#mid transfo

[ronkeyroo]

❌ CARNAGE (Tw; blood/gore)

[ttagrain]

The Evolution of POS Systems for Businesses: From Cash Registers to Cloud-Based POS Solutions

Point of Sale (POS) systems have come a long way from the days of manual cash registers and handwritten receipts. Over the years, the evolution of POS systems has transformed the way businesses operate, improving efficiency, accuracy, and customer service. In this blog post, we'll take a journey through the history of POS systems, highlighting the key milestones and technological advancements that have shaped their development.

The Humble Beginnings of Cash Registers

The story of POS system begins in the late 19th century with the invention of the cash register by James Ritty and John Birch. These early devices were designed to prevent employee theft and record sales transactions. They featured a simple mechanism for ringing up sales and producing a paper receipt. While rudimentary by today's standards, cash registers marked the first step toward automating sales and inventory tracking.

The Rise of Electronic Cash Registers

In the mid-20th century, electronic cash registers emerged as a significant improvement over their mechanical counterparts. These machines could calculate totals more quickly and accurately, making them a valuable tool for businesses. However, they were still limited in their functionality, primarily serving as a means to record sales.

The Advent of Computer-Based POS System

The 1980s saw a major leap in POS technology with the introduction of computer-based systems. These systems incorporated desktop computers and specialized software to manage inventory, track sales, and generate reports. Businesses could now leverage digital technology to gain insights into their operations, helping them make more informed decisions.

The Transition to Touchscreen POS Softwares

In the late 20th century, touchscreen technology revolutionized the POS industry. Touchscreen terminals allowed for more intuitive and efficient order processing. This advancement streamlined the checkout process, reduced errors, and enhanced the customer experience. Moreover, touchscreen systems could be customized to accommodate various industries, from retail and restaurants to hospitality and healthcare.

Mobility and Cloud-Based Solutions

The 21st century brought a new wave of innovation to retail POS system. Mobile devices, such as tablets and smartphones, became integral to the POS landscape. Small businesses and pop-up shops could now adopt affordable mobile POS systems that offered flexibility and scalability. Furthermore, the advent of cloud-based POS solutions enabled businesses to access their data remotely, providing real-time insights into sales, inventory, and customer preferences.

Integration and Analytics

Modern POS systems have become more than just transaction-processing tools. They now offer seamless integration with other business software, such as accounting, inventory management, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. This integration allows for a holistic view of business operations and improves data accuracy.

Additionally, POS systems have evolved to provide advanced analytics and reporting features. Businesses can analyze sales trends, customer behavior, and inventory turnover to make data-driven decisions that drive growth.

Contactless Payments and Enhanced Security

In response to changing consumer preferences and security concerns, POS systems have adopted contactless payment options, including NFC (Near Field Communication) and mobile wallet payments. These features have become crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, as customers seek touch-free payment methods.

Moreover, POS systems have enhanced security measures to protect sensitive customer data. Features like end-to-end encryption and tokenization help businesses maintain PCI DSS compliance and safeguard customer information.

Conclusion

The evolution of POS systems for businesses has been a remarkable journey marked by technological advancements that have transformed the way transactions are processed and business operations are managed. From basic cash registers to modern, cloud-based solutions, POS systems have become essential tools for businesses of all sizes and industries.

As technology continues to advance, we can expect POS systems to evolve even further, offering more personalized customer experiences, greater automation, and deeper insights into business operations. With the ever-changing landscape of commerce, businesses that embrace these advancements will be better positioned to thrive in the digital age.

[sciencedayforpeaceanddev]

Catalyzing Transformative Change: Science, Academia and the Journey to 2030.

The objective of the side-event is to identify and promote concrete opportunities and partnerships for science and academia to accelerate transformations in high impact areas for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Lead Facilitators:

UN DESA, in collaboration with:

Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

International Science Council (ISC)

World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Representatives of the Secretary-General's 10-Member-Group of High-level Representatives of Civil Society, Private Sector and Scientific Community to support the UN Technology Facilitation Mechanism

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development stands as a ground-breaking global roadmap for addressing the most pressing challenges facing humanity. At the half-way point to 2030, science, technology and innovation hold enormous promise for enabling the kinds of transformations needed to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) –in energy systems, food systems, education, digital infrastructure, just economies, nature and the global commons and other crucial areas as indicated in the Special Edition of the SDG Report and the Global Sustainable Development Report. Addressing institutional and other barriers to knowledge and technology sharing and revolutionizing science, technology and innovation (STI) for sustainability can support a global enabling environment for the SDGs complementing financial reforms and a surge in SDG financing. 

