Showing posts with label #LifeInTheAgeofCorona. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #LifeInTheAgeofCorona. Show all posts

Thursday, July 9, 2020

An Urgent Virtual Pubic Announcement: #COVID-19

 As COVID-19 rages on World-Wide based on the latest from Johns Hopkins and the World Health Organization, our team decided to release this Virtual Public Service Annoucement on all our platforms  courtesy the CDC as we join in asking all to #WearAMaskToSaveALife.   



Friday, April 24, 2020

Notations On Our World (W-End Edition): On #LifeInTheTimeofCorona

President Barack Obama message to mayors


We here at the Daily Outsider joined President Obama in doing all that we can to make sure we will not misnform in anyway, shape or form.

As part of this commitment, we hereby present the following on the ravaging effects of  COVID19 as it continues to wreck havoc on our World: 




What covid-19 does to your body

We also hereby present for weekend readings courtesy of the team at Abudance Digital some insightful hopeful trends--up and including how Mother Earth continues to take a breather!!!


Coronavirus lockdowns have changed the way Earth moves.

VIBRATIONS
What it is: In the wake of mass lockdowns spurred by the Coronavirus pandemic, seismologists have observed the Earth quite literally vibrating less. Typically, all human activities (and primarily transportation, construction, industrial machinery) contribute to a background “hum” that can be measured by our most precise seismographs. While most seismographs are placed in remote locations for this exact reason — after all, their purpose is to measure earthquakes, not human activity — the measuring devices located closer to major cities have noticed a marked decrease in background seismic noise as a result of current lockdowns. 
Why it’s important: Seismologists have a rare chance to measure extremely small quakes and other far more subtle seismic activity. While the individual effects of commercial transit and infrastructural activity are minor, they together produce sufficient background noise to reduce scientists’ ability to discern signals marked by the same frequency. According to Andy Frassetto, a seismologist at the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology in Washington DC, “You’ll get a signal with less noise on top, allowing you to squeeze a little more information out of those events.” Especially valuable will be the extra-precise measurements scientists can take of natural vibrations, such as ocean waves, as well as their fine-tuned ability to monitor volcanic activity.

Artificial intelligence is preserving our ability to converse with Holocaust survivors even after they die.

HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AVATARS
What it is: Last Sunday, 60 Minutes’ Leslie Stahl interviewed Holocaust survivor Aaron Elster, who died two years ago. Yes, you read that right. Elster was projected on an 11-foot screen and responded to Stahl’s various unscripted questions in real time, ranging from his childhood to his belief in God, with AI-selected, pre-recorded responses. Elster is one of 22 Holocaust survivors who have been recorded by the University of Southern California’s Shoah Foundation for the purposes of preserving the stories of Holocaust survivors, most of whom are in their 80s or 90s today. The initial participant, Pinchas Gutter, spent a week answering over 2,000 questions while being filmed in a lattice-like dome with 20 cameras— a setup fitted to capture every angle in preparation for the holograms of the future. AI programs interpret audience questions and determine the correct pre-recorded response to deliver. The program, led by Heather Maio, has placed Holocaust survivor projections in museums across the nation, where visitors can converse with these remarkable individuals for years to come. 
Why it’s important: Preserving the memory of human lives by integrating real footage with computer programming has the power to transform historical narratives. From an educational standpoint, the novelty of this technology and the personal interaction it enables will enhance any learning experience about the past. While filmed survivors are currently only visible in the medium of 2D projections, footage from every angle could one day allow programmers to create lifelike holograms, further bringing these individuals and their stories virtually back to life. The interactive nature of asking questions and instantaneously receiving first-person responses will undoubtedly humanize our understanding of history and its key figures.

Behind the global efforts to make a privacy-first coronavirus tracking app.

GOOGLE DOC
What it is: Software engineers and health experts are collaborating on a 20+ page Google Doc to halt the spread and resurgence of COVID-19. Although scattered across the globe, this unlikely distributed team of experts is working to build voluntary smartphone tracking solutions, similar to apps already present in China, Singapore, and Israel. The idea is that if enough people download the app and voluntarily consent to data collection, the software could warn users of any detected recent contact with a virulent person, alerting them to their risk of infection. As a protective measure, only healthcare officials would be granted the authority to confirm if an individual tests positive, thereby avoiding abuse of the service. As privacy remains critical, the software would employ anonymous, encrypted use of Bluetooth technology, preventing government access to user data, according to AI researcher Peter Eckersley, who coordinates a team working towards this goal. Although there is no official launch date for a U.S.-based app, developers anticipate one could be ready within two weeks.
Why it’s important: Social media giants like Pinterest and Facebook have launched programs through which people can voluntarily enter symptoms and demographic information to track the virus, but Google Doc collaboration offers an alternate decentralized approach to slowing the pandemic. Everyday citizens are now forming bootstrapped solutions at speed, highlighting the power of mass mobilization enabled by today’s proliferating connectivity and cloud-based platforms. Despite concerns of surveillance, technologists have repeatedly asserted the goal to simultaneously protect human health and safeguard privacy. As bottom-up civilian solutions rise to the surface, we will soon see how nascent technologists and developers balance the two.

