#innovation.

[nectar-cellar]

while putting together yesterday’s post, i found a way to quickly add titty shadows to my clothes and now i feel the need to redo the textures for all the tops i’ve posted 😭😭😭😭😭😭

[featherlyfriends]

[wutaijiemei]

rewatching the dangerous cascada lawlight amv ykw i put it on the shortlist but that edit is so well constructed and hilarious it does probably deserve a promotion further up.

[seashorepics]

Day 21: The Origins and Evolution of Steampunk: A Journey Through Invention and Originality

Introduction Steampunk, a genre that fuses history, invention, and a distinctive blend of fantasy and science fiction, is known for its unique visual aesthetic and storytelling. Rooted in the Victorian era’s fascination with technology, the genre takes inspiration from steam-powered machinery and the early Industrial Revolution, merging past innovation with futuristic imagination. The history of…

[mattbrittonnyc]

Maximizing Consumer Protection: AI Insights from Matt Britton

In today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape, the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and consumer rights is becoming an increasingly critical topic. As businesses integrate more AI-driven solutions into their operations, the imperative to enhance consumer protections and transparency cannot be overstated. One expert who stands at the forefront of this vital discussion is Matt Britton, an AI keynote speaker whose insights have transformed understanding and strategies at the highest levels of global commerce.

Matt Britton, the founder and CEO of the advanced consumer research platform Suzy, is not just an AI expert; he's a visionary whose extensive experience includes consulting for over half of the Fortune 500 companies. His prowess in identifying and leveraging new consumer trends is well documented in his bestselling book, YouthNation, which has made him one of the top keynote speakers on consumer behavior and technological innovation.

The Relevance of AI in Consumer Rights

Artificial intelligence, once a speculative fiction, is now a robust tool reshaping how companies interact with customers. AI’s capabilities range from enhancing user experience with personalized recommendations to automating customer service interactions, thereby increasing efficiency and satisfaction. However, the rapid deployment of these technologies also raises significant concerns regarding privacy, data security, and the ethical use of consumer data.

As businesses increasingly rely on AI to make decisions that affect consumers directly, the call for clearer regulations and standards becomes louder. This is where an AI expert speaker like Matt Britton can provide invaluable insights. His keynotes not only address the technological aspects of AI but also delve into the ethical, legal, and social implications of these advancements.

Matt Britton: A Synthesis of Expertise and Eloquence

When you host a conference that seeks to enlighten its audience on such a complex subject, the choice of speaker is paramount. Matt Britton is not just any conference speaker; he is among the top conference speakers known for his ability to deconstruct intricate topics and present them in an engaging manner. His background as CEO of Suzy provides him with real-time insights into consumer attitudes and behaviors, making him uniquely qualified to discuss how AI can align with consumer rights without compromising innovation or efficiency.

Britton’s approach to speaking engagements is deeply informed by his direct experiences with market-leading companies, offering a practical perspective that is both rare and highly sought after in innovation speakers. His engagements are marked by a clear, insightful discourse that is tailored to the business leaders, tech professionals, and policymakers in attendance.

Enhancing Consumer Protections and Transparency with AI

In his talks, Matt often highlights successful case studies where AI has been used to not only boost business outcomes but also safeguard consumer interests. He discusses frameworks within which AI applications can be developed and monitored to ensure they comply with ethical standards and legal requirements. These include transparency in data usage, mechanisms for consumer feedback, and continuous oversight of AI activities.

As a consumer trend expert and one of the generation Z experts, Britton is adept at linking technological advancements to demographic shifts. His analysis helps companies anticipate changes in consumer expectations, particularly among younger consumers who are more tech-savvy and value transparency and ethical practices highly.

The Takeaway from Matt Britton’s Keynotes

Organizations looking to understand the broader implications of AI in consumer interactions would greatly benefit from Matt Britton’s keynote speeches. His ability to connect with his audience, backed by solid data and vivid examples, makes his presentations not just informative but transformative.

Britton’s insights can help businesses navigate the complex regulatory environment while harnessing AI’s power to enhance customer satisfaction and trust. His strategies for implementing AI responsibly can serve as a guideline for companies aiming to lead in both innovation and consumer rights protection.

