#advantages of software testing

[tripta-123]

Software Testing's Definition, Types and Benefits

Software testing involves detecting a product's quality and effectiveness. Unit, integration, and system testing are some of their kinds and are useful for bug finding and user satisfaction as given in this blog. You can just read here if you'd like to get more information.

[nasa]

Athletes Go for the Gold with NASA Spinoffs

NASA technology tends to find its way into the sporting world more often than you’d expect. Fitness is important to the space program because astronauts must undergo the extreme g-forces of getting into space and endure the long-term effects of weightlessness on the human body. The agency’s engineering expertise also means that items like shoes and swimsuits can be improved with NASA know-how.

As the 2024 Olympics are in full swing in Paris, here are some of the many NASA-derived technologies that have helped competitive athletes train for the games and made sure they’re properly equipped to win.

The LZR Racer reduces skin friction drag by covering more skin than traditional swimsuits. Multiple pieces of the water-resistant and extremely lightweight LZR Pulse fabric connect at ultrasonically welded seams and incorporate extremely low-profile zippers to keep viscous drag to a minimum.

Swimsuits That Don’t Drag

When the swimsuit manufacturer Speedo wanted its LZR Racer suit to have as little drag as possible, the company turned to the experts at Langley Research Center to test its materials and design. The end result was that the new suit reduced drag by 24 percent compared to the prior generation of Speedo racing suit and broke 13 world records in 2008. While the original LZR Racer is no longer used in competition due to the advantage it gave wearers, its legacy lives on in derivatives still produced to this day.

Trilion Quality Systems worked with NASA’s Glenn Research Center to adapt existing stereo photogrammetry software to work with high-speed cameras. Now the company sells the package widely, and it is used to analyze stress and strain in everything from knee implants to running shoes and more.

High-Speed Cameras for High-Speed Shoes

After space shuttle Columbia, investigators needed to see how materials reacted during recreation tests with high-speed cameras, which involved working with industry to create a system that could analyze footage filmed at 30,000 frames per second. Engineers at Adidas used this system to analyze the behavior of Olympic marathoners' feet as they hit the ground and adjusted the design of the company’s high-performance footwear based on these observations.

Martial artist Barry French holds an Impax Body Shield while former European middle-weight kickboxing champion Daryl Tyler delivers an explosive jump side kick; the force of the impact is registered precisely and shown on the display panel of the electronic box French is wearing on his belt.

One-Thousandth-of-an-Inch Punch

In the 1980s, Olympic martial artists needed a way to measure the impact of their strikes to improve training for competition. Impulse Technology reached out to Glenn Research Center to create the Impax sensor, an ultra-thin film sensor which creates a small amount of voltage when struck. The more force applied, the more voltage it generates, enabling a computerized display to show how powerful a punch or kick was.

Astronaut Sunita Williams poses while using the Interim Resistive Exercise Device on the ISS. The cylinders at the base of each side house the SpiraFlex FlexPacks that inventor Paul Francis honed under NASA contracts. They would go on to power the Bowflex Revolution and other commercial exercise equipment.

Weight Training Without the Weight

Astronauts spending long periods of time in space needed a way to maintain muscle mass without the effect of gravity, but lifting free weights doesn’t work when you’re practically weightless. An exercise machine that uses elastic resistance to provide the same benefits as weightlifting went to the space station in the year 2000. That resistance technology was commercialized into the Bowflex Revolution home exercise equipment shortly afterwards.

Want to learn more about technologies made for space and used on Earth? Check out NASA Spinoff to find products and services that wouldn’t exist without space exploration.   

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[bitchesgetriches]

idk how much engagement you get but if you're interested in an extra income, I have a free credit repair software and I can make you a referral link so you get a referral fee for everyone that signs up with your link.

Attention, baby bitchlings! This is clearly spam, but we're using it as a teaching moment.

I would never say yes to something like this for 2 reasons:

Part of our revenue model is endorsing companies for a cut of referrals (the other part being our Patreon, which you should absolutely join). Companies reach out to partner with us BECAUSE we have a big audience and BECAUSE we've built up a significant amount of trust with our audience. Y'all know we don't endorse stuff we haven't personally tested and researched. There's no way in HELL your humble Bitches would signal boost a completely random, unnamed "free credit repair software."

