and teenagers have stood at town halls and City Council meetings this year with an alarming message: They no longer feel safe anywhere in their city — at any time.“It’s not just a small number of people in the evening or nighttime. This is all hours, day and night,” said Noha Aboelata, founder of the Roots Community Health Center in Oakland. “Someone’s over here pushing a stroller and someone’s getting shot right next to them.”One morning in early April, automatic gunfire erupted outside a Roots clinic. Patients and staff members dropped to the ground and took cover. After the shooting stopped, medical assistants and a doctor gave first aid to a man in his 20s who had been shot six times.Everyone is blaming someone or something else for the bloodshed.Business owners have had enough. In September, Target announced it would close nine stores in four states, including in Oakland because of organized retail theft; the famed Vietnamese restaurant Le Cheval shut its doors after 38 years, partly blaming car break-ins and other criminal activity for depressing its business; and more than 200 business owners staged an hours-long strike to protest the rise in crime.The leadership of the local NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, made headlines this summer when it said Oakland was seeing a “heyday” for criminals, and pointed to the area’s “failed leadership” and “movement to defund the police.”“It feels like there’s a dark cloud over Oakland,” said Cynthia Adams, head of the local chapter, which has called on the city to hire 250 more police officers.Price, a progressive elected last year, already faces a recall effort, in part because she rejects blanket enhanced sentences for gangs and weapons charges, and has declined to charge youths as adults.The new mayor, Sheng Thao, was criticized for firing the police chief for misconduct and breaking a campaign promise to double funding at the city’s Department of Violence Prevention. In her first State of the City address last month, Thao described the surge in crime as “totally and completely unacceptable,” and acknowledged that Oaklanders are hurting and scared. She said the city has expanded police foot patrols and funded six new police academies, as well as boosted funding for violence prevention and affordable housing.“Not a day goes by where I don’t wish I could just wave a magic wand and silence the gunfire,” Thao said.Many in the community, including Valadez-Rios, advocate for broader investment in Oakland’s poorest neighborhoods over more law enforcement.City councils, states, and the federal government are putting their faith in violence prevention programs, in some cases bankrolling them from nontraditional sources, such as the state-federal Medicaid health insurance program for low-income people.Last month, California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom approved an 11 percent state tax on guns and ammunition, and $75 million of the revenue annually is expected to go to violence prevention programs.Although these programs are growing in popularity, it is unclear how successful they are. In some cases, proven programs that involve law enforcement, such as Ceasefire, were cut back or shelved after George Floyd was murdered, said Abt, the Maryland researcher.“The intense opposition to law enforcement means that the city was unwilling to use a portion of the tools that have been proven,” Abt said. “It’s good to work on preventing youth violence, but the vast majority of serious violence is perpetrated by adults.”Not a day goes by where I don’t wish I could just wave a magic wand and silence the gunfire. — Governing, 2d ago

new Bed-and-breakfasts, a forerunner of today’s short-term rentals, always have had a place in the hospitality sector. The market was intended for family-run operators, researchers and industry experts told Stateline.But the rise of home-sharing platforms has led to a “hotelization” of residential neighborhoods, and with that, concerns and calls from residents for more regulation.A 2019 Economic Policy Institute study concluded that the economic harm Airbnb caused to long-term renters by reducing the housing supply and raising prices outweighed the benefits to travelers and property owners.State lawmakers elsewhere continue to wrestle with the issue. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, has endorsed efforts to tax short-term rentals the same as hotels. A bill is up for consideration in 2024. A measure in Arkansas to prohibit cities from enacting regulations on short-term rentals failed; a bill in Hawaii that would have allowed any county to phase out legal short-term rentals died in committee.In past years, though, some state legislatures have protected Airbnb and property owners by forbidding certain city or county regulations. Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Nebraska and Tennessee prohibit local governments from banning short-term rentals altogether.The impact of Arizona’s 2016 law, according to Tom Savage, legislative director for the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, is an influx of short-term rentals in the state’s tourism communities. Some are run by investment companies rather than mom-and-pops.“This issue strains available housing stock and forces residents to nearby communities to find affordable housing,” Savage said.In three California cities with a large share of short-term rentals — Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego — home-sharing ordinances have prohibited any listing of a short-term rental without a valid home-sharing registration number and have reduced the duration of an allowable “short-term” stay. Unlike NYC’s ordinance, the California home-sharing ordinances don’t impose guest restrictions or require hosts to be onsite during stays.Nationally, there’s a shortage of 7.3 million rental homes deemed affordable and available to renters with extremely low incomes, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.“In the context of the housing crisis, especially in these big cities like New York, San Francisco or Austin [Texas], there’s a demand to regulate these short-term rental platforms and possibly find a way to make these units available,” said González, of the Urban Institute.“So, there will be cities looking at how New York City’s ban is successful in not only controlling this market but reaching those goals in terms of affordability and availability.”... — GovTech, 2d ago