#which is a huge waste of time and financial resources and a talented cast

[andrewlloydwebber]

andrew lloyd webber: if you're saying i play favorites, you're wrong. i love all of my flop musicals equally.

andrew lloyd webber earlier that day: i don't care for Stephen Ward

[biointernet]

The Fantastic Inventions of Nikola Tesla

The Fantastic Inventions of Nikola Tesla This book is dedicated to Nikola Tesla and to the scientists and engineers who continue to forge ahead with an open mind into Tesla Technology. Special thanks to Oliver Nichelson, John Ratzlaff, Mark Seifer, Leland Anderson, Mark Carlotto, Metascience Foundation, Moray B. King, Col. Tom Bearden, Keeley Net, The International Tesla Society, Steve Elswick, Toby Grotz, the Unarius Academy of Science, the Stellar Research Institute, Electric Spacecraft Journal, the Tesla Book Co. and all who publish on Nikola Tesla.

Nikola Tesla TABLE OF CONTENTS First Biographical Sketch (1691)The First Patents (1666 to 1606)Experiments With Alternate Current Of High Potential & High Frequency (1691)More Patents (1689 to 1900)Transmission of Electric Energy Without Wires (1904)Tesla's Amazing Death-RayThe Most Unusual InventionsThe Last Patents (1913 to 1928)Tesla & the Pyramids of Mars Appendix: Supreme Court documents on The Dismantling of Wardenclyffe Tower Bibliography: A list of Tesla books in print (& out of print) Chapter 1 ORIGINAL 1690'S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH While a large portion of the European family has been surging westward during the last three or four hundred years, settling the vast continents of America, another, but smaller, portion has been doing frontier work in the Old World, protecting the rear by beating back the "unspeakable Turk" and reclaiming gradually the fair lands that endure the curse of Mohammedan rule. For a long time the Slav people—who, after the battle of Kosovopjolje, in which the Turks defeated the Serbians, retired to the confines of the present Montenegro, Dalmatia, Herzegovina and Bosnia, and "Borderland" of Austria— knew what it was to deal, as our Western pioneers did, with foes ceaselessly fretting against their frontier ; and the races of these countries, through their strenuous struggle against the armies of the Crescent, have developed notable qualities of bravery and sagacity, while maintaining a patriotism and independence unsurpassed in any other nation. It was in this interesting border region, and from among these valiant Eastern folk, that Nikola Tesla was born in the year 1857, and the fact that he, to-day, finds himself in America and one of our foremost electricians, is striking evidence of the extraordinary attractiveness alike of electrical pursuits and of the country where electricity enjoys its widest application. Mr. Tesla's native place was Smiljan, Lika, where his father was an eloquent clergyman of the Greek Church, in which, by the way, his family is still prominently represented. His mother enjoyed great fame throughout the countryside for her skill and originality in needlework, and doubtless transmitted her ingenuity to Nikola; though it naturally took another and more masculine direction. The boy was early put to his books, and upon his father's removal to Gospic he spent four years in the public school, and later, three years in the Real School, as it is called. His escapades were such as most quickwitted boys go through, although he varied the programme on one occasion by getting imprisoned in a remote mountain chapel rarely visited for service; and on another occasion by falling headlong into a huge kettle of boiling milk, just drawn from the paternal herds. A third curious episode was that connected with his efforts to fly when, attempting to navigate the air with the aid of an old umbrella, he had, as might be expected, a very bad fall, and was laid up for six weeks. About this period he began to take delight in arithmetic and physics. One queer notion he had was to work out everything by three or the power of three. He was now sent to an aunt at Cartstatt, Croatia, to finish his studies in what is known as the Higher Real School. It was there that, coming from the rural fastnesses, he saw a steam engine for the first time with a pleasure that he remembers to this day. At Cartstatt he was so diligent as to compress the four years' course into three, and graduated in 1873. Returning home during an epidemic of cholera, he was stricken down by the disease and suffered so seriously from the consequences that his studies were interrupted for fully two years. But the time was not wasted, for he had become passionately fond of experimenting, and as much as his means and leisure permitted devoted his energies to electrical study and investigation. Up to this period it had been his father's intention to make a priest of him, and the idea hung over the young physicist like a very sword of Damocles. Finally he prevailed upon his worthy but reluctant sire to send him to Gratz in Austria to finish his studies at the Polytechnic School, and to prepare for work as professor of mathematics and physics. At Gratz he saw and operated a Gramme machine for the first time, and was so struck with the objections to the use of commutators and brushes that he made up his mind there and then to remedy that defect in dynamo-electric machines. In the second year of his course he abandoned the intention of becoming a teacher and took up the engineering curriculum. After three years of absence he returned home, sadly, to see his father die ; but, having resolved to settle down in Austria, and recognizing the value of linguistic acquirements, he went to Prague and then to Buda-Pesth with the view of mastering the languages he deemed necessary. Up to this time he had never realized the enormous sacrifices that his parents had made in promoting his education, but he now began to feel the pinch and to grow unfamiliar with the remittance from home; and when the mathematical expression for the value of the lag assumed the shape of an eight laid flat on its back, Mr. Tesla became a very fair example of high thinking and plain living, but he made up his mind to the struggle and determined to go through depending solely on his own resources. Not desiring the fame of a faster, he cast about for a livelihood, and through the help of friends he secured a berth as assistant in the engineering department of the government telegraphs. The salary was five dollars a week. This brought him into direct contact with practical electrical work and ideas, but it is needless to say that his means did not admit of much experimenting. By the time he had extracted several hundred thousand square and cube roots for the public benefit, the limitations, financial and otherwise, of the position had become painfully apparent, and he concluded that the best thing to do was to make a valuable invention. He proceeded at once to make inventions, but their value was visible only to the eye of faith, and they brought no grist to the mill. Just at this time the telephone made its appearance in Hungary, and the success of that great invention determined his career, hopeless as the profession had thus far seemed to him. He associated himself at once with telephonic work, and made various telephonic inventions, including an operative repeater; but it did not take him long to discover that, being so remote from the scenes of electrical activity, he was apt to spend time on aims and results already reached by others, and to lose touch. Longing for new opportunities and anxious for the development of which he felt himself possible, if once he could place himself within the genial and direct influences of the gulf streams of electrical thought, he broke away from the ties and traditions of the past, and in 1881 made his way to Paris, Arriving in that city, the ardent young Likan obtained employment as an electrical engineer with one of the largest electric lighting companies. The next year he went to Strasburg to install a plant, and on returning to Paris sought to carry out a number of ideas that had now ripened into inventions. About this time, however, the remarkable-progress of America in electrical industry attracted his attention, and once again staking everything on a single throw, he crossed the Atlantic. Mr. Tesla buckled down to work as soon as he landed on these shores, put his best thought and skill into it, and soon saw openings for his talent. In a short while a proposition was made to him to start his own company, and, accepting the terms, he at once worked up a practical system of arc lighting, as well as a potential method of dynamo regulation, which in one form is now known as the " third brush regulation." He also devised a thermo-magnetic motor and other kindred devices, about which little was published, owing to legal complications. Early in 1887 the Tesla Electric Company of New York was formed, and not long after that Mr. Tesla produced his admirable and epoch-marking motors for multiphase alternating currents, in which, going back to his ideas of long ago, he evolved machines having neither commutator nor brushes. It will be remembered that about the time that Mr. Tesla brought out his motors, and read his thoughtful paper before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, Professor Ferraris, in Europe, published his discovery of principles analogous to those enunciated by Mr. Tesla. There is no doubt, however, that Mr. Tesla was an independent inventor of this rotary field motor, for although anticipated in dates by Ferraris, he could not have known about Ferraris' work as it had not been published. Professor Ferraris stated himself, with becoming modesty, that he did not think Tesla could have known of his (Ferraris') experiments at that time, and adds that he thinks Tesla was an independent and original inventor of this principle. With such an acknowledgment from Ferraris there can be little doubt about Tesla's originality in this matter. Mr. Tesla's work in this field was wonderfully timely, and its worth was promptly appreciated in various quarters. The Tesla patents were acquired by the Westinghouse Electric Company, who undertook to develop his motor and to apply it to work of different kinds. Its use in mining, and its employment in printing, ventilation, etc., was described and illustrated in The Electrical World some years ago. The immense stimulus that the announcement of Mr. Tesla's work gave to the study of alternating current motors would, in itself, be enough to stamp him as a leader. Mr. Tesla is only 35 years of age. He is tall and spare with a clean-cut, thin, refined face, and eyes that recall all the stories one has read of keenness of vision and phenomenal ability to see through things. He is an omnivorous reader, who never forgets; and he possesses the peculiar facility in languages that enables the least educated native of eastern Europeto talk and write in at least half a dozen tongues. A more congenial companion cannot be desired for thehours when one "pours out heart affluence in discursive talk," and when the conversation, dealing at first with things near at hand and next to us, reaches out and rises to the greater questions of life, duty and destiny. In the year 1890 he severed his connection with the Westinghouse Company, since which time he has devoted himself entirely to the study of alternating currents of high frequencies and very high potentials, with which study he is at present engaged. No comment is necessary on his interesting achievements in this field; the famous London lecture published in this volume is a proof in itself. His first lecture on his researches in this new branch of electricity, which he may be said to have created, was delivered before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers on May 20, 1891, and remains one of the most interesting papers read before that society. It will be found reprinted in full in The Electrical World, July 11, 1891. Its publication excited such interest abroad that he received numerous requests from English and French electrical engineers and scientists to repeat it in those countries, the result of which has been the interesting lecture published in this volume. The present lecture presupposes a knowledge of the former, but it may be read and understood by any one even though he has not read the earlier one. It forms a sort of continuation of the latter, and includes chiefly the results of his researches since that time. Read the full article