Oil Companies Are Collapsing, but Wind and Solar Energy Keep Growing.

RENEWABLE ENERGY
What it is: The economic impact of COVID-19 has been felt across all sectors, and especially by the oil and gas industry. While largely influenced by geopolitical tensions, oil prices have more than halved since the Coronavirus crisis began, yet wind and solar continue to add capacity. Renewables are now on track to account for almost 21 percent of U.S. electricity demands, and analysts project that the recent downturn will even help the renewables industry, as utilities opt for cheaper operating costs of solar and wind farms. As oil prices dwindle, new wind installations are only down 3 percent, partially given that such projects are built directly outside urban centers and many states have deemed construction an essential industry.
Why it’s important: The resilience of the renewable energy sector in the wake of our current crisis could signal a paradigm shift in the energy economy. “Renewables are on a growth trajectory today that I think isn’t going to be set back long term. [...] This will be a bump in the road,” stated Dan Reicher, founding executive director of the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance at Stanford University. This sentiment is echoed by Caton Fenz, chief executive of ConnectGen, a Houston-based developer of wind, solar and electricity storage. According to Fenz, “We blew through all of the projections [and are] surfing a long-term wave. [...] We just can’t get specific things done because of the pandemic, but I don’t think that affects the broader trajectory.” Indeed, solar added 13.3 Gigawatts of capacity last year alone, surpassing both wind and natural gas. As oil and gas companies struggle, the long-term surge of renewable energy sources is yet another herald of positive news in the fight against climate change, an issue gaining its own spotlight as the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a tremendous near-term reduction in GHG emissions.

COVID-19 crisis spurs triple-digit growth for refurbishing startup Back Market.

BACK MARKET
What it is: Back Market, a Paris-based startup that refurbishes and sells devices into the online secondhand market, has experienced a big boost in business due to COVID-19. As people buy laptops for remote work, the demand for refurbished devices has skyrocketed. According to CEO Thibaud Hug de Larauze, while “[the company doesn’t] release the gross merchandise volume, it’s a three-digit growth rate [...] We saw an increase in demand for laptops, printers and other devices needed for working at home.” Aiding Back Market’s revenue growth is the closure of Apple and Samsung retail stores, a trend that has nudged consumers towards refurbishing and secondhand platforms. Founded in 2014, Back Market has already raised two financing rounds, totaling 48 million Euros.
Why it’s important: Beyond supplying work-from-home (WFH) consumers in a time of crisis, the firm is playing a part in “closing the loop” for our digital device economy by reducing the accumulation and disposal of e-waste. Globally, the refurbishing market is worth US$80 billion, boasting 13% year-over-year (YoY) growth. As de Larauze has stated, “They realized that it’s not only ecological, but it’s also a good business. Two hundred (new refurbishing factories) are on-boarding.” And the push for closed-loop hardware manufacturing is largely accounted for by developed Western economies. “The U.S. and Germany are pushing the growth [...] They are the main two drivers of the boom of Back Market,” says de Larauze.

Hunt Is on for Genetic Clues to Why Coronavirus Impact Varies.

GENETIC CLUES
What it is: The mystery behind Covid-19’s highly variable severity across patients could be a matter of genetics, and scientists across the globe are working to solve the puzzle. DNA testing company 23andMe just launched a study to analyze the genomes of patients who test positive for Covid-19. Given that 80% of the company’s 10 million customers have already opted in to share their data for research purposes, the project will likely move quickly. At the Rockefeller University in New York, Dr. Jean-Laurent Casanova is now recruiting 1,000-2,000 previously healthy people under the age of 50 who ended up in the ICU with Covid-19. While he claims this niche makes up just 1% of severe cases, Dr. Casanova and his team hope to better understand why some patients fare worse than others. Geneticists worldwide are also pooling their research in the Covid-19 Host Genomics Initiative, aiming to determine underlying genetic predispositions and protections against the virus.
Why it’s important: In the case of Covid-19, genetic analysis will enable researchers to better understand the virus’s mechanisms and potentially design gene therapy solutions to cure patients who lack the underlying genetic protections. To meet this goal, researchers have recognized the need to collectively aggregate data and transparently share findings at lightning speed. Moving forward, this same form of distributed collaboration could drive progress across countless vexing diseases — not only to determine causes of disease, but also to develop effective treatments.