The objective of the event is to identify and promote concrete opportunities and partnerships for science and academia to accelerate transformations in high impact areas for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. By bringing together policymakers, researchers, academics, and other stakeholders, the event will foster dialogue, share best practices and identify actionable strategies to advance the implementation of the SDGs. The event will also aim to help advance commitments in the SDG Summit Political Declaration for bridging the science, technology and innovation divides and supporting the responsible use of science, technology, and innovation as drivers of sustainable development.

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To maximize the SDG Summit's impact, the Secretary General is convening an SDG Action Weekend, which will generate opportunities for stakeholders, UN entities, and Member States to convene inside the United Nations Headquarters and set out specific commitments and contributions to drive SDG transformation between now and 2030.

The SDG Action Weekend will consist of the SDG Mobilization Day on Saturday, 16 September, and the SDG Acceleration Day on Sunday, 17 September at UNHQ in New York.

The SDG Mobilization Day (16 September) will create an opportunity for stakeholders from all sectors to convene inside the United Nations Headquarters and mobilize towards an ambitious SDG Summit and UN General Assembly High-Level Week.

The SDG Acceleration Day (17 September) will be centred around the UN High-Impact Initiatives

The SDG Summit on 18-19 September will mark the mid point of the SDGs. It must secure the breakthroughs and momentum needed to change course and achieve the SDGs by 2030. To maximize the Summit's impact, the Secretary General is convening an SDG Action Weekend, which will generate opportunities for stakeholders, UN entities, and Member States to convene inside the United Nations Headquarters and set out specific commitments and contributions to drive SDG transformation between now and 2030.

[josiedoesdoodles]

Secrets & Sickness

Hey friends! Here's a little snippet of the first chapter of my new Moon Knight fanfic. The premise of it sprang up from the writing prompt, "Who's blood is that?"

Steven was not known for his healthy sleep habits. Quite the opposite, actually. And even though his “sleep disorder” had turned out to be less about sleep than he had previously thought, it turned out that old habits died hard. He and Marc had worked through a lot together, and switches had become much better now that both parties realized what was happening and generally weren’t actively fighting the switch (there had been a few instances of reluctance between one or the other when it came to giving over the body. Much to his dismay, Marc had learned that some of his favorite foods appeared to be a positive trigger for Steven and resulted in him missing out on a few snacks here or there that he had been really looking forward to. On the other hand, Steven had found himself taking a backseat whenever certain songs popped up on shuffle. Marc insisted this was not a fair trade-off while Steven argued that it was a perfectly even upset. Either way, the bickering was light-hearted as they had learned that switching was not always a very voluntary thing and there wasn’t much to be done about it. The transgressions were harmless, anyways.)

     Even with the progress between them, Steven found himself pacing around the flat at 2 a.m. nonetheless. It was like because he had spent so long actively fighting against the tide of sleep, his body no longer knew how to let itself be tugged along by the current of drowsiness that weighted his limbs. He knew the body needed rest; if it were Marc at the helm, he would doubtlessly be urging him to lay down and get some shut-eye. But Marc wasn’t fronting and Steven wasn’t laying down or trying to get to sleep. He was fiddling with a pyramid-shaped paperweight as he dutifully trudged around the length of his flat feeling incredibly fatigued yet ceaselessly restless. He knew he was tired. He knew the body needed, the body deserved, rest. But every single time he lay down in that bed, he found himself staring at the ceiling. And then he was fidgeting with his hands while staring at the ceiling. And then he was dragging himself up out of bed, fidgeting with his hands, and pacing around because laying there just felt wrong. He couldn’t help it. There was this wall he had built up around sleep, and it was harder to break down than he had expected. When they had returned home from everything that had happened in Cairo, he had thought that everything would just sort of be magically fixed in a way. Obviously, this was unrealistic and not what happened. But still, at the very least, he had thought that the whole issue with going to sleep would be completely tucked away as a distant memory. After all, his “sleep disorder” had turned out to be the side effect of having an American Co-pilot sharing his body. Since he and Marc had more or less gotten their whole situation sorted— there were still some details getting ironed out and it wasn’t like everything was perfect—it made sense to Steven that the whole intentional insomnia routine would be irrelevant. 

