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coochiequeens · 26 days ago

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My first thought was happy to hear about AI being used for a practical reason. My second thought is about the men who will be shocked that AI will detect threats in their speech and sound the alarm and how they will be unable to to explain that away as a misunderstanding.

How an 'AI bodyguard' could help to keep women safe on the streets of London

Ina Jovicic, 26, was inspired to design the device after she was attacked by four men while walking home at night in London

By Dominic Connolly

An "AI bodyguard" has been developed in London by three former UCL students after one of them was attacked at night in the city centre.

A first of its kind, the wearable badge uses AI to recognise threatening speech and then, without a button being pressed, can use light and sound to deter an attacker and also livestream footage to a control centre, from where police can be alerted.

Ina Jovicic, 26, was inspired to come up with the device after she was dragged into a street by four men while walking back to her University College London student accommodation in 2021.

"After the attack I thought, 'How is this possible and what can I do about it?' When I asked my female friends about how safe they feel, every single one said they had experienced something."

At the time Jovicic - who was born in Prague to a Bosnian family - was studying for a masters in entrepreneurship at UCL and used the university's network to find people to help her create the device and join the founding team. She came across Gaelic Jara Reinhold, 23, from Uruguay, "who was in the top one per cent of his engineering class".

Ina Jovicic, co-founder and CEO of eNOugh

The trio was completed with Bulgarian software and AI engineer Alex Chalakov, 23, who was doing a masters at UCL in emerging digital technologies. Jara even dropped out of his masters in engineering so he could concentrate full-time on the personal safety badge, which is called eNOugh.

"Each of us is from somewhere else but we're all Londoners at the end of the day," Jovicic says. "And although we would like the badge to be available worldwide, we want to start with London."

She says eNOugh - which is planned to launch in January - is the first such device to let AI make decisions and take action in threatening circumstances. She adds that the AI in the badge will make responses to dangerous incidents much faster than any other device, and the badges will be constantly sharing their location.

The team have already secured £240,000 of venture capital money to develop the product and are now attracting more investors worldwide in another funding round. The new funding will be used to move towards manufacturing and bringing eNOugh to market. It is expected that the badge will retail at £99 and that there will be a £7.90 monthly subscription for the use of the service.

Jovicic, who won Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Security and Safety Entrepreneur Awards 2025, still vividly remembers the October evening when she was attacked. She was walking up Portland Place, making her way from Soho to the Great Portland Street area at around 10pm. "I felt very safe to begin with," she says. "This was central London and a very wide street."

But she adds: "Four guys circled me and tried to grab my phone. The Balkan in me came out and I tried to defend myself and they ended up dragging me into the street.

"They did get my phone but the police said I was lucky to come out of it with just injured knees, as one of them could have had a knife.

"I did ask about CCTV but the police said they couldn't use it for something so minor.

"In my research for eNOugh I heard some horror stories from people being attacked in London. It's such a wonderful city - how did we let it become so crime-ridden?

"Hopefully, we can reverse it, and I know this piece of tech will help. It can protect women but also men. When men are attacked, the outcomes can often be more violent."

Co-founder Gaelic Jara Reinhold, Jovicic and AI engineer Alex Chalakov

Jovicic, who has lived in London for four years now, says that she spoke to more than 600 women in ten months to research eNOugh. The team have also used the UCL network to its full advantage, speaking to criminal psychologists to make the product as much of a deterrent as it can be.

The product has received the support of City of London Police and the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, and Jovicic says that the team has already been talking to universities and hospitals about how they might be able to provide students and staff with the badges, and that organisations and companies could use them as an employee benefit.

Jovicic, who has been named one of the InspiringFifty Women in Tech 2025, says that at a time of a lot of nervousness about AI, eNOugh can hopefully show that it can be used for positive outcomes. "This shows how AI can help," she says. "It's AI for good."

#Ina Jovicic #London #Using AI to keep women safe #Gaelic Jara Reinhold #Alex Chalakov #eNOugh #An affordable monthly subscription

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metalheadsagainstfascism · 19 days ago

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I feel like I need to clarify how fucking... random the Big Ugly Bill is.

I do admit. I'm not reading 1000 pages. I did use AI to read it. I know, I know. You can hate me, but my attention span and reading comprehension are not great enough for that.

So here's 25 random ass points in the Big Ugly Bill.

Environment and Energy

1. Repeals grants and rebates from the government for clean energy projects

2. Reduces financial incentive and technical assistance to reduce methane production

3. Ends EPA initiative to label and certify greenhouse gas materials

4. Revokes money meant for modernizing and digitizing environment permitting process

5. Ends federal aid to states and tribes to improve emissions tracking and public access to environmental compliance data

Agriculture and Conservation

6. Reauthorizes major farm safety net programs

7. Rescinds unspent Inflation Reduction Act funds for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and others

8. Provides $15 million/year to continue controlling the spread of destructive feral swine populations on agricultural lands

9. Continues payments to private landowners who open land for hunting, fishing, and conservation through 2031

10. Increases federal support for groundwater and drinking water safety projects via the USDA

Nutrition and Social Programs

11. Revises definitions of “qualified” non-citizens, likely restricting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) access

12. Reauthorizes through 2031 with ongoing food commodity purchases and distribution logistics support

Defense and National Security

13. Raises the multiplier for calculating military pensions, enhancing the defined-benefit portion for service members

14. Lets DoD keep using private contractors for base housing through September 2029

15. Adds appropriations for expanding the U.S. Navy fleet—part of a broader military-industrial buildup

Infrastructure and Industry

16. Eliminates tax incentives and grants for EV purchases and charging network development

17. Mandates quarterly oil and gas lease sales in areas like the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, including ANWR

18. Adds metallurgical coal (used for steelmaking) to the list of industries eligible for domestic manufacturing tax credits

IRS and Taxes

19. Eliminates the free government-run tax filing system, reinstating reliance on private tax software providers

20. Doubles the estate tax threshold to $15 million per individual, shielding ultra-wealthy inheritances

21. Temporarily allows Americans to deduct interest on car loans for U.S.-made vehicles

22. Sets up “American Freedom Accounts” seeded with $1,000 at birth and available for tax-free growth

23. Codifies lower individual income tax brackets and corporate rates from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act

Other

24. Bars local governments from regulating artificial intelligence for 10 years, centralizing control at the federal level

25. Creates a new EPA division for restoring abandoned hardrock mine sites in western regions

This could all be... a dozen bills... at least. The Big Ugly Bill should be renamed the special interest lobbying bill.

"BUT! NO TAXES ON TIPS! IT'S GOOD!"

But it revokes grants for clean energy and methane control, instead providing grants for coal production.

"BUT CHILD SAVINGS ACCOUNT"

But it creates stricter work requirements for SNAP eligibility.

"BUT CLEAN WATER"

But it eliminates the free government funded tax filing system.

We can do this all day. This is trash. The bill is trash. It's a "EVERYONE SHOVE WHATEVER SHIT YOU WANT INTO IT" bill.

And don't get me started on Obama's "EVERYONE SHOVE AS MUCH SHIT AS YOU CAN INTO IT." Bill. I'm tired of every time I criticize the current administration people want to say "BUT OBAMA". I wasn't okay with it when he did it. I'm not okay with it now. Besides, by your logic. Just because one person does something, that makes it okay for EVERYONE to do it.

How about "it wasn't okay for Obama to do it and it's not okay for Trump to do it"? Eh?

-fae

#fuck Trump #big ugly bill

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ottopilot-wrote-this · 1 month ago

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Generational Trauma

Once more unto the breach of @subliminalbo's Romero Literary Universe. This story references characters from the Obedience by Fleur series. This is also a prequel to Backend Support, though both stories (hopefully) stand on their own.

Thanks again to my friend @subliminalbo (also at @subliminalboarchive) for the art trade and collaboration.

Bailey Castillo set the clippers on the sink counter and rubbed the base of her skull. She was a queer woman, it certainly wasn't her first time getting an undercut. But it was the first time she'd done it to herself.

It made her smirk to herself. Given the grim nature of what she had talked herself into, Bailey could use all the levity she could muster.