 We implore all to Practice #SocialDistancing, #StayHome, in following  the CDC Guidelines as we are convinced #WeWillGetThroughThisTogether as we present the following from Yuval Noah Harriri:


Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Notations From the Grid (Weekly Edition): On #LifeInTheTimeofCorona

We joined this sponsored by Aspen Digital--We present the YouTube Video Clip and the links for all: 



 

Press Freedom at Risk:

How the Pandemic is Threatening Truthtelling Around the World

We made some very light edits at the end of

the video due to a connection issue, but

no content was altered or removed.

Would-be autocrats around the world are using the COVID-19 pandemic as cover for tightening their grip on power. And cracking down on journalism is the first order of business. From Eastern Europe to South Asia to Latin America and Africa, vast restrictions on the press are criminalizing independent reporting. At stake is the public’s right to know, and at a time when the stakes have never been higher.

In this session we meet reporters on four continents who are experiencing this firsthand. Also joining us is Joel Simon, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, which is on the front lines of advocating for a free press. 

Speakers:

  • Joel Simon, Executive Director, Committee to Protect Journalists
  • Jennifer Avila Reyes, Journalist, Honduras
  • Daniel Kalinaki, Journalist, Uganda
  • Raksha Kumar, Journalist, India
  • Szabolcs Panyi, Journalist, Hungary
  • Vivian Schiller, Executive Director, Aspen Digital

Aspen Digital is a new program of the Aspen Institute which empowers policy makers, civic organizations, companies, and the public to be responsible stewards of technology and digital media in the service of a more just and equitable world. Aspen Digital combines many of the Institute’s initiatives focused on technology and media, including the work of the Aspen Cyber & Technology Program, Communications & Society Program, the Center for Urban Innovation, and the Aspen Tech Policy Hub.

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Notations From the Grid (Special Tuesday Edition): On #LifeIntheTimeofCorona With a Window to the Future

Data Sheet

April 7, 2020


The economist Paul Romer is credited with the expression “a crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” Apple seems to be taking the maxim to heart, using its massive balance sheet to go shopping at a time equity values are plummeting.

Last week, Apple said it would buy the popular weather app Dark Sky, an opportunity to beef up its map and meteorological offerings as well as deprive customers with Android phones from using the app. It also is buying Voysis, an artificial intelligence software company that makes voice-assistance tech, presumably to beef up the sometimes-maligned Siri. The Apple-focused (if anachronistically named) site 9to5Mac reports that Apple plans to buy an augmented reality company called NextVR too.

There’ve been recent reports that famously secretive and office-centric Apple hasn’t taken well to the working-from-home era. It also has begun throwing itself into pandemic aid by donating masks. But it’s clear that Apple is chugging along, especially in the dealmaking department.

***

I watched an inspiring coronavirus news conference Monday hosted by the mayor of San Francisco and top city officials. The mayor, London Breed, didn’t once criticize anyone. She didn’t offer medical advice of any kind. Her heads of health, public transportation, homeless services, and other departments calmly explained, with ample dollops of data, what the city is doing to confront the crisis.

Breed repeatedly made reference to an inevitable surge on local hospitals and explained how the city is preparing for it. She came under criticism for declaring an emergency in San Francisco on February 26, an act meant to trigger preparedness. Along with other Bay Area officials, she ordered residents to stay home on March 16, days before other cities and even before the rest of California. So far, however, there have been 583 Covid-19 cases in San Francisco and nine deaths. The city is widely believed to have flattened the curve of the disease.

I can’t pretend this news conference, available here, is good television. The time each official takes to disinfect the microphone and their hands alone is a ratings killer. How refreshing.

***

Mauro Guillen, the Wharton professor whose thoughts on technology and the coronavirus I mentioned Monday, has posted his presentation here.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Notations From the Grid (Weekly Edition): Out & About With #RandomThoughts On #LifeInTheTimeofCorona

As a new quarter dawns, we hereby present some #RandomThoughts on the possibilities courtesy Peter Diamandis and Verne Harnish:




AbundanceInsiderLogo_Black.png
 

 

As the first Coronavirus vaccine human trials begin, manufacturer is already preparing to scale production to millions.

