blooming-perspectives

[blooming-perspectives]

Dueling neural networks; changing how machines learn

You may have never heard of it, and that is because it is a quite new phenomenon: generative adversial network. What is this? Well, simply put it is a new way for machines to learn and create content on their own that is undistinguishable from human made content to the human eye. It is, in many ways, the way most machines are predicted to learn in the future according to Will Knight, editor at the MIT review.

This new way of learning works by giving one network a limited supply of information and asking it generate information, while we give the other network the same set of informational elements but give it a discriminatory task! The two then work together to create the elements we asked for. 

This use of both networks “dueling” with eachother and providing amazing results is very fascinating to me. This means that in the future, we will be able to just tell what we’d like in a picture (for example, I want Micheal Jackson in the beach with a sunset behind him) and the computer will be able to generate this image for you, isn’t that wonderful? However, the way it will be practically used in the generation of interior design or landscaping for computer games.

It is a quite interesting feat to think about though!

Sources:

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/603216/5-big-predictions-for-artificial-intelligence-in-2017/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generative_adversarial_networks

https://www.slideshare.net/Artifacia/generative-adversarial-networks-and-their-applications

[blooming-perspectives]

Sustainable? Yes it is!

As a human species, we waste about one third of the food we produce. This is, ofcourse, unacceptable. Luckily the knowledge of this has spread and people are finally doing something about it in different ways. The biggest way to impact this issue is through restaurants and food manufacturers... by repuposing food scraps!

An example of this is Regrained, a company that uses leftovers from the beermaking process to make healthy snackbars. Another startup that uses the food nobody else wants is “Second first”. Founder Erika Lamb uses “ugly” fish and “misshapen” produce to create delicious fishcakes that she then sells at low prices to institutions that serve low-income people. She solves two problems at once!

The usage of excess food is not as new as you’d think. However, what is new is the fact that people start combining this trends with other  Sustainability elements! Erika Lamb is a good example of this. Another good example is Roy Choi, a chef that has always dreamed of combining quality food with fast food and stop food wastage all the same.

His chain called Loco’l  focuses on making quality food at a very low pricepoint so they can compete with titans like McDonalds, Wendy’s or Burger King. Choi is sure he can change the market because he’s a chef and knows what people want, while saving the planet.

I believe that the real way to stop food wastage is to grab the bull by the horns and force those titans to bow before government and have them make the changes. The larger the scale, the bigger the impact. Ofcourse, there’s still a long way to go before any of the conglomerates takes that step.

Sources:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/19/the-hot-new-trend-in-food-is-literal-garbage/

http://www.newyorker.com/business/currency/the-untapped-potential-of-wasted-food

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/19/the-hot-new-trend-in-food-is-literal-garbage/

http://www.eatsecondsfirst.com/

[blooming-perspectives]

Hotels to enhance your brand, why not?

It is a strategy that is being used y more and more brands; open your own chain of hotels to increase sales of your luxury goods. 

One of the first to do so was Karl Lagerfelt. The man oversaw the opening of a large hotel in Macau and has lent his ideas to the Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo in Monaco and the Sofitel So Singapore in Singapore, and was commissioned to design two suites for the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris. He is planning to continue his way into the hospitaly sector, but with what in mind? Promoting his brand!  He considers the hotels as an exclusive way to display his work and amply uses this opportunity to do so.

Another brand that is planning on playing into this trend is luxury watch manufacturer Shinola. They want to bring their luxury brand to the public by opening a whole new hotel in its name. The complex will include an exclusive food and beverage experience that will compliment the luxury lifestyle of Shinola customers.

These are only two examples of brands that choose to open hotels to their name to increase sales or compliment the lifestyle of their customers. You see it in laundry and home essential brands that choose to work with hotels to promote their linnens, or Fitnessclubs that open hotels and make their services free to occupants.

It’s a different way to market products and people seem to love it; wouldn’t you love to stay in a Coca-Cola themed hotel?