She had an undercut when she met Ed. It was a good metaphor, she thought. Under that big head of dark curls, there was an edge. Her fresh face and polite smile were a mask, disguising survival instincts and a pragmatism you could only get by growing up Black, asexual, and female in Romero, Washington.

Bailey rubbed the shaving gel in her wet fingers until it foamed up. Smelling of peaches, she rubbed it on her shaved hair. After rinsing her hands, she rinsed the razor's blade, new and sharp, in the cold water of the faucet.

It seemed a strange offer. What did a lingerie company need with an embedded systems designer? Software devs for e-commerce, sure. But she specialized in hardware, in writing firmware, in the arcane art of assembly code.

Beggars couldn't be choosers, though. Not beggars who had a degree from the local party school, because Mamá got a discount on tuition, and it was what they could afford. Certainly not beggars who would take the first offer they could get that would get them away from this cesspool. Bailey shaved her neck and the undercut area with smooth, careful strokes.

Her first mistake was trusting. Trusting that if she did a good job - and her control array for Obedience by Fleur was, objectively, goddamn genius - she'd be recognized for it.

Bailey rinsed the razor of shaving cream and tiny black hairs. Won't make that mistake again.

She had overestimated Ed King. She bought his Silicon Valley rep, and failed to see he wasn't any different from Romero's traditional power brokers. He was a carnival barker, not a visionary like he thought he was. She was a commodity to him, not a person. If Obedience failed, she would've taken the blame; but since it succeeded, he was more than happy to take all the credit.

Bailey rubbed the smooth wet skin on her neck, checking for missed spots. Elena wasn't any better. She got what she wanted from Bailey, and that made her disposable. It was a blessing, really. Bailey was a natural beauty, but her curvy hips and thighs meant she wasn't model thin, and it also meant she was back at her mother's house in Romero, and not mindlessly, dutifully, licking Elena's designer boots.

Toweling off her neck, Bailey shifted away from the sink toward the 3D printer. She triple-checked her work.

When she first read about needleless tattoos in Wired, at all just clicked into place. A silicon ink payload in dissolvable microneedles. Putting the Obedience tech inside the subject. Permanently. Forget the sensors, pair the array with a fitness tracker or smartwatch. An AI sidecar to increase subject safety. No more brain damage.

Stealing the base software from Ed King? Bailey had no qualms about stealing from a thief. But she needed stake money. It was surprisingly easy to talk the Chinese triads into financing her. But they wanted proof before they pumped more yuan into her operation.

The 3D printer hummed to life as it printed the dissolvable needles, loaded with silicon ink, onto the dermal patch. This was, of course, a fork, custom firmware modified from the base model. Unfortunately, you can't just print a tiny one of these and slap it on a lab rat.

And experimenting on an unwilling human subject… That was something they would do. Bailey wasn't a monster. Not yet.

The array was done. It was a rectangle about the size of deck of cards. The trick had been spacing, making sure the crudely printed lines wouldn't bleed or touch accidentally when applied. Bailey's array was, of course, unique. She'd created a hyperfocus routine that, when enabled, could drown out stimulation and increase cognitive ability temporarily. More importantly, the mind control protocols were blunted, and she wrote an additional protection against mesmerism: the ability to mentally control her hormone levels.

But at the end of the day, this was modified Obedience by Fleur firmware. Bailey knew there was an unknown period where she would have to take Obedience's best punch, enduring and outlasting it, before the AI sidecar would read her biofeedback and adjust the indoctrination protocols lower. She was prepared for it, with a physical anchor.

She took the black choker, her mother's, in her left hand. When Mamá died, shortly after Bailey came back to Romero with her tail between her legs, it was in her jewelry box.

Bailey didn't know how to reconcile that. Mamá never said anything. She didn't have to. When she left the house wearing this choker, all painted up when she should have been in bed, the vacant look told young Bailey everything. But to keep this in an intimate place, where she likely saw it every day - before the early-onset Alzheimer's rotted her from the inside out - what did that mean?

That she missed it?

Bailey gripped the choker tightly, feeling the satin in her delicate fingers. She couldn't guess what went through her mother's mind. Bailey only knew what it meant to her: anger. Abandonment issues. A keepsake of a life she would never, ever lead.

One last check. One last chance to bitch out.

Bailey sat upright in her work stool. She prepared the tattoo array patch, removing it from the printing tray. She looked again at the choker in her left hand, her anchor to reality. She took the patch, and affixed it to the base of her skull.

At first, there was a cold, wet feeling. Like ultrasound gel. And it itched, probably from the microneedles penetrating her skin. Bailey's research indicated there wouldn't be any pain from the actual absorption of the silicon ink into her dermis, just a slight delay.

Immediately, she realized she'd miscalculated.

Bailey had set the weights on the Obedience protocol to fifty percent. She barely had time to process that was too high before she was inundated with sensation. "Oh… Fuck," she moaned breathlessly. It was so hard to think from the pleasure. Warm and comforting, like a blanket. Like a hug, but not a hug from just anyone. From someone precious. From a lover.

Then she felt something new. A flicker, at first. Then a slow burning heat. Then an intense raging inferno, burning between her legs, deep inside her, in her very soul. Bailey instinctively put her hand there, but it was a huge mistake. Immediately she rubbed her engorged clit through her panties, wetness spreading through the dainty cotton fabric.

Lust? But I'm fucking ace, Bailey thought, before the first orgasm hit.

Wave after wave of euphoric gratification pounded her senses like a tempestuous ocean.

Shit! this is- Then another.

Tides of pleasure washed over her.

The choker. Have to- Another.

The powerful undertow eroded her reason and resistance.

Mamá, I-

The blissful sensations overwhelmed Bailey, preventing the formulation of new thoughts, until she just simply stopped trying.

And then she was under. Submerged. Sounds fading. The world oh, so far away.

She was better this way, she saw that. It was better to stop resisting, stop trying to think, and just accept it. As she enthusiastically fingered her soggy cunt, mouth open, her body rewarding her for her compliance, Bailey thought she heard something. It was her own voice, moaning and panting and… giggling. Being dumb, and sexy, and available - it made her happy?

When was the last time she could say that, that she was legitimately happy?

She understood. She could feel like this for the rest of her life, and she only had to do one thing. Let go. Let go of the past, let go of the trauma, let go of the hurt. Let go of herself. The fingers on Bailey's left hand loosened their grip. The choker threatened to fall to the floor. No, not fall. To sink. To sink and drop, deeper and deeper. Her mind was still. Vacant. Empty, except for one thing creeping into her consciousness.

No. Not today.

Bailey's fingers tightened. She could feel the smooth satin, once cold, now hot with her own emanating warmth. She thought of Mamá, looking more like a movie starlet than her tireless, caring mother. Bailey saw her walk out the door, not even turning back to her crying daughter. And she remembered her pledge, to Mamá, to herself: it ain't gonna be me. Not today. Not ever.

Bailey held the choker with a steel grip, as if her life depended on it. It did. The choker was a life preserver in the choppy ocean of arousal flooding her mind and body. She had no idea how anyone could take twice as much of this. It was no wonder Obedience's control was absolute and immediate.

Slowly, she felt it. The constant bombardment of pleasure losing its steam. Waters receding. Her thoughts forming more easily, coherently. Her breathing stabilizing, and the hot flush of her arousal lowering to a simmer. "Set dopamine levels to zero," she gasped. She didn't need to say the words out loud for it to work, but in her disheveled state she needed to hear it. To remind herself she was in control.

She looked in a nearby mirror. Her eyes were a milky solid white, all sclera, no pupils. Her body was flushed with desire. She looked every bit the fucktoy she despised. Bailey knew she was lucky. If she had looked into this mirror a few minutes ago, she would've been lost.

Her hormone levels stabilizing, Bailey blinked, and her eyes returned to an intense chestnut brown. She was still in shock from the ordeal. She opened her palm and looked at the choker, and she placed it on her workbench. Slowly, she took her cell phone in her right hand and sent a message.

"Live test successful. Production is GO."