[businessliveme]

Sohar Aluminium: A decade of excellence

Sohar Aluminium is celebrating 10 years of its successful operations

Business success is created by the combined efforts of those who work for any organisation. It is therefore fitting as we mark Sohar Aluminium Company LLC’s (SA) 10th anniversary that we celebrate those who have worked so diligently to deliver success during the journey.

One decade ago and blessed with a wealth of natural resources and petrochemicals, Oman embarked on a mission to create a thriving aluminium industry which would contribute to the economic development of the country. As SA has strived successfully to help diversify the Sultanate’s growing economy, we have also streamlined the import of raw products and made huge strides in the past ten years. As the journey continues, we can look forward to the future, the next chapter of our history, with genuine optimism.

Production Excellence and Incremental Improvements As a facility, the smelter has produced 3,706,691 metric tonnes of finished product since it started operations. By utilising cutting-edge technology during the production process, we have maximised productivity and plant performance, increasing the volume of aluminium we produce. This has had a growing, positive impact on employment opportunities and business development.

In addition to its smelting facility, SA has a dedicated Power Plant with a total design capacity of 1,000 MW.

The company also operates a dedicated port facility at the Port of Sohar which handles vessels with a capacity of around 75,000 metric tonnes and is custom built to receive raw materials. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified for the Casthouse, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007 certified for EHS Management Systems. Our smelter is recognised within the sector as one of the most modern smelters in the world.

By consistently enhancing and optimising processes to produce quality aluminium in the most efficient and environmentally- conscious way, we have become benchmark smelter operators. The company continues to develop plans for metal production and power generation by utilising state-of-the-art technology and by constantly upgrading the skills of its employees.