      He could not have been more wrong. 

     Steven couldn’t decide if it was his body rebelling against sleep or his brain. Either, way he felt miserable. He needed to sleep, he wanted to sleep, and yet it eluded him each time. It felt simultaneously like it was his fault and entirely out of his control. He was comforted, at least, by the fact that Marc was not currently co-conscious and as such, couldn’t lecture him on taking care of himself. It was sort of funny how that all worked out; the two of them were constantly harping the other to take better care of themself despite often ignoring their own advice. He was musing about this, mid-pace when his thoughts were interrupted by a tapping at the door. 

[ourstairwaytoheaven]

Reasons why I love Floating Staircases

From conventional, straight stairs to spiral and u-shaped stairs, there are so many staircases to choose from! For some people, staircases might seem a bit boring, but for me, the topic excites me. I find it fascinating that each and every staircase design can transform a room. One of my favourites though is the floating staircase, also known as a cantilever staircase (the more formal name given to them). I think this design is beautiful and stylish and can really be a showstopper in any building, click here to find out more about them.

If you’re thinking of choosing a floating staircase for your home, I’ve listed my top 5 reasons why you should!

So, let’s get into it…

1.       The beauty of them

There is no doubt about it, and I think most of you will agree that floating stairs have to be the most stunning staircase design of them all. Floating staircases are a statement feature for any room; they are anybody’s architectural dream! My favourite part about them is the fact that they have a very minimalist design, however, still create a striking visual impact. Unlike conventional stairs, floating stairs are fixed onto a bearing wall giving the impression of the steps being suspended mid-air, which is something that no other staircase design can replicate. They would be a perfect choice if you’re looking to give a contemporary and modern feel to your home – introducing something a little more edgy and cool.

 2.       Flowing natural light

Floating stairs also have an element of elegance, due to their ability to enhance the natural light flow within a room. As the steps are evenly spread out with less material surrounding them, they can be uniquely positioned to increase the amount of natural light. I think it is an innovative and beautiful quality of floating stairs – one which you will love! Just imagine your home with heaps of sunlight seeping through, with glorious rays shining from one end of the room to the other. Floating stairs can really open up a space and make it seem light and airy, especially when made in glass, the results are spectacular! If you have a smaller space, floating stairs would be a great option to make your room seem a lot bigger than it truly is.

 3.       More storage

Now, for those who might need more storage or who might be hoarders like myself, the space floating stairs create is incredible. As there are fewer materials used compared to traditional stairs, there are more opportunities to use your space for different things because there is no solid structure blocking the space around the stairs. I would, for example, use the space underneath the floating staircase for more storage, however, you can also transform it into an office area, reading nook, or even a space for your pets to sleep.

 4.       So many options to choose from!

You can choose to have a floating staircase in nearly any material you would like. The popular choices are – wood, glass, concrete, and resin. All these materials paired with different railings and banisters lead to an endless amount of design possibilities! Therefore, you can choose the perfect design combination to fit the mood and interior of your room. Not only that, but floating stairs are versatile and can be fitted in more areas of your home. Anywhere with a wall and you’re good to go!

 5.       Cost-effective

This is a reason no one can say no to – floating stairs are a much cheaper staircase choice! Like I have said previously, floating staircases use fewer materials, ultimately meaning you are paying for less. The cost of installation is also low, especially in new builds or if you’re renovating your home as they can easily be embedded into the wall when you’re going through the process of building everything else.

 There you have it, those are my reasons why I love floating stairs and why you should love them too! Floating staircases are functional, stylish, versatile, and cost-effective - what more could you ask for. They have the ability to elevate the interior design of your home and transform it into something unmatched!

https://stairfactory.co.uk/