MODERNA

What it is: Last week, the first doses of an experimental COVID-19 vaccine were administered to the study’s initial volunteers. Developed by Moderna Therapeutics in a record time of 63 days, the vaccine is now being tested in three different dosages, aimed at determining which optimal dosage triggers the strongest immune response. While Moderna has already shipped hundreds of vials to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the vaccine’s first testing phase, the company is now preparing to scale production to millions of vials in quick succession if the vaccine proves safe and effective. This rapid scale-up is largely possible thanks to Moderna’s nontraditional use of mRNA—a genetic form of the virus’ genome—in its vaccine. As a result, when the vaccine is injected, patients’ cells process it such that immune cells recognize and target it for destruction. Whereas most traditional vaccines necessitate growing large amounts of the virus, Moderna’s process thereby eliminates this time-consuming step.

Why it’s important: While trials are not predicted to conclude for another 12-18 months, Moderna’s experimental data and other research could grant us critical information about the virus’s behavior and how the immune system can better fend off coronaviruses more broadly. Moderna’s accelerated timeline—from Chinese researchers’ initial sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 to a human trial-ready vaccine—also illustrates the combined power of advancements in computing and genetics. As our scientific and medical communities mobilize across the globe, convergences of AI, biotech, and computing will help us deliver treatments faster than ever before.

Predicting coronavirus? SF emergency workers wear state-of-the-art rings in new study.

OURA CORONA

What it is: Oura Ring—developer of sleep and activity-tracking ring technology—is now teaming up with UCSF and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital to identify the early onset of COVID-19 in users. Packed with advanced sensors (including an accelerometer, infrared LEDs, and a gyroscope), the Oura ring tracks vital signs, from body temperature to heart rate (HR), around the clock. In an effort to stem COVID-19’s spread, over 2,000 emergency medical workers and hospital staff are now wearing the rings to proactively detect early signs of the virus. By further encouraging Oura’s 150,000 existing users to share their medical data, UCSF aims to source needed data for developing an algorithm capable of early detection before virus symptoms surface.

Why it’s important: At the source of COVID-19’s outbreak, one highly effective strategy in Wuhan, China, involved residents’ daily reporting of body temperature and the immediate isolation of anyone with even a slight fever. Enabling this approach, Oura provides a far more thorough, 24/7 analysis, which compensates for temperature fluctuations that can alter thermometer readings. In the case of Petri Hollmén (CEO of Finnish firm Lyyti Oy), for instance, the ring alerted him of a 1°C increase in his body temperature and an uptick in both his HR and breathing rate. Notified of the data, Hollmén quickly contacted a hospital, after which he tested positive for the virus. Engaging in immediate self-quarantine, the entrepreneur has since stated, “Without the ring measuring my body during the night, I would not [have] even known about the temperature rise [...] This makes this (illness easy) to spread.” As use of wearables ramps up in COVID-19 hot spots, researchers aim to use sensor data, like that generated by the Oura ring, to preemptively stem the virus’s spread among exposed medical staff and potentially unaware patients. In success, an early detection algorithm could be invaluable in the case of an autumn resurgence of COVID-19 cases.

New genetic editing powers discovered in squid.

SQUID

What it is: Squid have a newly discovered superpower: they can edit their genes outside of neural nuclei, making them the first organisms known to do so. In most species, DNA is translated into messenger RNA (mRNA) in the nucleus. Once complete, mRNA then travels outside the nucleus to guide protein construction in the cell. Instead of editing DNA’s genetic code directly, however, squid can edit mRNA in the periphery of the cell. Scientists working on this research at the Marine Biological Laboratory (MBL) Woods Hole found that squid edit mRNA in the nerve cell’s axons far more frequently than in the nucleus. This allows neurons to meet localized needs far more efficiently.

Why it’s important: Many neurological disorders in humans start with the neuron’s axons, which are nerve fibers that carry electrical signals throughout the body. As squid have now demonstrated the ability to edit genetic information directly in their axons, translating this unique ability into human cells could be transformative. Currently, gene-editing technologies like CRISPR rely on shuttling new genetic code through cell membranes and nuclear membranes—not an easy feat. Now, they might not have to pass the nuclear membrane at all. By studying the mechanism in which squid directly edit mRNA outside the nucleus, scientists could one day engineer localized solutions in human axons.

A COVID-19 detective tracks disease trail with genetic clues.