In conclusion, if you are planning a conference or a corporate event where the goal is to merge deep technological insights with practical business strategies, Matt Britton is the AI expert speaker you need. His sessions are not only thought-provoking but are also geared towards actionable outcomes, making him one of the top keynote speakers today in the realms of AI, consumer rights, and technological innovation. With Matt Britton, you bring to your event not only a speaker but a seasoned expert who can help pave the way for a future where technology and consumer rights go hand in hand.

[phonemantra-blog]

The landscape of game development continues to shift, and a recent move by Tencent Holdings Limited highlights this evolving dynamic. On April 25th, 2024, the Chinese multinational conglomerate significantly increased its stake in Remedy Entertainment Plc, a renowned Finnish game developer. This strategic investment marks a major step forward for both companies, with the potential to fuel the creation of ambitious new gaming experiences. Tencent Deepens Ties From Minority Shareholder to Major Player: A Tripling Investment Tencent's previous involvement with Remedy involved a 5.01% stake in the company. However, this recent move signifies a major vote of confidence. By acquiring an additional 9.79% stake, Tencent has tripled its ownership, now holding a significant 14.80% share in Remedy Entertainment. This increased investment provides Remedy with valuable financial resources, allowing the studio to focus on developing even more ambitious projects in the coming years. This aligns perfectly with Remedy's established reputation for crafting unique and critically acclaimed titles like Max Payne, Alan Wake, and Control. A Look Ahead: Fueling Creative Ambitions The implications of Tencent's increased investment extend beyond financial backing. Here's a glimpse into what this move might signify for Remedy's future projects: Expanding the Remedy Universe: Remedy has hinted at expanding existing franchises like Control with a potential multiplayer title set in that universe. The additional resources provided by Tencent's investment could accelerate the development of such projects. Securing Long-Term Vision: Financial stability allows studios to focus on creative vision without worrying about short-term financial constraints. This could empower Remedy to pursue innovative game concepts without compromise. Global Reach and Recognition: Tencent's vast network and influence in the Asian market could potentially help Remedy reach a wider audience for its upcoming titles. Beyond the Headlines: A Look at the Bigger Picture Tencent's growing stake in Remedy Entertainment is part of a larger trend in the gaming industry. Here are some additional points to consider: The Rise of Strategic Partnerships: This move highlights the growing importance of strategic partnerships between developers and publishers. Such collaborations can provide crucial resources and pave the way for global success. A Competitive Landscape: The gaming industry is highly competitive, and studios constantly seek ways to differentiate themselves. Remedy's partnership with Tencent could position them more effectively within this competitive landscape. Focus on Creative Independence: While Tencent has made a significant investment, it's important to note that Remedy has emphasized its commitment to creative independence. Fans can likely expect the studio to retain creative control over their projects. FAQs Q: What does this investment mean for Remedy's upcoming games? A: The increased investment from Tencent could translate into additional resources for Remedy, potentially leading to more ambitious game projects with richer content and features. Q: Does this mean Remedy loses creative control over its games? A: Remedy has emphasized its commitment to creative independence. While Tencent's investment is significant, it's unlikely to dictate creative direction for Remedy's projects. Q: What are some potential benefits of this partnership for gamers? A: Gamers can potentially benefit from a wider range of high-quality titles developed by Remedy, with the possibility of global reach for their existing franchises. Q: What other projects is Remedy working on besides Alan Wake 2? A: In addition to Alan Wake 2, Remedy has confirmed they're working on a sequel to Control, a remake of the first two Max Payne games, and a multiplayer game set in the Control universe.

[chaitanya]

Linear Robots in Manufacturing: Streamlining Processes and Enhancing Quality Control

Igus revolutionizes the manufacturing landscape with its cutting-edge linear robots. These robots epitomize efficiency, seamlessly integrating into production lines and optimizing workflows. With Igus technology, precision meets reliability, ensuring consistent quality control throughout the manufacturing process. From automotive assembly to electronics production, Igus linear robots redefine industry standards, reducing downtime and increasing productivity.

Visit now:https://www.igus.in/robolink/linear-robots

[disease]

ABACUSYNTH by ELIAS JARZOMBEK [2022]

Abacusynth is a synthesizer inspired by an abacus, the ancient counting tool used all around the world. Just like an abacus is used to learn the fundamentals of math, the Abacusynth can be used to explore the building blocks of audio synthesis.