-------------------

The dream again. The same one. Fuck, I hate this, Bailey thought. And turning off the dopamine wasn't helping.

Bailey got out of bed and turned on a bedside lamp. She drowsily stood up, stumbled to the kitchen for a drink of cold water. It was a hot July night, so she was only wearing panties. Which, of course, were soaked through. Again.

On her back to bed, she stopped at her nightstand. She looked at herself in the vanity mirror. Running a prostitution empire based on mind control hadn't been kind to her, she thought.

Bailey wasn't sure what possessed her. But she reached into her top drawer, and retrieved Rosa's - Mamá's - choker. She hadn't looked at it since she turned on the Obedience array. She'd been too afraid. But here, in the dark, she fastened the choker around her neck. She activated her hormonal controls and raised them - not too much - to maybe 120% of normal. And she looked in the mirror.

Her eyes clouded over until the pupils were gone again, just solid white spheres. Like two blank canvases. She let her mind dull - again, not too much. Just enough to let her thoughts drift. Her full lips parted, on their own, as she watched with interest and arousal. She had always been beautiful, but now? She was a bombshell. All tits and ass and thighs, with a pretty fuckable face. She didn't have a sexual bone in her 29-year-old body, but she would fuck this braindead slut in the mirror.

Bailey's mind cleared as she regained control. She again dampened her pleasure center, and her eyes returned to normal. She took the choker off, and put it back, reverently, in her dresser drawer.

She now understood why Mamá had kept it.

#mind control #mind corruption #hypno fantasy #hypno story #brainwashing #hypnok1nk #hypnodrone #tech control #reprogramming #dronification #asexual #subliminalbo #oc: bailey castillo #ottopilot-wrote-this #cw mind control #cw corruption #cw hypnosis #cw sexuality

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mysteryfleshpitnationalpark2 · 8 months ago

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**Popular Science**

*June 1995*

**Mystery Flesh Pit** since its days as a roadside tourist oddity in the 1970s.

Curating its teeth as a "derrick operator," Aaron says he was drawn to the pit because of the continual challenges it posed to the operation. "In the early days we didn’t have any kind of advanced monitoring systems, just stereoscope readings, tube samples, and hook-and-pulley rigs." Basic lab procedures for most routine biological samples were involved, but it was often like "working out of your garage on projects that might get sent to a laboratory once or twice." As the interior of the pit was mapped, better safety protocols were implemented to deal with technology that required sophisticated hydraulics.

The entire operation was made more efficient thanks to new software protocols. Control behavior analysis in operational robotics was made possible, which reduced risks in manual handling. However, the use of traditional analog systems persisted in key areas.

"Because of the pit's size

#mystery flesh pit national park #mystery flesh pit

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vorib250 · 15 days ago

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Before I post the full description of my Headcanon, I would like to show a small fragment from it, for the viewers' reaction!

•

Jin: *furiously* OPEN UP RIGHT NOW!!

The woman was banging on the metal gates, trying to enter something on the keypad, but every time she did, it returned an error.

Jin: You have no idea what you’re getting into!!

Kokolia (new character, coming soon): Oh, I do. I’m here to gather evidence that the machines on this island have long been out of control.

Jin: I’m about to go out of control myself! GET OUT!!

Kokolia: What’s wrong? Got something to hide?

Poli: No, but if you keep standing there without proper protection or our supervision, we will have to hide your corpse from the investigation!

Ignoring them, the woman entered the elevator, which began descending—straight into the repair and maintenance sector below the headquarters.

Speaker Voice: You have arrived at the HQ Maintenance Department. Due to Roy's repair, this zone is not considered safe. Please present a Rescuer Pass or leave this floor for your safety.

Smirking, the woman approached the panel—but instead of a pass, she began entering numbers.

Speaker Voice: Safety protocol deactivated. All doors in the department will now open.

All the doors to the rooms slid open, revealing storage rooms, repair stations, platforms, large equipment, and… a hallway leading to another room. Entering it, she saw a firefighter standing on a platform—his faceplate and left leg casing removed, and his hose detached from his body. One of his video sensors blinked, like a motion detector. As she walked between tables full of parts, tools, and broken equipment, the brunette noticed a note on the wall surrounded by arrows pointing to it.

"❗❗❗ For new workers and as a reminder for everyone ❗❗❗

• When repairing Prototype RO-Y15, follow these instructions:

^ Do not approach the unit too closely while it is in standby mode.

^ Do not shine light directly into its eyes. The light can fall anywhere—BUT NOT INTO THE EYES.

^ Avoid loud noises; in standby mode, it is extremely sensitive.

^ Repairs must be carried out using manipulators or specialized tools, keeping a safe distance from the robot.

^ Do NOT attempt to threaten the robot, especially with Code No.1. It DOES NOT HAVE THAT CODE. ❗❗❗❗❗❗

Note on Prototype RO-Y15: Despite numerous code rewrites and system reboots, it retains combat robot behavior—such as activating attack and surveillance modes even while in standby during repairs. This happens due to a coding error during rewriting. Fixing it would require a complete overhaul of the robot’s software, which still might not fully disable the protocol. Roy is not aggressive, but he can strike a human—something the other prototypes can’t do—though he refrains from it out of personal principles. To avoid injury or death, follow the above instructions carefully."

Kokolia: Pft, a rusty bucket of bolts threatening lives? Very “professional” work, Jin.

She pulled out a camera and took a photo of the note—with flash. A low growl echoed immediately.

Kokolia: …Ko-ko, you idiot… *glancing at the flash*

Voice from behind (Roy): Unauthorized presence in restricted area. Termination protocol activated.

#robocar poli #headcanon #roy #jin #poli

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atiny-for-life · 2 months ago

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Mini Lore Nugget #8:

Mini Lore Nuggets - Masterlist

In the Fever Part.2 Diary Entries, we learned that Z-World's government really started shooting up on the waking-nightmare-scale after they began running AI simulations to come up with the "best" policies to implement for maximum control and efficiency.

What resulted from these simulations was that the AI determined all crimes and terrorism were strictly the result of human emotions. Therefore, the best way to rid the world of such suffering must be to eradicate emotions and all which might evoke it.

Z's government developed technology to essentially numb the population - the chips we later learned about in the World Ep.1 Diary Entries. In the Fever Part.3 Diary Entries, we then got some additional info on the AI software used by the government: it was an AI system which utilized deep learning technology and ran uncontrolled for a while as the government awaited its results.

During this time, the system began treating human emotion as a bug - perhaps because it couldn't understand it - and it also started estimating humans' individual energy, thereby reducing it to a product. And since it found it to be a product, it also began treating it as a tradeable commodity.

Instead of questioning these results, the government was more likely delighted, because they immediately took over this new energy trading platform, banned all arts and emotions, and wilfully stripped the population of its humanity by treating them as nothing more than components needed to maintain the governments' idea of a utopia.

youtube

Out here in the real world, we've also begun to see the crazy amount of negative consequences since AI technology has become widely implemented in pretty much all areas of life:

#1 - Use of AI in Healthcare

In the US, the healthcare system has been relying on AI powered algorithms to guide health care decisions, but due to the data sampled by the AI, extreme racial bias has crept in and is actively putting black lives at risk. To quote Science Journal:

At a given risk score, Black patients are considerably sicker than White patients, as evidenced by signs of uncontrolled illnesses. Remedying this disparity would increase the percentage of Black patients receiving additional help from 17.7 to 46.5%.

Furthermore, the data sourced by AI for global use (such as in risk-prediction) is often extremely biased in other ways as well: radiology manuscripts are over represented, the majority of documents sourced are authored by men, and data-poor regions are grossly underrepresented, meaning the majority of information sourced comes from the US and China. [Source]

#2 - YouTube's Algorithm Is Messed Up

According to the Tech Transparency Project which has gathered data from another study:

YouTube recommended hundreds of videos about guns and gun violence to accounts for boys interested in video games. Some of the recommended videos gave instructions on how to convert guns into automatic weapons or depicted school shootings. Many of the videos violated YouTube’s own policies on firearms, violence, and child safety, and YouTube took no apparent steps to age-restrict them. YouTube also recommended a movie about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer to minor accounts.