A Leader in the Aluminium Industry with a Strong Financial Positioning Oman’s unique geo-economic location allowed us to attract some of the largest companies in the world and as a result, the last decade created a window of opportunity for SA to cement a position as a global leader within the industry. As the company responsible for the Sultanate of Oman’s first and only greenfield aluminium smelter, SA was a landmark industrial development project which has become a key contributor to Oman’s sustainable development ambitions and long-term prosperity. Our ambition has always been to have a positive impact on those around us and to create a successful business climate which inspires confidence amongst existing and future partners. From the outset, we focused heavily on bringing prosperity and sustainable growth to the Al Batinah region; to our neighbourhoods, then to our cities and for the benefit of the entire nation.

At SA, we embody a culture of productivity effectiveness while always maintaining a quality-driven mindset. We have become a benchmark smelter through consistently enhancing and optimising our processes to ensure we are producing quality aluminium in the most efficient and environmentally-conscious way possible. The aluminium industry is part of a dynamic and ever-changing market, where new challenges are constantly arising. In order to maintain our quality operations and competitive advantage, we use a systematic approach of lean manufacturing principles and capital improvement projects to significantly improve our productivity through waste minimisation efforts, higher process efficiency, standardized cycle time and reduced material costs.

Commitment to Support Downstream Job Creation Since supplying the first hot metal delivery to our first downstream customer in August 2008, the company has established successful relationships with other third-party downstream producing subsidiaries. Our partnerships with Oman Aluminium Processing Industries LLC (OAPIL), Oman Aluminium Rolling Company LLC (OARC) and Oman Aluminium Cast LLC (OAC) have formed an essential part of our overall strategy to promote and support the creation of a robust downstream aluminium industry in Oman.

We are offering them proximity to raw materials, a significant value proposition that provides our downstream customers with a distinct energy cost advantage. This initiative is also in synergy with our intent to build beneficial relationships with local suppliers as well as customers from Oman and abroad in order to deliver sustainable In-Country Value (ICV) for Oman. At SA, we realize how important these contributions are to our domestic output which reflects on the socio-economic development of the region while creating further job opportunities.

As the volume of liquid metal sold directly to the company’s downstream partners increases each year, the organization continues to stimulate the Omani economy.

In August 2018, we partnered with our latest downstream customer, Synergies Castings LLC, the leading manufacturer of aluminium alloy wheels in India, and SA will thereby meet its goal of supplying 60 per cent of its hot metal production to its downstream customers while the rest is exported in the form of solid ingots and sows.

Synergy Castings LLC will construct a $100mn high-tech alloy wheel manufacturing plant situated in the Sohar Industrial Estate adjacent to our premises. This new facility will be a further positive simulant towards Oman’s economic growth. It will also help reduce the Sultanate’s requirement for wheel imports, and simultaneously create new forms of employment for highly-skilled talent and develop more training opportunities for Omanis.

Building and Developing Local Talents SA’s pride and most valuable asset is undoubtably its workforce, and we consider this as a community of staff which fully embodies our core values. Our board of directors made an early business decision to provide professional training for our entire workforce. This was essential to maintain high quality standards across the company, particularly since we are in a sector which is extremely safety conscious.  This direction created an opportunity to recruit, train and develop an increased number of Omanis to operate, maintain, supervise and manage the business.

As we are the only aluminium smelter operator in the country, the task of hiring local employees with prior exposure to the industry was extremely difficult.  To overcome this, we invested in programs which provided educational options for Omanis in Engineering, Maintenance, Plant Operation and other fields of related expertise. The company also established in 2007 a training centre which was certified as a Training Institute by the Ministry of Manpower in July 2016.

As our operations matured, we developed a dedicated and highly motivated workforce which shares our commitment to efficiency and excellence and strives to create a positive impact. We are especially proud of our role as employer of choice in Oman and the Al Batinah Governorate. Our Omanisation rate of 76% in 2019 is the company’s highest ever national employment figure distributed across all levels and functions. Together with a focus on local employment, capacity building, competitive benefits and employee engagement, SA continues to aspire and develop a united and engaged community.

Contribution to Social and Economic Development in the Country Local economic development and the creation of In-Country Value (ICV) are central aspects of our economic considerations. The company continues to make a significant contribution to the national economy and has an important national impact on job creation and social development.

Through hiring more Omanis and an intensive focus on increasing the local supply base while supporting Aluminium downstream factories by supplying hot metal, SA has had an increasing impact on the economic development of the surrounding regions by increasing income and improving lifestyles. This has not only impacted on Sohar’s economic development, it has also improved the national GDP of the Sultanate.

Given the vital role that local vendors and Small or Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play in creating social growth and economic stimulation, SA is committed to developing partnerships with local Omani suppliers as a means of improving our supply chain and contributing to local economic development.

Although several products, such as machinery, primary raw material including alumina, is sourced internationally, SA continues to grow its partnerships with local manufacturing companies as it focuses on identifying items and services that can be procured locally. The company’s procurement of local goods and services constitutes on average 58% of our total purchases (except raw material).

Through our continued efforts to build our local supply chain, we have developed a strong network of nationally-based suppliers who provide a variety of goods and services, from administrative items to specialised manpower. Local suppliers represent a significant opportunity to enhance the Omani metals and manufacturing sector while reducing costs and product delivery time.

Committed to Build a Safety Culture and Preserve the Integrity of the Environment The company’s approach is to maximize shareholders and social value by responsible and sustainable operation of our business, while always maintaining a safety and quality-driven mind-set.

As an organization, SA adopts a policy of reliability to meet the highest customer expectations for product quality, while maintaining environment-friendly smelting operations. The organization remains fully committed to protecting the environment, preventing pollution, and the responsible care of natural resources.

Ultimately, SA is focused on playing a leading role in contributing to Oman’s development, while simultaneously minimizing our environmental footprint. Maintaining a strong integrated Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Management System is critical to our success. In line with our customer and stakeholder expectations we continuously strives for zero harm to personnel and the environment. To meet this expectation SA is an ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 compliant company. In addition, we seek to fully integrate EHS into our core business, creating a culture that is recognised throughout the industry.