[70sscifiart]

Art by Syd Mead. If I understand the source correctly, this one’s called "Innovations," and is a surrealist city aerial view done for U.S. Steel in 1968.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

How lock-in hurts design

Berliners: Otherland has added a second date (Jan 28) for my book-talk after the first one sold out - book now!

If you've ever read about design, you've probably encountered the idea of "paving the desire path." A "desire path" is an erosion path created by people departing from the official walkway and taking their own route. The story goes that smart campus planners don't fight the desire paths laid down by students; they pave them, formalizing the route that their constituents have voted for with their feet.

Desire paths aren't always great (Wikipedia notes that "desire paths sometimes cut through sensitive habitats and exclusion zones, threatening wildlife and park security"), but in the context of design, a desire path is a way that users communicate with designers, creating a feedback loop between those two groups. The designers make a product, the users use it in ways that surprise the designer, and the designer integrates all that into a new revision of the product.

This method is widely heralded as a means of "co-innovating" between users and companies. Designers who practice the method are lauded for their humility, their willingness to learn from their users. Tech history is strewn with examples of successful paved desire-paths.

Take John Deere. While today the company is notorious for its war on its customers (via its opposition to right to repair), Deere was once a leader in co-innovation, dispatching roving field engineers to visit farms and learn how farmers had modified their tractors. The best of these modifications would then be worked into the next round of tractor designs, in a virtuous cycle:

https://securityledger.com/2019/03/opinion-my-grandfathers-john-deere-would-support-our-right-to-repair/

But this pattern is even more pronounced in the digital world, because it's much easier to update a digital service than it is to update all the tractors in the field, especially if that service is cloud-based, meaning you can modify the back-end everyone is instantly updated. The most celebrated example of this co-creation is Twitter, whose users created a host of its core features.

Retweets, for example, were a user creation. Users who saw something they liked on the service would type "RT" and paste the text and the link into a new tweet composition window. Same for quote-tweets: users copied the URL for a tweet and pasted it in below their own commentary. Twitter designers observed this user innovation and formalized it, turning it into part of Twitter's core feature-set.

Companies are obsessed with discovering digital desire paths. They pay fortunes for analytics software to produce maps of how their users interact with their services, run focus groups, even embed sneaky screen-recording software into their web-pages:

https://www.wired.com/story/the-dark-side-of-replay-sessions-that-record-your-every-move-online/

This relentless surveillance of users is pursued in the name of making things better for them: let us spy on you and we'll figure out where your pain-points and friction are coming from, and remove those. We all win!

But this impulse is a world apart from the humility and respect implied by co-innovation. The constant, nonconsensual observation of users has more to do with controlling users than learning from them.

That is, after all, the ethos of modern technology: the more control a company can exert over its users ,the more value it can transfer from those users to its shareholders. That's the key to enshittification, the ubiquitous platform decay that has degraded virtually all the technology we use, making it worse every day:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/02/19/twiddler/

When you are seeking to control users, the desire paths they create are all too frequently a means to wrestling control back from you. Take advertising: every time a service makes its ads more obnoxious and invasive, it creates an incentive for its users to search for "how do I install an ad-blocker":

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2019/07/adblocking-how-about-nah

More than half of all web-users have installed ad-blockers. It's the largest consumer boycott in human history:

https://doc.searls.com/2023/11/11/how-is-the-worlds-biggest-boycott-doing/

But zero app users have installed ad-blockers, because reverse-engineering an app requires that you bypass its encryption, triggering liability under Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. This law provides for a $500,000 fine and a 5-year prison sentence for "circumvention" of access controls:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/12/youre-holding-it-wrong/#if-dishwashers-were-iphones

Beyond that, modifying an app creates liability under copyright, trademark, patent, trade secrets, noncompete, nondisclosure and so on. It's what Jay Freeman calls "felony contempt of business model":

https://locusmag.com/2020/09/cory-doctorow-ip/

This is why services are so horny to drive you to install their app rather using their websites: they are trying to get you to do something that, given your druthers, you would prefer not to do. They want to force you to exit through the gift shop, you want to carve a desire path straight to the parking lot. Apps let them mobilize the law to literally criminalize those desire paths.