Further watching on dumb stuff YouTube AI features have done to fuck people over:

youtube

#3 - Ethics Has Left the Chat

#4 - The Physical Cost of Generative AI

Where Meta has recently constructed a 2 million square foot data facility in Georgia, a nearby living couple have documented the devastating consequences to the environment and their lives.

Facilities like these are used to power stuff like Chat GPT, Gemini, etc.:

In order for them to function as needed, they put a huge toll on the power grid and require the construction of an entirely new infrastructure atop the usual servers, storage systems and networking equipment.

For one, AI data centres require high-performance graphics processing units (GPUs) which come with their own required infrastructure needs (advanced storage, networking, energy and cooling capabilities). The sheer number of GPUs necessary for AI use alone then already add a ton more square footage to the size of the data centre.

On top of that, living in a county with a data centre like this in the US drives up the cost of electricity for everyone in the county.

And what does all this mean for the environment? Deforestation. Light pollution. Air pollution. Here is a still frame from a video shot by a woman living over 366 meters away from an AI centre's construction site:

All this pollution then started seeping into the ground water, resulting in this:

And what does that mean for someone living nearby? Dishwashers breaking. Washing machines breaking. Water pressure dropping to the point where you can't even flush a toilet anymore because all the pipes are clogged with sediment.

On a global scale, it should also be noted that:

According to the Washington Post in collaboration with the University of California, Riverside, writing a single 100-word email in Open AI's ChatGPT is the equivalent of consuming just over one bottle of water.

Shaolei Ren, an associate professor of engineering at UC Riverside, says that while "We haven’t come to the point yet where AI has tangibly taken away our most essential natural water resources," the use of AI in places with frequent droughts has caused rising tension between communities who need the water and data centers. Not to mention, hardware production pollutes water, per a study initially published in January 2015 in the Journal of Cleaner Production, due to the extraction of precious minerals like boron, silicon, and phosphorous.

[Source]

UPDATE:

A new video has been released which takes a look at Memphis where Elon Musk had the data center built that allows for Twitter's Chat-Bot Gronk to exist, and here is what was discovered:

No regulatory body has been informed of what is operating within that facility.

Large turbines are causing noise pollution (far more turbines than is reasonable).

The building emits a disturbing smell.

Aerial and thermal footage obtained of the site has revealed that:

The air quality in the entire area has been severely degraded to the point of causing health issues for people living in the area:

Continuing, Alexis shared her grandfather's story of how he developed Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) despite being a non-smoker-

- and continuous by saying her, her mother, and grandmother all three also developed respiratory illnesses (asthma and bronchitis in Alexis's case and just bronchitis in her mother and grandmother's case):

Another local is dealing with much the same issue:

If you're still not convinced of how truly horrific the situation is:

And if you're now wondering how all this could happen, I've got one word for you: DOGE. Together with the Trump administration, funds for the EPA have been slashed to the point where they're basically non-functional:

Presently, should everything continue on this set path, then...

These videos provided the screenshots used above:

youtube

#5 - Use of AI in Warfare

Israel has been using untested and undisclosed AI-powered databases in order to identify targets and plan bombing campaigns throughout Gaza, which has reportedly led to the loss of thousands of civilian lives.

And who provided this technology? Google. For fear of losing business to Amazon. And not just them. Microsoft too has been collaborating with the Israeli military, as has Amazon who collaborated with Google in 2021 to establish "Project Nimbus" which continues on to this day with zero transparency or accountability.

Sources: x | x

Beyond that, even after the bombs were dropped, drones would come in to specifically target surviving children and it is known that Israel utilized AI-powered drones for carrying out precise assassinations and various combat missions.

The video below is timestamped to when this surgeon retells the horrors of what happened to the children while he was working in the Gaza strip:

youtube

Outside of Israel, Ukraine has also been using AI-technology in its warfare:

Further reading:

Final Note:

Not all AI is bad, of course. There have been major breakthroughs in all fields of science thanks to AI which will bring about positive change for (hopefully) all of humanity.

But the problem is that the technology is developing far too quickly for lawmakers to keep up with (as planned, most likely, by all the billionaire tech bros on this planet) and generative AI in particular should have never been made publicly accessible. It should have remained in the hands of trained professionals who know how to use it responsibly.

#ateez #ateez lore #Youtube

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theaceofspaades · 4 months ago

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Orwell Franchise

Star Ranking: ★★★★⯪

Tags (on Steam): Indie, Simulation, Political, Dystopian, Story Rich, Choices Matter, Political, Adventure, Singleplayer, Detective, Interactive Fiction, Mystery, Hacking, Visual Novel, Puzzle, Atmospheric, Great Soundtrack, Point & Click, Multiple Endings, Investigation

Steam Reviews: Mostly Positive (as of 3/9/25)

Reviews: 1,278 (as of 3/9/25)

Developer: Osmotic Studios

Publisher: Fellow Traveller

Orwell: Keeping An Eye on You and Orwell: Ignorance Is Strength might be two of the most relevant games in this day and age. In an era of digital surveillance, we find ourselves extremely used to being watched, observed, or monitored. We are all, on some level, aware of the fact that nothing we say online is private. Yet many people don’t take this fact seriously. To me, the Orwell games felt like a call to action on that front.

Though fictional, the Orwell franchise served as a reminder to me that we do not know everything that goes on within the government and that we can never be sure about what we read. Everyone has a bias, some are positive and some are negative, but even things marketed as “bias-free” are never truly free from the little demon we all carry known as bias. This is what makes the world interesting, and by extension, what makes people formulate ideas. Even if something is still grounded in fact, it does serve to further an agenda or idea.

Although these games show an anti-government bias as villainous and a pro-government bias as heroic, many of the messages portrayed in these games (rather laid out plainly or in subtext) are very against government surveillance and full-scale government control. I look at the Orwell games as a warning for what may be to come in this digital world we inhabit.

In the Orwell games, you work for the government of an area known as “The Nation,” specifically a specialized division known as “The Office.” In both Orwell games, you are an investigator. Not just any investigator, though, you’re part of the team responsible for using a software called Orwell. What is Orwell?

Orwell is a digital surveillance software used by The Nation’s government. As an investigator, you are responsible for utilizing this top-secret software to gather information on possible suspects of crimes. While most of these crimes are heinous and large-scale, most of them build off of smaller, less severe crimes. In the case of Orwell: Keeping An Eye on You, your main suspect (Cassandra Watergate), was involved in a protest against The Nation’s government that turned violent quickly. Cassandra was responsible for injuring a police officer in an area known as “Freedom Plaza.” The Orwell software allows you to go through her internet posts, her criminal record, et cetera. All while dealing with the ethical and moral dilemma that comes with the fact that you are essentially stalking her.

While this is legal under something called the “Safety Bill,” it still raises a few questions. Are you doing the right thing? Do you trust the information you see from her social posts or do you trust her friends? When faced with conflicting evidence, you’re required to make a choice: Which do you think best fits the situation?

You’re given the option to arrest Cassandra Watergate based on information you submit to Orwell, but some of the information may not be necessarily true. Was Cassandra at the wrong place at the wrong time or was she associated with the violent acts of terrorism you’re tasked to solve? That all depends on the information you submit and what you find. You dig through news articles from The Nation’s main news source: The National Beholder, while also looking at conflicting blog posts from Cassandra and her friends that may lead you to question the integrity of The National Beholder and The Nation altogether.

You choose what you want to submit and what you wish to believe, but the game may never confirm or deny if the data chunks you submit to Orwell were correct or not. When a data chunk has no conflict, it’s assumed that is the correct information. However, data chunks tend to conflict with each other. Do you trust the medical reports of a patient or do you trust their story? The choice is yours.

In the second installment of the Orwell franchise, Orwell: Ignorance is Strength, the game is shorter but the message is much deeper and darker. While the information you receive in the first Orwell game doesn’t necessarily tie into the main part of the second game, certain characters (Such as the previous game’s Adviser/Interpreter, a man with the codename of Symes) do make smaller cameos and may be referenced. You don’t necessarily have to play the first Orwell game to play the second one, but it does provide some interesting background.