To deal with the diverse and complex environmental issues associated with our operations, our comprehensive environmental management system helps facilitate the realisation of important EHS objectives and includes environmental performance standards.  The Environmental Steering Committee chaired by senior management contributes to the continual improvement of our environmental performance.

SA is equally committed to fostering a healthy working environment for all its employees. Our in-house occupational health and hygiene programme continuously strives to create the safest work places for our employees and contractors. Coupled with our in-house programs our employee medical surveillance initiatives are a mandatory requirement whilst maintaining and delivering quality medical facilities to all who work at SA.

SA Occupational health services include medical surveillance, health promotion and health education, occupational health visits and inspections, counselling, and biological monitoring. SA also implements a comprehensive industrial hygiene programme, and it is an important part of the company’s occupational health and well-being provisions. A work place monitoring programme based on the company’s health risks and legal obligations, is implemented.

Whilst maintaining a healthy workforce SA has incorporated the highest safety standards within each of its operations. Employees are constantly engaged to seek safer means of operating whilst constantly maintaining a culture where we care and look out for each other. The company is proud of our current standards and adherence to the safety systems on site. The company’s non-blame culture for reporting of incidents, accidents or unsafe conditions supports employees to actively report and seek areas of improvement. We are proud of our EHS systems and culture adopted by all employees and contractors. Together we stand strong to maintain a healthy, safe and environment-friendly workplace every day.

Long Lasting Contribution to Society and All Parties of Interest As an organization, we remain fully committed to our mission to support sustainable development in Oman, particularly in the Al Batinah region.

SA is a company rooted in community involvement; a responsible corporate organisation which is also a great place to work. We are proud of our continued growth, and we strive to fulfil our responsibility to the community. From day one, we concentrated effort on fostering the all-round development of the country. Our focus is, and always will be, on serving Oman with national pride. This is a defining feature of all our endeavours.

SA identifies issues of concern within the community in collaboration with community leaders and its members. SA also engages regularly with the community through a special hotline, social media and direct engagement events, which identify areas of concern and address these in the best possible way. SA has taken a unique and consistent approach to directly engaging with the local community by sharing knowledge of the company’s best practices. We regularly communicate important messages about the environment, health and safety, while spreading awareness in a fun, entertaining way.

SA is dedicated to contributing towards a robust Omani economy through investment and by supporting local communities. Social commitment is a key element of the company’s strategy to develop targeted sustainable programs which seek to improve the quality of life for those we come into contact with.

This is achieved through responsible business conduct and voluntary outreach programs, which bring direct and tangible benefits to communities which reside alongside where the company operates.

Our social responsibility initiatives are concentrated on strategically sustainable ventures. We follow a community-centric approach, which has had the effect of positively establishing our credentials as a people-friendly company.

The company allocates 1.5% of annual profits towards corporate social responsibility projects. Most of this is invested in Jusoor, a non-profit social responsibility organization, jointly founded by Sohar Aluminium Company LLC, Vale Oman Pelletizing Company LLC and Oman Oil Refineries and Petroleum Industries Company S.A.O.C. in 2011. Jusoor contributes to and supports social and economic development initiatives in Al Batinah. The organization focuses on four key pillars: Entrepreneurship, Education for Work, Health and Environment and Culture and Sport.

  Growth and Innovation We recently unveiled our new Business Strategy which incorporates a new strategic objective called Innovation and Growth. The previous interpretation of the strategy represented a strong fort and part of the Omani heritage with the principles of strength, confidence and integrity. These are all attributes that we stand by and we will continue to cherish. However, now it is time for development and growth, and it is time for us to evolve from building our strong roots into reaching for the skies and looking towards a very bright future.

We are now at a very exciting phase where we transition from ensuring stable operations towards growth and sustainability. This is all due to the trust that our shareholders have put in us, and the trust we have in our people. Through this objective we are planning to lead by leveraging on breakthrough innovations in aluminium smelting as well as from alternative power generation aiming for long-term sustainability.

Conclusion For the past ten years, our staff have been our strength, and we have always come together as one, no matter what challenges we faced. Integrity, honesty, respect, trust, empowerment and teamwork are essential components of our DNA, and we are confident these values will continue to carry us further along our journey and create even more success.

Since we were established as a company, we celebrated several significant milestones and many record-breaking achievements in all different areas. Above all, we are resilient in the face of challenge, and as a company we always aim to be the best.

Since its inception, the company has proved to be one of the industrial pillars in Sohar, and one of the drivers of sustainable development in the Sultanate, placing Oman on the global aluminium industry map. Ten years after its opening, the company plays an important role in the future of the aluminium industry in the Gulf region, contributing to creating investment opportunities that have boosted the industry’s contribution to Oman’s GDP.

We thank all our employees for their hard work, our shareholders for their trust in us, and the government agencies and our business partners for their constant support.

We are always striving to improve, develop and grow the business to ensure stable and sustainable operations for future generations to serve our beloved Oman and its loyal people under the wise leadership of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said.

Sohar Aluminium was formed in September 2004 to undertake a landmark Greenfield aluminium smelter project in the Sultanate of Oman. Inaugurated in 2009, Sohar Aluminium is jointly owned by Oman Oil Company S.A.O.C., Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC (TAQA) and Rio Tinto.

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[mikemortgage]

Move over oil, Big Data is the new fuel to run the world

The centrepiece of Canada’s innovation strategy is the $950-million “supercluster” initiative. The goal, according to the federal government, is for companies of all sizes, academia and the non-profit sector to collaborate on new technologies, to spur economic growth and create jobs. As part of the Innovation Nation series, the Financial Post is taking an in-depth look at each of the five regional projects, and provide continuing coverage of their progress. You can find all of our coverage here.