An app is just a web-page wrapped in enough IP to make it a felony to block ads in it (or do anything else that wrestles value back from a company). Apps are web-pages where everything not forbidden is mandatory.

Seen in this light, an app is a way to wage war on desire paths, to abandon the cooperative model for co-innovation in favor of the adversarial model of user control and extraction.

Corporate apologists like to claim that the proliferation of apps proves that users like them. Neoliberal economists love the idea that business as usual represents a "revealed preference." This is an intellectually unserious tautology: "you do this, so you must like it":

https://boingboing.net/2024/01/22/hp-ceo-says-customers-are-a-bad-investment-unless-they-can-be-made-to-buy-companys-drm-ink-cartridges.html

Calling an action where no alternatives are permissible a "preference" or a "choice" is a cheap trick – especially when considered against the "preferences" that reveal themselves when a real choice is possible. Take commercial surveillance: when Apple gave Ios users a choice about being spied on – a one-click opt of of app-based surveillance – 96% of users choice no spying:

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/05/96-of-us-users-opt-out-of-app-tracking-in-ios-14-5-analytics-find/

But then Apple started spying on those very same users that had opted out of spying by Facebook and other Apple competitors:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/11/14/luxury-surveillance/#liar-liar

Neoclassical economists aren't just obsessed with revealed preferences – they also love to bandy about the idea of "moral hazard": economic arrangements that tempt people to be dishonest. This is typically applied to the public ("consumers" in the contemptuous parlance of econospeak). But apps are pure moral hazard – for corporations. The ability to prohibit desire paths – and literally imprison rivals who help your users thwart those prohibitions – is too tempting for companies to resist.

The fact that the majority of web users block ads reveals a strong preference for not being spied on ("users just want relevant ads" is such an obvious lie that doesn't merit any serious discussion):

https://www.iccl.ie/news/82-of-the-irish-public-wants-big-techs-toxic-algorithms-switched-off/

Giant companies attained their scale by learning from their users, not by thwarting them. The person using technology always knows something about what they need to do and how they want to do it that the designers can never anticipate. This is especially true of people who are unlike those designers – people who live on the other side of the world, or the other side of the economic divide, or whose bodies don't work the way that the designers' bodies do:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/10/20/benevolent-dictators/#felony-contempt-of-business-model

Apps – and other technologies that are locked down so their users can be locked in – are the height of technological arrogance. They embody a belief that users are to be told, not heard. If a user wants to do something that the designer didn't anticipate, that's the user's fault:

https://www.wired.com/2010/06/iphone-4-holding-it-wrong/

Corporate enthusiasm for prohibiting you from reconfiguring the tools you use to suit your needs is a declaration of the end of history. "Sure," John Deere execs say, "we once learned from farmers by observing how they modified their tractors. But today's farmers are so much stupider and we are so much smarter that we have nothing to learn from them anymore."

Spying on your users to control them is a poor substitute asking your users their permission to learn from them. Without technological self-determination, preferences can't be revealed. Without the right to seize the means of computation, the desire paths never emerge, leaving designers in the dark about what users really want.

Our policymakers swear loyalty to "innovation" but when corporations ask for the right to decide who can innovate and how, they fall all over themselves to create laws that let companies punish users for the crime of contempt of business-model.

I'm Kickstarting the audiobook for The Bezzle, the sequel to Red Team Blues, narrated by @wilwheaton! You can pre-order the audiobook and ebook, DRM free, as well as the hardcover, signed or unsigned. There's also bundles with Red Team Blues in ebook, audio or paperback.

If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2024/01/24/everything-not-mandatory/#is-prohibited

Image: Belem (modified) https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Desire_path_%2819811581366%29.jpg

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

[montereybayaquarium]

Socks, food, and the ocean—they all have one thing in common: microplastics.

To tackle the microplastic pollution problem, researchers and policy experts from the Aquarium and @mbari-blog created an open-source library dedicated to helping researchers trace these tiny culprits back to their source. Check out the webcomic below to learn more!

You can read more about the library on our website. Together we can take down plastic pollution! 💙🌍