While the main conflicting character, Raban Vhart, is a new character with no real connection to the previous game, he does show the same ideologies as some of the previous conflicting characters. Characters from the original game like Abraham Goldfels and Nina Maternova mix in the form of Orwell: Ignorance Is Strength’s main antagonist.

Much like the previous game’s antagonist, Vhart is in opposition to the Government and The Nation as a whole and he is a notorious blogger with a large following. Similar to the original game’s Thought group, Vhart runs an internet blog called The People’s Voice. While I won’t cover everything related to The People’s Voice here, much like Thought in the original game, they’re an outspoken activist group that is rooted in anti-National beliefs*, while Vhart is portrayed as an antagonist, most of his beliefs are very reasonable.

Similar to Thought in the original Orwell, The People’s Voice is heavily biased and has been put under investigation because one or more of their members have been linked directly back to a violent crime. As the game progresses, you follow Rhaban Vhart and various other members of The People’s Voice as they try to navigate their complicated personal lives, all while being somewhat unaware of the fact that they’re being watched.

Unlike in the original Orwell game, Vhart is much more experienced at dodging or evading Government interference than the members of Thought were. While the concept of “Orwell” or a government surveillance device was met with skepticism and disdain, when Vhart is presented with the idea of a Government agency watching him or his site, he is already well aware of the possibility and he weaponizes it against the members of the Nation’s government, including the player character.

Throughout Orwell: Ignorance is Strength, unlike in Orwell: Keeping An Eye on You, you find yourself actively fighting the media. As the game progresses, it grants you the ability to manipulate the media and requires you to turn those affiliated with The People’s Voice against Rhaban Vhart. It’s an interesting addition to the Orwell storyline that adds another level of depth to the game and its story.

The main problem I have with Orwell is how short the games are. Specifically in the second Orwell installment. While Orwell: Keeping An Eye on You had a relatively average playtime (4-5 hours) just to complete the base game, and approximately 2 extra hours of playtime if you decided to go and progress through the side-quests and additional objectives. While this isn’t a major gripe, Orwell: Ignorance Is Strength was noticeably shorter. Despite this fact, the story was still satisfactory and had an interesting conclusion.

All in all, I would heavily recommend these games for a variety of reasons. Still, the main reason I had to play them personally is the fact that they are highly relevant to the current and possible future of the world we live in, especially with the rise of ethical surveillance and spyware. The Orwell franchise reminds us that everything we post, in or out of context, is permanent and can be used against us.

#game review #orwell: ignorance is strength #orwellian #orwell: keeping an eye on you

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mariacallous · 5 months ago

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Engineers who work for Elon Musk’s SpaceX have been brought on as senior advisers to the acting administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), sources tell WIRED.

On Sunday, Sean Duffy, secretary of the Department of Transportation, which oversees the FAA, announced in a post on X that SpaceX engineers would be visiting the Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia to take what he positioned as a tour. “The safety of air travel is a nonpartisan matter,” Musk replied. ��SpaceX engineers will help make air travel safer.”

By the time these posts were made, though, according to sources who were granted anonymity because they fear retaliation, SpaceX engineers were already being onboarded at the agency under Schedule A, a special authority that allows government managers to “hire persons with disabilities without requiring them to compete for the job,” according to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

These new hires come after the terminations of hundreds of FAA probationary employees, and the most deadly month of US aviation disasters in more than a decade.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, none of the SpaceX engineers were fully vetted by their start date. Unlike the very young technologists associated with Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who have been given access to critical systems at agencies ranging from OPM and the Treasury Department to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in recent weeks, though, the engineers identified by WIRED—Ted Malaska, Thomas Kiernan, Sam Smeal, and Brady Glantz—do appear to have experience relevant to the FAA.

Malaska is currently, according to his LinkedIn profile, a senior director of application software at SpaceX, where he started working in May 2021. Formerly the senior director of data engineering at Capitol One and a senior architect at FINRA, he graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 2000 and cowrote a 2015 book on Hadoop application architectures.

Kiernan is currently a lead software engineer at SpaceX, according to his LinkedIn page. Before joining SpaceX in May 2020, he worked at Wayfair and is a 2017 Dartmouth graduate.

Smeal is a software engineer who has worked at SpaceX since September 2021, according to his LinkedIn. He graduated from Saint Vincent College in 2018.

Glantz is a software engineer who has worked at SpaceX since May 2024 and worked as an engineering analyst at Goldman Sachs from 2019 to 2021, according to his LinkedIn, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 2019.

Malaska, Kiernan, Smeal, and Glantz did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The FAA also did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In his post on X, Duffy wrote, "Because I know the media (and Hillary Clinton) will claim Elon’s team is getting special access, let me make clear that the @FAANews regularly gives tours of the command center to both media and companies.”

But on Wednesday, FAA acting administrator Chris Rocheleau wrote in an email to FAA staff, viewed by WIRED, that DOGE and the teams of special government employees deployed in federal agencies were “top-of-mind,” before noting that the agency had "recently welcomed” a team of special government employees who had already toured some FAA facilities. “We are asking for their help to engineer solutions while we keep the airspace open and safe,” he wrote, adding that the new employees had already visited the FAA Command Center and Potomac TRACON, a facility that controls the airspace around and provides air traffic control services to airports in the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas.

In a Department of Transportation all-hands meeting late last week, Duffy responded to a question about DOGE's role in national airspace matters, and without explicitly mentioning the new employees, suggested help was needed on reforming Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM) alerts, a critical system that distributes real-time data and warnings to pilots but which has had significant outages, one as recently as this month. “If I can get ideas from really smart engineers on how we can fix it, I’m going to take those ideas,” he said, according to a recording of the meeting reviewed by WIRED. “Great engineers” might also work on airspace issues, he said.

SpaceX functioned as the pre-inauguration staging ground for the DOGE team, according to reporting from The New York Times and sources who spoke to WIRED. In the months between November 5 and January 20, members of DOGE including Steve Davis (president of Musk’s Boring Company) and the young engineer Luke Farritor were operating out of the company’s DC office, according to a source with knowledge.

The company did not respond to questions about whether these employees will retain their salaries and positions at the company during their time with DOGE. Many of the so-called department’s operatives have joined as “special government employees,” who are limited to working 130 days in a year. Last week WIRED reported that Tom Krause, a DOGE operative at the Treasury Department, would continue to maintain his position as CEO of the Cloud Software Group while also performing the duties of fiscal assistant secretary. Other members of Musk’s companies, including xAI and Tesla, have also taken on positions with DOGE.

Late last week, the Trump administration laid off 400 FAA workers, according to their union, the Professional Aviation Safety Specialists. The union says these included probationary employees who worked on air traffic control communications and related radio and computer systems. Air traffic controllers were not affected by the layoffs, Duffy said in an X post.

Just two weeks before that, the US suffered its most deadly aviation incident in more than a decade, when 67 people died after an Army helicopter collided with a passenger jet in Washington, DC. Though initial findings suggest complex equipment and communications issues possibly played roles in the disaster, President Trump was quick to blame “DEI,” railing against a decade-old program that helps the FAA identify talent among populations with disabilities. People with disabilities hired into the FAA and other federal agencies are often accepted under the Schedule A authority—exactly the route these new engineers have taken into the agency.

The FAA has frequently tangled with Musk’s SpaceX, as the rocket company and others fight to operate their own interests in crowded American airspace. In January, the FAA temporarily grounded SpaceX’s program after one of its Starship rockets broke apart midflight, reportedly damaging public property on Turks and Caicos in the Caribbean. The FAA diverted dozens of commercial airline flights following the explosion and announced an investigation into the incident, which is ongoing and being led by SpaceX. Musk, however, characterized the failure as “barely a bump in the road” and did not seem to indicate that the investigation would slow SpaceX’s launch cadence. Last year, the company indicated it was aiming for 25 launches of the Starship in 2025.