Drugs tailored to a person’s genetics don’t appear to have a lot in common with airplane assembly line simulations or smart devices that monitor tree cutting in remote forests.

But all three technologies are among the first to get funding from British Columbia’s digital technology supercluster, one of five innovation hubs the federal government is investing $950 million in over five years in hopes of spawning world-leading technologies and companies.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development granted the B.C. hub $153 million, with 29 members pitching in another $200 million. An additional 500 organizations including non-profits have signed on as associates without making a financial commitment.

The West Coast cluster is an amalgamation of post-secondary institutions and large and small businesses from sectors including health care, mining, forestry and aerospace.

What unites these disparate players is big data and, more critically, a need to analyze the huge volumes of information being collected. Some say the ability to analyze this data could become the currency that fuels every element of the economy, much like oil was the currency of the last century.

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“Just like oil coming out of the ground is not a very useful resource, data that’s swirling around in big pools is not a very useful resource,” Sue Paish, chief executive of the digital technology supercluster, said. “But if you can actually extract the data that you need, analyze it, refine it, leverage it, deploy it, monetize it, it becomes an incredibly powerful part of society.”

Paish knows she’s not the first to make the analogy between oil and data, a comparison often drawn by major tech executives despite the former’s finite nature and the seeming limitlessness of the latter, but she believes the digital technology supercluster can unlock big data’s potential.

The cluster formed after the federal government announced its supercluster funding plan in the 2016 budget. It anticipated a regional distribution of money, Paish said, and wanted to have a strong proposal for B.C.

Realizing that the province has a depth of digital knowledge in sectors ranging from entertainment and gaming to health care and resource extraction, Paish said the group decided to focus on “harnessing the power of the data that’s being created, but not leveraged.”

Only 0.8 per cent of all data collected is ever analyzed, according to a 2018 white paper by research firm IDC. That amount is expected to go up to one per cent by 2020, IDC senior vice-president John Gantz said in an email.

But that still leaves an almost unfathomable amount of untouched data, since the overall amount of data collected is expected to hit 175 zettabytes (one ZB is a trillion gigabytes) in 2025 from 33 ZB in 2018, according to IDC estimates. (One zettabyte is enough data to stream one trillion movies.)

Paish said there’s a competitive advantage to be had for the first jurisdiction that becomes known for successfully analyzing big data. Collaborating across industries is expected to help B.C.’s supercluster do just that.

“The best innovation and the best deployments of innovation come from different perspectives coming together around a table,” she said. “It’s harder to come to a final product or a final plan, but that final plan is richer.”

More specifically, the digital technology supercluster intends to develop data visualization tools such as mapping and virtual reality; data analysis tools like cloud and quantum computing; and data collection tools such as the Internet of Things and data repositories. It will apply these tools in the precision health, natural resources and industrial sectors.

Over the next five to 10 years, the supercluster hopes the projects it funds will create 13,000 jobs and increase Canada’s gross domestic product by $5 billion.

One of the supercluster’s major players is Telus Corp. The telecom, which has a health division that serves 22,000 physicians and 6,300 pharmacies, is involved in a pharmacogenomics project that is studying how genetics affect a person’s reaction to different drugs. Other partners in the project include GenXys Health Care Systems Inc., LifeLabs BC LP and Genome B.C.

The supercluster’s mix of big and smaller companies is important, because it gives large organizations a chance to focus on new ideas around the common theme of data, said Ohad Arazi, Telus Health’s chief strategy officer, while also giving smaller players the ability to strike deals that could help commercialize their research.

“The reality is that innovation is very difficult for big companies,” he said. “They have to continue delivering value; it’s hard to step back and pursue innovative ideas.”

Arazi sees the supercluster as an opportunity for B.C. players to band together and develop global ambitions, a goal echoed by other members including the University of British Columbia.

“This is a really exciting opportunity for post-secondary and industry to come together to build disruptive technology to really help make sure Canada is at the lead creating the knowledge economy,” said Gail Murphy, UBC’s vice-president of research and innovation.

UBC is participating in a digital twin project, which is creating a simulation of two complex industrial production lines used to make Boeing Co. aircraft parts. This “learning factory” will enable Boeing and partners — including AMPD Game Technologies Ltd., a Vancouver-based video-game company; Avcorp Industries Inc., an aircraft supply chain company in Delta, B.C.; and LlamaZOO, a Victoria-based 3D data visualization company  — to test new factory processes in real time.

On top of the learning factory’s industry applications, Murphy said it can give students a chance to develop the talent and skills that companies are looking for. Projects such as these also show the value in sharing ideas and collaborating, something she said would be very hard to do without supercluster funding.

“It’s breaking down barriers,” she said. “Having Microsoft and Finger Food Studios at the same table as Canfor and TimberWest and Telus, that kind of cross-sectoral discussion, in my experience, doesn’t happen a lot in regular life.”

Collaboration across industries is part of what drew mining giant Teck Resources Ltd. and space robotics company MDA Corp. to the supercluster. Both have pledged funding, although neither is participating in one of the initial projects.

“We see there being tremendous opportunity,” said Victoria Sterritt, Teck’s lead of technology and innovation.

Teck already uses data extensively, such as getting information from X-ray sensors on its shovels to distinguish between ore and waste, and from remotely operated bulldozers, which use automation to extract coal from otherwise unstable areas of a pit.

Industries can be fairly insular, Sterritt said, but Teck sees an opportunity to share knowledge across sectors rather than talk only to other miners.

“We understand we just can’t get to as good of a result on our own,” she said.

Chris Pogue, president of MDA Government and a veteran of the Canadian Air Force, agreed that having variety around the table is more effective, even if it is messier.

“A certain amount of chaos is healthy, to be quite frank,” he said.

Given MDA’s line of work, it is well aware of the challenges of analyzing vast amounts of data. “We’ve been dealing with the big data problem as a space agency before anyone called it big data,” Pogue said. The company plans to work on virtual and augmented reality projects as part of the cluster.