Whether your answer is yes or no, branded hotels are sure to multiply in the coming years. Hotels have existed for a long time and will continue to exist. In 200 years they might look a whole lot different, but in the immediate future (in which most countries are capitalistic) it seems that this is the way to go. Depending on what brands choose to do so, I’m curious to see what gives.

Sources:  http://www.vogue.com/article/karl-lagerfeld-hotels-resorts-restaurants-travel-news 

https://www.shinola.com/shinola-hotel

http://www.travelandleisure.com/hotels-resorts/americas-top-brands-hotel-openings

[blooming-perspectives]

We all know people that can’t eat gluten, are vegetarian, are vegan or only eat hallal. But have you heard of flexitarianism? It’s a different kind of eating habit; one where you decide to stick to a certain diet that mainly consist of fruits and vegetables but doesn’t entirely rule out animal proteins.

It’s basically like being a vegetarian, but still getting to enjoy that piece of meat once in a while.

The knowledge of the way animals are being treated for consumption and the fact that there are more and more ways for people to enjoy certain vegetables and fruits are strongly influencing the way people eat. There’s been a surge of vegetarians and vegans over the last two decades, and lately even gluten-free food has been promoted as being a way of living.

There are, however, still those of us who enjoy meat and dairy so much that they are unable to give up these products of animal sources. In comes the flexitarian diet: It give you the possibility to eat in a socially and environmetally responsible way while not having to compromise your quality of living. It’s a good compromise for people who are consious of the way their behaviour affects the planet, but still want to indulge in the pleasures of life.

Because who can resist a good grilled cheese? ;)

[blooming-perspectives]

Minimalism in fashion

Lately, we’ve seen it everywhere. But that might not be in the way you expect. Minimalism can be interpreted and found in all manners of marvelous things. There are several examples which I will mention throughout this article, which at first glance will seem unrelated on their own. However, in a broad sense they are all related to a type of minimalism.

The first example is the BAUBAX traveljacket.

The creators claim that it is the best traveljacket in the world. They’ve got some convincing claims. The jacket has the following features:

Neck pillow, Eye mask, Drink pocket, Microfiber cloth, sunglass, pocket, iPadpocket, Hand warming pockets, Earphone holders, phone pocket, pen and stylus, passport pocket, Blanket pocket, Gloves, Portable charger pocket.

You get to experience all these separate features into one single object. The jacket makes buying the separate functions on their own obsolete. You minimalise what you buy and what you own. The feeling of a cluttered life is aken away for those people who feel like they already own too much. Has the consumeristic lifestyle become something of the past?

We see this minimalism in the rise of unisex clothing too: Make one type of clothing that is both designed for men and women. You declutter the space of fashion and basicaly half it. The need for people to have this uniformity and to lessen the choices they have is quite present recently. Minimalistism by reducing the consumeristic approach to life.

[blooming-perspectives]

This picture was taken by a friend of mine that I met through cosplaying. Haven’t seen him in almost a year. I wonder how many people I’ve lost track of over the years. People I used to see daily but now hardly remember, people I had the funniest memories with that just whilted away. I how many people have forgotten me. 

I’ve never been extraordinary, so people forgetting me would be a simple consequence. People seem to have a need for being extraodinary these days. Whether it be showing themselves off on social media, boasting about ther adventures when talking to friends or just doing things out of character because it’d make them more interesting. It’d be a lie saying I’ve never done any of those things; hell, cosplaying is me showing off what a “special snowflake” I am. However I’m fine being ordinary. 

Speaking of snowflakes... those are the perfect metaphore for the whole ordeal: Every single snowflake falling from the sky is unique. They all have their own pattern and are beautiful when you look closer... but if you do not make the effort to do so, all you see is a plain white surface, a sum of the elements... society. Because just like society, snow can bring disaster with it, and joy.

Being ordinary is just fine, the majority of us are. We still love you for it.