FAA spokesperson Steven Kulm told WIRED that “the FAA is overseeing the SpaceX-led mishap investigation.” The FAA did not respond to further questions about whether the presence of SpaceX engineers at the agency would constitute a conflict of interest.

In September, the FAA proposed $633,000 in fines following two 2023 incidents in which SpaceX allegedly did not follow its license requirements, violating regulations. Responding to an X user posting about the penalties, Musk wrote, “The fundamental problem is that humanity will forever be confined to Earth unless there is radical reform at the FAA!” Shortly afterward, Musk called for FAA head Mike Whitaker to resign.

In January, more than three years before his term was due to end, Whitaker did resign.

“I told Elon, any conflicts, you can’t have anything to do with that,” said President Trump in a press conference this week, in response to a question about Musk, SpaceX, the FAA, and conflicts of interest. “So anything to do with possibly even space, we won’t let Elon partake in that.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

SpaceX is directly regulated by a small FAA agency called the Office of Commercial Space Transportation, which since 1984 has licensed the launch of US space rockets. “The purpose is to ensure public safety,” says George Nield, a former associate administrator of the office. “People on the ground did not consent” to rocket launches above them, he says. ”We absolutely need to keep them safe. The office has done a great job of that.” The office oversaw 157 launches in 2024 alone.

On February 10, several days after Musk posted on X that DOGE “will aim to make rapid safety upgrades to the air traffic control system,” a group of Democratic legislators wrote to Rocheleau—a career civil servant whose ties to the FAA go back to 1996—requesting information about any planned changes to FAA systems.

“We are extremely concerned that an ad hoc team of individuals lacking any expertise, exposure, certifications, or knowledge of aviation operations being invited, or inserting themselves, to make ‘rapid’ changes to our nation’s air traffic systems,” they wrote. “Aviation safety is not an area to ‘move fast and break things.’”

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aaryan-mwa-blogs · 19 days ago

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Flying vs. Floor-Standing Speakers: What Touring Crews Really Think

Every sound system tells a story—not just through what comes out of the speakers, but how those speakers are positioned. If you’ve ever walked into a venue and seen speakers hanging from the ceiling or stacked tall on the stage, you’ve seen two very different philosophies at play. Flying vs. floor-standing speakers isn’t just about looks—it's a real-world decision that impacts clarity, coverage, and the entire live sound experience.

Flying vs. stacking: more than a visual choice—it shapes how the audience hears the show.

So how much loyalty do touring crews actually prefer? The answer is more about logistics, consistency, and the venue itself.

A Brief History of Live Speaker Placement

Before digital signal processing and line arrays, speaker stacking was the standard. Crews simply placed massive boxes on the stage or sub platforms to fill the space with sound. It worked, but with compromises—sound often bounced off the floor or walls unpredictably, causing muddiness and uneven coverage.

Then came flying speaker systems—rigged from trusses or overhead supports. Once limited to large productions due to cost and complexity, flying systems have become more accessible with lightweight enclosures, modular rigging, and digital optimization tools. Now, both setups have valid roles in touring sound, and the best choice depends on much more than just budget.

Why Flying Speakers Are Often the First Choice

1. Better Coverage, Less Interference

Flying speakers can be precisely angled and aimed using array prediction software, letting engineers target exactly where sound should go—and where it shouldn't. This minimizes reflections from floors and ceilings and helps avoid dead zones or hot spots.

For venues with balconies, uneven shapes, or large crowds, flying systems provide the kind of even frequency response floor stacks just can't match.

2. Space-Saving and Safety

On tight stages, floor-standing speakers can be a tripping hazard or block sightlines. Hanging the speakers keeps the performance area clear and improves safety for performers and crew. That’s a big win on high-traffic or fast-turnaround tours.

3. Visual Cleanliness

In visually-driven productions, flying systems disappear into lighting grids or trusses. That sleek look matters—especially in corporate shows, festivals, or theatrical performances where visual design is as important as sound.

Where Floor-Standing Speakers Still Shine

1. Speed, Simplicity, and Budget

Not every venue has rigging points, trusses, or time to hang gear. Floor-standing systems are fast to deploy, require fewer crew, and are often ideal for small- to mid-size gigs. For tight changeovers or DIY touring artists, they remain practical and effective.

Stacking also minimizes rigging risks—no need for lift equipment or safety inspections. Just plug in, stack, and go.

2. Bass That Feels the Floor

There's something visceral about ground-stacked subwoofers. They couple directly with the floor, delivering physical bass that’s harder to achieve when flying. For bass-heavy genres like EDM, hip-hop, or reggae, many crews still prefer ground-level low-end—even if the tops are flown.

3. Acoustic Compromise in Tough Rooms

Ironically, in some venues, flying isn’t ideal. Low ceilings, reflective surfaces, or complex architecture can make flown systems behave unpredictably. In those cases, tight floor stacks with well-controlled dispersion might outperform a poorly implemented fly system.

Many touring crews rely on hybrid setups—flying mains for clarity, stacking subs for physical bass.

What Touring Crews Say Behind the Scenes

Seasoned engineers often rely on a hybrid approach: flying the mains, stacking the subs, and deploying fills as needed. The goal is always the same—coverage and clarity.

Crews point out that flying systems require more prep, planning, and safety measures. But the reward is worth it: consistent sound across the venue, reduced feedback risk, and better vocal intelligibility.

For speed and punch, floor-standing setups still hold their ground—especially on fast-paced tours.

Meanwhile, floor stacks win points for speed, ruggedness, and predictability—especially when tour stops vary widely in infrastructure and space.

And let’s be real—sometimes the decision isn’t even up to the crew. Venue limitations, local regulations, and stage design often dictate the approach before the first XLR is even plugged in.

Smart Choices Begin with Smart Gear

Whether flying or stacking, speaker performance starts with the right equipment. That means understanding coverage patterns, SPL handling, rigging compatibility, and system tuning.

Working with a knowledgeable pro audio retailer can help simplify these decisions—especially when matching speakers to the kind of venues, music styles, and tour logistics you’re dealing with. It’s not about what looks the coolest—it’s about what translates cleanly from stage to audience.

What the Future Holds

Look for more flying and stacking systems that can be adapted to whatever gig comes their way. Lighter-weight materials, rigged-out enclosures, and tuning software controlled by AI are making both faster and safer than ever.

Also, as spatial and immersive audio become more prevalent in live applications, speaker placement will only increase in significance. Systems might soon adjust automatically in real time according to crowd concentration or acoustic feed-back—whether the speakers are floating in the air or placed on the ground.

Final Thoughts: It's Not Either/Or—It's What Works

There ain't no one size fits all in the flying vs. floor-standing debate. It's all a matter of context. Budget, time, venue shape, genre, and crew size all make up the right decision.

The most important thing is to identify the strengths and compromises of each technique. And if the proper setup is chosen, even the lowliest rig can deliver world-class sound.

So whether your speakers are soaring high over the pack or planted in stacks of bass, choose with intention. Because sound is not just loud—it's clear, controlled, and remembered.

#music #audiogears #audio #dj #audio shops #professional audio equipment #speakers #pro audio gear #pro audio equipment's #pro audio shop #professional audio gear #dj equipments

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ottopilot-wrote-this-txt · 1 month ago

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Generational Trauma

Thanks again to my friend @subliminalbo (also at @subliminalboarchive) for the art trade and collaboration.

It made her smirk to herself. Given the grim nature of what she had talked herself into, Bailey could use all the levity she could muster.

Her first mistake was trusting. Trusting that if she did a good job - and her control array for Obedience by Fleur was, objectively, goddamn genius - she'd be recognized for it.

Bailey rinsed the razor of shaving cream and tiny black hairs. Won't make that mistake again.

Toweling off her neck, Bailey shifted away from the sink toward the 3D printer. She triple-checked her work.

And experimenting on an unwilling human subject… That was something they would do. Bailey wasn't a monster. Not yet.

She took the black choker, her mother's, in her left hand. When Mamá died, shortly after Bailey came back to Romero with her tail between her legs, it was in her jewelry box.

That she missed it?