Joining together to grapple challenges that companies such as MDA previously tackled alone is the crux of the strategy behind the supercluster since researchers believe in cross-pollinating ideas.

Catherine Beaudry, Canada Research Chair on the Creation, Development and the Commercialization of Innovation at Polytechnique Montréal, said innovation often results from combining knowledge pools that already exist.

“Mixing and matching from different sectors can be highly beneficial,” she said. “Learning from one another and not having to do everything from scratch within a silo, I think that’s very, very important.”

As an example, Beaudry pointed to the aerospace industry’s link to the gaming community through the use of technologies such as flight simulators.

As for the risks in collaborating, she said partners have to be careful with intellectual property management, but could potentially benefit from casting a wider geographical net beyond B.C.

“Our superclusters are very much seen as a Canadian experiment,” she said.

Of course, the idea of concentrating regional players to spark innovation isn’t new. It dates back to U.S. economist Michael Porter’s theories from the 1990s, but it has become a buzzword as politicians around the world strive to create their own Silicon Valleys.

Rune Dahl Fitjar, a professor at the University of Stavanger Business School in Norway who studies what types of interactions lead to innovation, said he has found very little evidence about the effectiveness of cluster policies, but said they continue to appeal to policy-makers trying to stimulate industry development.

“It’s the need to appear to be doing something,” he said.

Fitjar said companies that look beyond a particular region to find international partners tend to find the most success.

“The wisest way to go is trying to improve diversity,” he said, adding that a multi-industry approach may help develop new ideas closer to home. “Going across sectors is helpful, because it then makes it easier to find emergent industries that can benefit and can also participate. It helps companies go beyond the networks they develop anyway.”

• Email: ejackson@nationalpost.com | Twitter: theemilyjackson

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Pay equity analysis software could aid compliance, talent acquisition

ADP releases pay analytics cloud software to assist employers to comply with new EEOC guidelines. But with the regulations in all likelihood to be quashed, ADP is also advertising and marketing it for competitive hiring.

While ADP turned into developing its new pay fairness evaluation software program,

The payroll large targeted employers seeking to observe a huge-ranging improve the EEOC antidiscrimination digital reporting gadget. But now that the long-awaited Same Employment Opportunity Fee, or EEOC, revamp of its EEO-1 gadget is awash in political trouble, ADP is pivoting the cloud-based pay equity analysis software program closer to hiring competitiveness.computer software

To implement antidiscrimination in hiring laws, EEOC has used employment records categorizing workers in line with race, ethnicity, gender and job category from the so-called EEO-1 Report on account that passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1966.

New EEOC policies in doubt

Underneath former President Barack Obama, a widely elevated EEO-1 become headed for enactment. However, Donald Trump’s management appears poised to torpedo the measure, which might add extra designated information approximately total pay across 10 task classes and 12 pay bands.

In any occasion, amid uncertainty about whether the brand new EEO-1 might be weakened, scuttled or take effect in September as at the beginning deliberate, ADP stated it has several beta users and is making plans a fashionable launch of the pay fairness analysis device in fall 2017.

Employers can use the ADP Pay equity Explorer gadget to pick out the gender and race-ethnicity pay gaps companywide, or specifically nations, regions, towns or activity places.

ADP: Want for pay fairness analysis no matter EEOC uncertainty Jennifer Chambers,

VP of product control for the Pay equity Explorer product at ADP, based totally in Roseland, N.J., stated anything takes place with EEO-1, ADP nonetheless sees a robust market for the gadget due to the fact social changes have created an expectation of pay fairness.

How Do You Select The Best Property Management Software?

Assets management can be a project, especially without the right equipment. Getting the right software program could be very crucial in assisting you to streamline the manner of handling your developing commercial enterprise and to keep it prepared. Increasingly corporations are casting off office work by using selecting software program answers that can cope with all critical capabilities along with management of files. However then how do you cross approximately selecting the high-quality Assets control software in your enterprise?

Step 1 – Start via that specialize in what you want

Avoid selecting software program this is an overkill or under-kill to your business. It’s miles essential that you compare exactly what you need the software program software for; you may separate office accounting needs from Belongings management needs to cut fees of the software application. Remember whether It’s miles vital for the device that will help you with tenant heritage tests, liability and asset accounting and budgeting so you do now not waste a while on an answer you virtually do no longer need. Whereas you do now not need to move overboard while choosing the gadget, you furthermore might do no longer need to turn out to be with an application that can not manage the maximum primary things to your commercial enterprise. It enables to as a minimum ensure that the management software program you agree for can automatically post control fees, rent and overdue costs, maintain separate ledgers for tenants and owners, effortlessly update data thru a pleasant interface, manage one-of-a-kind Assets sorts without extra module buying and deal with financial institution deposits and exams.

Step 2 – Check all critical functions

There are such a lot of capabilities that won’t be that crucial to the control manner of the Belongings, But they may show to be treasured in your software program. A number of the features that could make a distinction between your machine encompass reminder functions to help tune appointments, pop-up lists of proprietors and tenants owing you money, functions that assist Take a look at tenant data for log returned bills and credit score references, computerized rent amount updates, automatic account updates and different. The extra you are capable of doing with the program the higher the ease you stand to experience running your house enterprise.

Step three – Verify aid, reliability and reasonable pricing

Maximum Belongings management software program businesses fail in providing the wanted guide. Some may also even compel you to pay for software program updates to revel in technical guide, Whereas others may additionally provide loose support for a restricted time frame and begin charging for any aid past that. Select an assist plan you may absolutely consider in and rely upon. On the same line, you need to take the mandate to check for any hidden charges whilst buying the software program. Ask as many applicable questions as possible and study as much as you may about what you stand to advantage the use of the answer earlier than making the very last buy. It facilitates to Pick a software program that is easy to install and use and one that comes with a complete inbuilt help file. preserve off programs that require you pay for updates and research.