COVID-19 SPREAD

What it is: Trevor Bedford, an epidemiologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has now become a celebrity among public health circles thanks to his genetic analysis of the novel coronavirus. Working in collaboration with multiple colleagues from around the world (key among them, University of Basel computational biologist Richard Neher), Bedford and the team have been tracking the virus’s RNA to understand how the coronavirus mutates over time. Principally, the researchers use a markedly innovative approach to tracing outbreak origins and predicting how and where COVID-19 will spread next. To do this, Bedford and his distributed collaborators use patient samples to analyze hundreds of virus genomes, using the virus’s mutation patterns to create phylogenies—essentially, ‘family trees’ that track COVID-19’s geographic origins and the various routes through which it spreads.

Why it’s important: The team’s technique differs considerably from traditional virus-tracing approaches, which typically focus on identifying infected patients and tracking their contacts. Leveraging dramatic increases in computing power and genome sequencing speeds, scientists are now able to trace and respond in near-real-time to infectious disease outbreaks and novel coronaviruses, such as SARS-CoV-2. Combined with mass sequencing efforts by cross-border research collaborators, not to mention transparent information-sharing, these technologies will play a major role in public health efforts and future outbreak responses.

Can artificial intelligence fight elderly loneliness?

ELDERLY AI LONELINESS

What it is: A nursing home in England is using artificial intelligence to combat loneliness among its elderly population. Engaging a group of residents at an elderly care home, the research experiment used Google Home devices to help its users cope with isolation, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. And some residents have become fast converts. According to 92-year old John Winward, for instance, “I thought at first it was a sign of insanity, speaking to a little thing like that and him talking back! I was so surprised... it was such fun!” Primarily using the device for news and weather updates, as well as audiobook and music tips, Winward even asks his Google Home to tell him jokes and offer crossword puzzle clues. “It keeps me sane, really, because it’s a very lonely life when you lose your partner after 64 years, and you spend a lot of time in your room alone.” While the adoption barrier has been more challenging for some, particularly given the elderly’s lower familiarity with voice technologies, AI-powered speaking assistants offer an immediate supplement to human company.

Why it’s important: Now a global problem, particularly given today's aging populations, loneliness is believed by scientists to be as detrimental for your health as being severely overweight or even smoking 15 cigarettes a day. According to Stephen Buckley, head of information at Mind (the UK’s largest mental health charity), “We know that feeling lonely can contribute to poor mental health [...] If this is caused by a lack of social contact with others, an AI service might be helpful, particularly for those of us who are unable to make new social connections or need to stay in social isolation.” With the growth of AI companions and chatbot sophistication, use of virtual assistants may increasingly play a social role in pandemic-induced isolation. For John Windward, the AI assistant has already become indispensable: “I really love it. I couldn’t do without it now. It is certainly my friend in the corner.”

UPS partners with Wingcopter to develop new multipurpose drone delivery fleet.

UPS X WINGCOPTER

What it is: UPS recently partnered with German drone startup Wingcopter to further expand its commercial drone delivery program in both the U.S. and across the world. Wingcopter’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircrafts can reach up to 150 mph, handle 45 mph winds, and travel up to 75 miles in a single flight. Moreover, the company’s tilt-rotor design allows the eVTOLs to switch from vertical flight to low-noise forward flight mode, reducing noise pollution over residential areas. Already, Wingcopter has demonstrated its drone tech’s success in delivering small packages between pharmaceutical giant Merck’s various offices in Germany. Having attained Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval last October, UPS’ drone delivery unit, Flight Forward, now hopes to implement Wingcopter vehicles for package delivery in the near future.

Why it’s important: As we continue to experience social distancing and shelter-in-place measures across the nation, our delivery systems have become increasingly strained. Autonomous drones could fulfill the need for zero-contact supply chains in service of public health efforts. Having partnered with UNICEF in 2018 to deliver vaccines to children in remote areas, Wingcopter has additionally aided other relief organizations in the distribution of emergency medical equipment. On the basis of this precedent, eVTOL technology could prove vital in disseminating critical health supplies, food, and water to those areas most impacted by pandemics and natural disasters. More broadly, however, retail, hospitality, and similar industries will also benefit from diminished shipping costs, not to mention lower carbon footprints, associated with autonomous drone delivery fleets.

 

 

 


 He has some advice for leaders in the midst of this crisis.  Fortune summarizes:

  1. Focus on leadership, not consensus. “What matters is getting feedback from all your people, then making a decision.”
  2. Hope for the best, plan for the worst. “Pick a plan and start executing as if you expect the worst to happen.”
  3. Keep workers around for the recovery. In the recession “we did very few layoffs… Instead, we relied on furloughs.”
  4. In a crisis, don’t take a bonus. “When workers asked me if I intended to take a bonus for 2009, I’d say that was up to the board… That was a big mistake.”