One last check. One last chance to bitch out.

Immediately, she realized she'd miscalculated.

Lust? But I'm fucking ace, Bailey thought, before the first orgasm hit.

Wave after wave of euphoric gratification pounded her senses like a tempestuous ocean.

Shit! this is- Then another.

Tides of pleasure washed over her.

The choker. Have to- Another.

The powerful undertow eroded her reason and resistance.

Mamá, I-

The blissful sensations overwhelmed Bailey, preventing the formulation of new thoughts, until she just simply stopped trying.

And then she was under. Submerged. Sounds fading. The world oh, so far away.

When was the last time she could say that, that she was legitimately happy?

No. Not today.

Her fingers tightened. She could feel the smooth satin, once cold, now hot with her own emanating warmth. She thought of Mamá, looking more like a movie starlet than her tireless, caring mother. Bailey saw her walk out the door, not even turning back to her crying daughter. And she remembered her pledge, to Mamá, to herself: it ain't gonna be me. Not today. Not ever.

"Live test successful. Production is GO."

The dream again. The same one. Fuck, I hate this, Bailey thought. And turning off the dopamine wasn't helping.

On her back to bed, she stopped at her nightstand. She looked at herself in the vanity mirror. Running a prostitution empire based on mind control hadn't been kind to her, she thought.

Bailey's mind cleared as she regained control. She again dampened her pleasure center, and her eyes returned to normal. She took the choker off, and put it back, reverently, in her dresser drawer.

She now understood why Mamá had kept it.

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spacetimewithstuartgary · 5 months ago

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How NASA is using virtual reality to prepare for science on Moon

When astronauts walk on the moon, they'll serve as the eyes, hands, and boots-on-the-ground interpreters supporting the broader teams of scientists on Earth. NASA is leveraging virtual reality to provide high-fidelity, cost-effective support to prepare crew members, flight control teams, and science teams for a return to the moon through its Artemis campaign.

The Artemis III Geology Team, led by principal investigator Dr. Brett Denevi of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, participated in an Artemis III Surface Extra-Vehicular VR Mini-Simulation, or "sim" at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston in the fall of 2024. The sim brought together science teams and flight directors and controllers from Mission Control to carry out science-focused moonwalks and test the way the teams communicate with each other and the astronauts.

"There are two worlds colliding," said Dr. Matthew Miller, co-lead for the simulation and exploration engineer, Amentum/JETSII contract with NASA. "There is the operational world and the scientific world, and they are becoming one."

NASA mission training can include field tests covering areas from navigation and communication to astronaut physical and psychological workloads. Many of these tests take place in remote locations and can require up to a year to plan and large teams to execute. VR may provide an additional option for training that can be planned and executed more quickly to keep up with the demands of preparing to land on the moon in an environment where time, budgets, and travel resources are limited.

Field testing won't be going away. Nothing can fully replace the experience crew members gain by being in an environment that puts literal rocks in their hands and includes the physical challenges that come with moonwalks, but VR has competitive advantages.

The virtual environment used in the Artemis III VR Mini-Sim was built using actual lunar surface data from one of the Artemis III candidate regions. This allowed the science team to focus on Artemis III science objectives and traverse planning directly applicable to the moon.

Eddie Paddock, engineering VR technical discipline lead at NASA Johnson, and his team used data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and planet position and velocity over time to develop a virtual software representation of a site within the Nobile Rim 1 region near the south pole of the moon.

Two stand-in crew members performed moonwalk traverses in virtual reality in the Prototype Immersive Technology lab at Johnson, and streamed suit-mounted virtual video camera views, hand-held virtual camera imagery, and audio to another location where flight controllers and science support teams simulated ground communications.

The crew stand-ins were immersed in the lunar environment and could then share the experience with the science and flight control teams. That quick and direct feedback could prove critical to the science and flight control teams as they work to build cohesive teams despite very different approaches to their work.

The flight operations team and the science team are learning how to work together and speak a shared language. Both teams are pivotal parts of the overall mission operations. The flight control team focuses on maintaining crew and vehicle safety and minimizing risk as much as possible. The science team, as Miller explains, is "relentlessly thirsty" for as much science as possible. Training sessions like this simulation allow the teams to hone their relationships and processes.

Denevi described the flight control team as a "well-oiled machine" and praised their dedication to getting it right for the science team. Many members of the flight control team have participated in field and classroom training to learn more about geology and better understand the science objectives for Artemis.

"They have invested a lot of their own effort into understanding the science background and science objectives, and the science team really appreciates that and wants to make sure they are also learning to operate in the best way we can to support the flight control team, because there's a lot for us to learn as well," Denevi said. "It's a joy to get to share the science with them and have them be excited to help us implement it all."

This simulation, Sparks said, was just the beginning for how virtual reality could supplement training opportunities for Artemis science. In the future, using mixed reality could help take the experience to the next level, allowing crew members to be fully immersed in the virtual environment while interacting with real objects they can hold in their hands. Now that the Nobile Rim 1 landing site is built in VR, it can continue to be improved and used for crew training, something that Sparks said can't be done with field training on Earth.

While "virtual" was part of the title for this exercise, its applications are very real.

"We are uncovering a lot of things that people probably had in the back of their head as something we'd need to deal with in the future," Miller said. "But guess what? The future is now. This is now."

IMAGE: A screen capture of a virtual reality view during the Artemis III VR Mini-Simulation. The lunar surface virtual environment was built using actual lunar surface data from one of the Artemis III candidate regions. Credit: Prototype Immersive Technology lab at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

#science #space #astronomy #physics #news #nasa #astrophysics

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loncinatv · 2 months ago

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How to Ensure the Safety of LONCIN XWolf 1000

As a high - performance all - terrain motorcycle, the LONCIN XWolf 1000 has gained the attention of many motorcycle enthusiasts. Safety is always the top priority in riding. How to ensure the safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 has become a crucial topic for riders. This article will provide a comprehensive guide on ensuring the safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 from multiple aspects, including design and manufacturing, active and passive safety configurations, riding operation, maintenance, and the riders themselves. By following these guidelines, riders can enhance their riding experience and ensure their safety on the road.

Design and Manufacturing Stage

Rigorous Design and Development : During the design phase of the LONCIN XWolf 1000, a forward - looking approach is applied to the development of key systems such as the chassis and control systems. Advanced development tools are utilized for simulation analysis to eliminate design flaws. Moreover, a stringent testing and validation process with well - established testing conditions is implemented to ensure the vehicle's performance and safety across various conditions.

Strict Quality Control : Loncin possesses a robust quality control system and a specialized quality tracing mechanism. This guarantees that every stage of the LONCIN XWolf 1000's production meets high - quality standards, thereby achieving zero - defect delivery of products and providing a solid foundation for the vehicle's safety from its origin.

Active Safety Features

Advanced Braking System : The LONCIN XWolf 1000 is equipped with Bosch's latest 9.1 - generation ABS anti - lock braking system. It effectively prevents wheel lock - up, enabling the vehicle to maintain controllability during emergency braking and reducing the risk of accidents. Additionally, the system allows for software upgrades to unlock cornering braking capabilities, further enhancing braking safety and flexibility.

Vehicle Stability Control System : Its switchable vehicle stability control system (VSC) is a significant advantage. On complex roads, activating VSC helps maintain vehicle stability and prevents dangerous situations like skidding and loss of control due to excessive speed or improper operation. Meanwhile, in special conditions, temporarily deactivating VSC provides professional riders with more freedom of control.

Passive Safety Features

Robust Body Structure : A higher - strength body structure is adopted in the design, with critical parts made of high - strength steel. This enhances the vehicle's overall rigidity and anti - deformation capability. In the event of a collision or similar accidents, it can better protect the safety of riders.

Comprehensive Airbag System : The vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive airbag system, including dual knee - airbags. These airbags can rapidly deploy in the event of a collision, providing full - scale cushioning protection for riders and reducing the risk of injuries to vital areas such as the head and chest.