PCI Compliance in a Nutshell

Even as strolling you’re online store sooner or later a few questions may be requested to you: Is your enterprise PCI Compliant? Have you ever completed any Self Assessment Questionnaire? What Compliance stage you are on? Those questions would possibly hold ongoing; however, the excellent manner to reply These questions could be to carefully listen what’s being requested. Apart from this, You should be aware of the PCI Compliance and what kind of essential it really is for you as being a merchant.

What’s PCI DSS?

PCI DSS stands for Fee Card Enterprise Facts Security Popular, administered by the Price Card Enterprise Safety Requirements Council. The PCI is a fixed of Requirements combined collectively by way of American Express, Discover, JCB, Grasp Card and VISA.

What is the significance of DSS Compliance?

The principle goal of PCI DSS is to protect the credit score card Records and to put a prevent to credit score card fraud. The principle idea of the standard is to ensure that merchants are giving their satisfactory in protecting their customer’s credit score card Facts. There are sure consequences that may be very burdensome for a small business. Being noncompliant can bring about Fee brands, like American Explicit, Find out, JCB, Grasp Card and Visa, to the problem an excellent ranging among $five,000 to one hundred,000 every month to the obtaining bank.

In lots of cases, Those fines are handed onto the service provider by the financial institution, resulting in termination of the service provider or increase the transaction prices of the service provider.

Is there any want for my on-line shop to be PCI Compliant?

If your enterprise shops, transmits or techniques credit score card Facts; then it is essential on the way to be PCI Compliant.

I in no way knew approximately PCI Compliance and had been walking mine online store from a long term with none problem. Is this all a lie?

The Importance Of Merger and Acquisition Integration In A Company’s Growth

Inside the commercial enterprise arena, no unmarried enterprise can stand without the assist of some other. Mergers and Acquisition integration is the system that is composed of various transactions like a merger, an acquisition, a consolidation, control acquisition, purchase of belongings and gentle offers. A lot of these involve two agencies wherein in one company provides a proposal to shop for the opposite which may also encompass all its belongings or simply part of it. Each event needs to have a clear information concerning internal transactions to have a better and longer integration plan in a vicinity.

So what do These kinds of technical phrases mean?

A merger is when Both boards of administrators of two organizations are in settlement to combine assets and is authorized by way of the shareholders. After a merger happens, the corporation that was acquired will now not exist, however, will become part of the corporation that did the obtaining. An acquisition, alternatively, is the acquisition of an employer’s majority belongings however the shape remains unchanged. Both organizations can maintain their names and the shape of the employer. A consolidation occurs when stockholders of two businesses approve a consolidation resulting Within the creation of a brand new corporation. All stockholders will receive commonplace equity shares Inside the newly shaped employer.

What are the satisfactory practices in merger and acquisition integration? while one agency acquires every other company, it’s far crucial to the fulfillment of the business to follow the fine practices in acquisition integration.

1. The first thing you need to consider is that you need to move quickly due to the fact all and sundry is looking ahead to modifications to happen.

2. Talk early and often. Formulate an integration plan for The first a hundred days and ensure that the “non-negotiables” are spelled out and are understood. You do not only Speak with personnel, however, you also need to speak to clients and suppliers.

3. Create a strategic plan for all decision making.

4. Recognition at the organization’s priorities.

5. Establish a framework for measuring employee performance as early as viable.

6. Assign integration resources.

Take into account that the important thing steps in an acquisition integration are to align method, become aware of lifestyle, commit sources, create motion plans and execute A majority of these in a smooth but professional way. There should be a timeline for aligning your method and your people so as for the mixing to run easily or danger confusion among personnel, customers, and suppliers. All elements that could have an effect on the transactions must always be seemed upon to save you better risks.

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New Post has been published on http://webpostingpro.com/pay-equity-analysis-software-could-aid-compliance-talent-acquisition/

Pay equity analysis software could aid compliance, talent acquisition

ADP releases pay analytics cloud software to assist employers to comply with new EEOC guidelines. But with the regulations in all likelihood to be quashed, ADP is also advertising and marketing it for competitive hiring.

While ADP turned into developing its new pay fairness evaluation software program,

The payroll large targeted employers seeking to observe a huge-ranging improve the EEOC antidiscrimination digital reporting gadget. But now that the long-awaited Same Employment Opportunity Fee, or EEOC, revamp of its EEO-1 gadget is awash in political trouble, ADP is pivoting the cloud-based pay equity analysis software program closer to hiring competitiveness.computer software

To implement antidiscrimination in hiring laws, EEOC has used employment records categorizing workers in line with race, ethnicity, gender and job category from the so-called EEO-1 Report on account that passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1966.

New EEOC policies in doubt

Underneath former President Barack Obama, a widely elevated EEO-1 become headed for enactment. However, Donald Trump’s management appears poised to torpedo the measure, which might add extra designated information approximately total pay across 10 task classes and 12 pay bands.

In any occasion, amid uncertainty about whether the brand new EEO-1 might be weakened, scuttled or take effect in September as at the beginning deliberate, ADP stated it has several beta users and is making plans a fashionable launch of the pay fairness analysis device in fall 2017.

Employers can use the ADP Pay equity Explorer gadget to pick out the gender and race-ethnicity pay gaps companywide, or specifically nations, regions, towns or activity places.

ADP: Want for pay fairness analysis no matter EEOC uncertainty Jennifer Chambers,

VP of product control for the Pay equity Explorer product at ADP, based totally in Roseland, N.J., stated anything takes place with EEO-1, ADP nonetheless sees a robust market for the gadget due to the fact social changes have created an expectation of pay fairness.

How Do You Select The Best Property Management Software?

Assets management can be a project, especially without the right equipment. Getting the right software program could be very crucial in assisting you to streamline the manner of handling your developing commercial enterprise and to keep it prepared. Increasingly corporations are casting off office work by using selecting software program answers that can cope with all critical capabilities along with management of files. However then how do you cross approximately selecting the high-quality Assets control software in your enterprise?

Step 1 – Start via that specialize in what you want

Avoid selecting software program this is an overkill or under-kill to your business. It’s miles essential that you compare exactly what you need the software program software for; you may separate office accounting needs from Belongings management needs to cut fees of the software application. Remember whether It’s miles vital for the device that will help you with tenant heritage tests, liability and asset accounting and budgeting so you do now not waste a while on an answer you virtually do no longer need. Whereas you do now not need to move overboard while choosing the gadget, you furthermore might do no longer need to turn out to be with an application that can not manage the maximum primary things to your commercial enterprise. It enables to as a minimum ensure that the management software program you agree for can automatically post control fees, rent and overdue costs, maintain separate ledgers for tenants and owners, effortlessly update data thru a pleasant interface, manage one-of-a-kind Assets sorts without extra module buying and deal with financial institution deposits and exams.

Step 2 – Check all critical functions

There are such a lot of capabilities that won’t be that crucial to the control manner of the Belongings, But they may show to be treasured in your software program. A number of the features that could make a distinction between your machine encompass reminder functions to help tune appointments, pop-up lists of proprietors and tenants owing you money, functions that assist Take a look at tenant data for log returned bills and credit score references, computerized rent amount updates, automatic account updates and different. The extra you are capable of doing with the program the higher the ease you stand to experience running your house enterprise.

Step three – Verify aid, reliability and reasonable pricing

Maximum Belongings management software program businesses fail in providing the wanted guide. Some may also even compel you to pay for software program updates to revel in technical guide, Whereas others may additionally provide loose support for a restricted time frame and begin charging for any aid past that. Select an assist plan you may absolutely consider in and rely upon. On the same line, you need to take the mandate to check for any hidden charges whilst buying the software program. Ask as many applicable questions as possible and study as much as you may about what you stand to advantage the use of the answer earlier than making the very last buy. It facilitates to Pick a software program that is easy to install and use and one that comes with a complete inbuilt help file. preserve off programs that require you pay for updates and research.

PCI Compliance in a Nutshell

Even as strolling you’re online store sooner or later a few questions may be requested to you: Is your enterprise PCI Compliant? Have you ever completed any Self Assessment Questionnaire? What Compliance stage you are on? Those questions would possibly hold ongoing; however, the excellent manner to reply These questions could be to carefully listen what’s being requested. Apart from this, You should be aware of the PCI Compliance and what kind of essential it really is for you as being a merchant.

What’s PCI DSS?

PCI DSS stands for Fee Card Enterprise Facts Security Popular, administered by the Price Card Enterprise Safety Requirements Council. The PCI is a fixed of Requirements combined collectively by way of American Express, Discover, JCB, Grasp Card and VISA.

What is the significance of DSS Compliance?

The principle goal of PCI DSS is to protect the credit score card Records and to put a prevent to credit score card fraud. The principle idea of the standard is to ensure that merchants are giving their satisfactory in protecting their customer’s credit score card Facts. There are sure consequences that may be very burdensome for a small business. Being noncompliant can bring about Fee brands, like American Explicit, Find out, JCB, Grasp Card and Visa, to the problem an excellent ranging among $five,000 to one hundred,000 every month to the obtaining bank.

In lots of cases, Those fines are handed onto the service provider by the financial institution, resulting in termination of the service provider or increase the transaction prices of the service provider.

Is there any want for my on-line shop to be PCI Compliant?

If your enterprise shops, transmits or techniques credit score card Facts; then it is essential on the way to be PCI Compliant.

I in no way knew approximately PCI Compliance and had been walking mine online store from a long term with none problem. Is this all a lie?

The Importance Of Merger and Acquisition Integration In A Company’s Growth

Inside the commercial enterprise arena, no unmarried enterprise can stand without the assist of some other. Mergers and Acquisition integration is the system that is composed of various transactions like a merger, an acquisition, a consolidation, control acquisition, purchase of belongings and gentle offers. A lot of these involve two agencies wherein in one company provides a proposal to shop for the opposite which may also encompass all its belongings or simply part of it. Each event needs to have a clear information concerning internal transactions to have a better and longer integration plan in a vicinity.

So what do These kinds of technical phrases mean?

A merger is when Both boards of administrators of two organizations are in settlement to combine assets and is authorized by way of the shareholders. After a merger happens, the corporation that was acquired will now not exist, however, will become part of the corporation that did the obtaining. An acquisition, alternatively, is the acquisition of an employer’s majority belongings however the shape remains unchanged. Both organizations can maintain their names and the shape of the employer. A consolidation occurs when stockholders of two businesses approve a consolidation resulting Within the creation of a brand new corporation. All stockholders will receive commonplace equity shares Inside the newly shaped employer.

What are the satisfactory practices in merger and acquisition integration? while one agency acquires every other company, it’s far crucial to the fulfillment of the business to follow the fine practices in acquisition integration.

1. The first thing you need to consider is that you need to move quickly due to the fact all and sundry is looking ahead to modifications to happen.

2. Talk early and often. Formulate an integration plan for The first a hundred days and ensure that the “non-negotiables” are spelled out and are understood. You do not only Speak with personnel, however, you also need to speak to clients and suppliers.

3. Create a strategic plan for all decision making.

4. Recognition at the organization’s priorities.

5. Establish a framework for measuring employee performance as early as viable.

6. Assign integration resources.

Take into account that the important thing steps in an acquisition integration are to align method, become aware of lifestyle, commit sources, create motion plans and execute A majority of these in a smooth but professional way. There should be a timeline for aligning your method and your people so as for the mixing to run easily or danger confusion among personnel, customers, and suppliers. All elements that could have an effect on the transactions must always be seemed upon to save you better risks.