Driving Assistance Systems

Environmental Perception and Warning : The LONCIN XWolf 1000 is equipped with advanced sensors such as millimeter - wave radar, ultrasonic radar, and high - pixel cameras. These enable real - time perception and monitoring of the surrounding environment. Based on this, it features functions like blind - spot detection, lane - change assistance, and collision warning. These functions promptly alert riders to potential dangers, allowing them to take appropriate measures in advance and prevent accidents.

Smart Connectivity and Remote Monitoring : With vehicle - to - machine connectivity, users can utilize mobile devices such as smartphones for remote control, remote fault diagnosis, and troubleshooting. means This that in the event of vehicle abnormalities or potential faults, users can be promptly informed and take measures to eliminate safety hazards in the bud.

Riding Operation Level

Proper Use of Riding Modes : The LONCIN XWolf 1000 offers six adjustable riding modes: Economy, Rain, Sport, Snow, Off - road, and Manual. Riders should select the appropriate mode based on different road conditions and riding requirements to ensure vehicle stability and safety. For instance, on wet roads like rainy or snowy surfaces, choosing the corresponding Rain or Snow mode allows the vehicle to automatically adjust power output and braking system parameters, thereby enhancing riding safety.

Correct Operation of Vehicle Functions : Familiarize and operate the vehicle's various functions correctly, such as electronic suspension adjustment and hill - descent control. On different roads, reasonably adjusting the electronic suspension's stiffness can improve vehicle comfort and controllability. Meanwhile, when descending slopes, using hill - descent control effectively regulates vehicle speed, reduces the load on the braking system, and prevents potential dangers like brake failure due to frequent braking.

Maintenance Level

Regular Inspection and Maintenance : Follow the manufacturer's recommendations and conduct regular inspections and maintenance of the LONCIN XWolf 1000. This includes replacing consumable parts such as engine oil, air filters, and oil filters, as well as checking the wear of key components like the braking system, tires, and chains. Timely repairs or replacements should be carried out. Regular maintenance ensures the vehicle's optimal performance and reduces the risk of mechanical failures that could lead to safety accidents.

Keep Up with Software Updates : Stay informed about software updates for the vehicle and perform necessary upgrades. Software updates may include optimizations and improvements to the vehicle's control systems and safety systems, thereby enhancing its safety and overall performance. For example, upgrading the Bosch latest 9.1 - generation ABS software can unlock cornering braking capabilities, further improving braking safety.

Rider's Level

Improving Riding Skills : Riders should continuously learn and enhance their riding skills, understand the performance and characteristics of the LONCIN XWolf 1000, and master driving techniques for various road conditions and environments. Attending professional riding training courses or learning from experienced riders can better equip them to handle complex riding scenarios and ensure safe riding.

Complying with Traffic Rules : Strictly adhere to traffic rules and local laws and regulations. Avoid speeding, drunk driving, fatigued driving, and other unsafe behaviors. Good riding habits and awareness of traffic rules are crucial for ensuring the safety of riders and others, as well as for maintaining traffic order.

Conclusion

The safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 is the result of multiple factors working together. It requires joint efforts from vehicle manufacturers, riders, and other stakeholders. By focusing on every aspect from design and manufacturing, configuration and use, maintenance and maintenance to riding habits, we can ensure the safety of the LONCIN XWolf 1000 in a comprehensive manner. Only in this way can riders better enjoy the fun of riding while ensuring their personal safety.

#LONCIN XWolf 1000 #XWolf 1000 #LONCIN #atv #4 wheeler #xwolf #loncin atv #atvriding

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almondenterprise · 3 months ago

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Best Practices for Safe and Efficient LV Electrical Installations in 2025

Introduction

Low Voltage (LV) electrical installations are the backbone of safe and reliable power distribution in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. In 2025, as energy demands rise and smart technologies evolve, following best practices in LV installations is more important than ever to ensure safety, efficiency, and compliance.

This blog outlines the latest best practices for designing, installing, and maintaining LV electrical systems according to international standards and industry trends.

What Is an LV Electrical Installation?

LV (Low Voltage) refers to electrical systems that operate at voltages up to 1000V AC or 1500V DC. These installations include:

· Electrical panels and switchboards

· Distribution circuits

· Lighting systems

· Sockets and fixed appliances

· Motor control systems

Proper LV installation ensures that power is distributed safely and efficiently without risk of fire, equipment failure, or personnel injury.

Why Best Practices Matter in 2025

In the age of smart buildings, renewable integration, and digital energy management, the quality of your LV installation affects:

· Operational reliability

· Energy efficiency

· System lifespan

· User safety

· Regulatory compliance

Failing to adhere to best practices can result in costly downtime, legal penalties, and even life-threatening hazards.

Top Best Practices for Safe and Efficient LV Electrical Installations

1. Conduct Detailed Load Analysis

Before starting any LV installation, carry out a comprehensive load assessment to determine the power requirements, load types, and future expansion needs. This ensures:

· Proper cable sizing

· Correct protection device selection

· Optimized system capacity

Use load flow software tools and factor in diversity and demand coefficients for accuracy.

2. Follow International Standards (IEC, NEC)

Compliance with recognized standards ensures installations meet safety and performance benchmarks. Key references include:

· IEC 60364 for LV electrical installations

· NEC (NFPA 70) for code-compliant wiring in the U.S.

· ISO 50001 for energy management integration

Also, refer to local electrical regulations where applicable.

3. Use Certified, High-Quality Components

Always use LV components from certified manufacturers — this includes:

· Circuit breakers (MCCBs/MCBs)

· Residual current devices (RCDs)

· Surge protection devices (SPDs)

· Busbars, cables, and enclosures

Poor-quality components may not withstand fault conditions, leading to short circuits, fires, or system failure.

4. Ensure Proper Cable Management and Sizing

Correct cable selection and layout are critical:

· Size cables based on current capacity, voltage drop, and ambient temperature

· Use LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen) cables for fire safety

· Label and route cables cleanly using trays, ducts, and tie-downs

Improper cable management is a leading cause of overheating and system inefficiency.

5. Install Proper Earthing and Grounding Systems

An effective earthing system protects against:

· Electric shock

· Equipment damage

· Lightning surges

Use TT, TN, or IT systems as per the application and ensure resistance values are within acceptable limits (e.g., <1 ohm for sensitive equipment).

6. Use Protection Coordination and Selectivity

Install protective devices in a coordinated hierarchy to ensure:

· Quick isolation of faults

· Minimal disruption to unaffected areas

· Avoidance of cascading tripping

Selectivity between breakers and fuses enhances safety and ensures continuity of service.

7. Integrate Smart Monitoring and Control

Modern LV installations benefit from IoT-enabled devices and energy monitoring software. This helps with:

· Real-time energy usage tracking

· Predictive maintenance alerts

· Power quality monitoring

· Remote switching and control

Smart LV systems are increasingly used in data centers, green buildings, and industrial automation setups.

8. Conduct Periodic Testing and Maintenance

Post-installation, regular inspection and testing ensure sustained safety and performance. Best practices include:

· Thermal imaging to detect overheating

· Insulation resistance testing

· RCD trip time checks

· Earth loop impedance measurement

Document all tests and create a preventive maintenance schedule based on manufacturer recommendations and operating conditions.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

· Overloading circuits without upgrading breakers

· Skipping grounding in temporary setups

· Using outdated wiring diagrams

· Mixing incompatible components

· Neglecting ventilation in panel enclosures

Conclusion

Safe and efficient LV electrical installations in 2025 require more than just technical knowledge — they demand a proactive approach that combines regulatory compliance, technology integration, and quality workmanship. By following these best practices, contractors and facility managers can minimize risks, optimize performance, and build future-ready electrical systems.

Whether you’re designing a commercial building, upgrading an industrial site, or installing a smart home system, investing in safe LV practices today is the smartest move for tomorrow.

Connect With Us

Whether you’re a project engineer, contractor, facility manager, or developer — Almond Enterprise is ready to support your next electrical challenge with confidence and capability.

🔗 Visit: www.almondenterprise.com 📞 Contact: [email protected] | +974 33858416

#electrical equipment #switchgear #electrical #qatar

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