Most credit repair services are a scam or a waste of money. They recommend tactics you can do on your own for free (I'll link our guides for this below) without sharing your sensitive personal data with an outside company. The fact that anon is recommending a "free" credit repair software tells me that once you're in the software, their business model is to upsell you on other shit you don't need. Along with life insurance, credit repair services are one business model we'll never partner with for endorsements.

Now, if someone asks YOU to signal boost a referral link, think long and hard about it. Is it legit? Is it a scam? Is it something you're ok putting your name on if it means other people could be taken advantage of?

Now, if your credit needs repairing, here's what we recommend:

How to Build Good Credit Without Going Into Debt

Credit Scoring Is a Racist, Classist System that Has Us All Trapped

How To Fix an Error on Your Credit Report Without Losing Your Damn Mind

How to Instantly Increase Your Credit Score… for FREE

{ MASTERPOST } Everything You Need to Know about Credit and Credit Cards

Did we just help you out? Say thanks on Patreon!

[deepdreamnights]

Tribute AMV for Dr. Underfang and Mrs. Natalie Nice/Nautilus.

From TyrannoMax and the Warriors of the Core, everyone's favorite Buzby-Spurlock animated series.

After all, who doesn't love a good bad guy, especially when they come in pairs?

Process/Tutorial Under the Fold.

This is, of course, a part of my TyrannoMax unreality project, with most of these video clips coming from vidu, taking advantage of their multi-entity consistency feature (more on that later). This is going to be part of a larger villain showcase video, but this section is going to be its own youtube short, so its an video on its own.

The animation here is intentionally less smooth than the original, as I'm going for a 1980s animated series look, and even in the well-animated episodes you were typically getting 12 FPS (animating 'on twos'), with 8 (on threes) being way more common. As I get access to better animation software to rework these (currently just fuddling along with PS) I'm going to start using this to my advantage by selectively dropping blurry intermediate frames.

I went with 12 since most of these clips are, in the meta-lore, from the opening couple of episodes and the opening credits, where most of the money for a series went back in the day.

Underfang's transformation sequence was my testing for several of my techniques for making larger TyrannoMax videos. Among those was selectively dropping some of the warped frames as I mentioned above, though for a few shots I had to wind up re-painting sections.

Multi-entity consistency can keep difficult dinosaur characters stable on their own, but it wasn't up to the task of keeping the time-temple accurate enough for my use, as you can see here with the all-t-rex- and-some-moving-statues, verses the multi-species effort I had planned:

The answer was simple, chroma-key.

Most of the Underfang transformation shots were done this way. The foot-stomp was too good to leave just because he sprouted some extra toes, so that was worth repainting a few frames of in post.

Vidu kind of over-did the texturing on a few shots (and magenta was a poor choice of key-color) so I had to go in and manually purple-ize the background frame by frame for the spin-shot.

This is on top of the normal cropping, scaling, color-correcting, etc that goes into any editing job of this type.

It's like I say: nearly all AI you see is edited, most of it curated, even the stuff that's awful and obvious (never forget: enragement is engagement)

Multi-Entity Consistency:

Vidu's big advantage is reference-to-video. For those who have been following the blog for awhile, R2V is sort of like Midjourney's --cref character reference feature. A lot of video AIs have start-end frame functionality, but being able to give the robot a model sheet and effectively have it run with it is a darn nice feature for narrative.

Unlike the current version of Midjourney's --cref feature, however, you can reference multiple concepts with multiple images.

It is super-helpful when you need to get multiple characters to interact, because without it, they tend to blend into each other conceptually.

I also use it to add locations, mainly to keep them looking appropriately background-painting rather than a 3d background or something that looks like a modded photo like a lot of modern animation does.

The potential here for using this tech as a force multiplier for small animation projects really shines through, and I really hope I'm just one of several attempting to use it for that purpose.

Music:

The song is "The Boys Have a Second Lead Pipe", one of my Suno creations. I was thinking of using Dinowave (Let's Dance To) but I'm saving that for a music video of live-action dinosovians.

Prompting:

You can tell by the screenshot above that my prompts have gotten... robust. Vidu's prompting system seems to understand things better when given tighter reigns (some AIs have the opposite effect), and takes information with time-codes semi-regularly, so my prompts are now more like:

low-angle shot, closeup, of a green tyrannosaurus-mad-scientist wearing a blue shirt and purple tie with white lab coat and a lavender octopus-woman with tentacles growing from her head, wearing a teal blouse, purple skirt, purple-gray pantyhose. they stand close to each other, arms crossed, laughing evilly. POV shot of them looming over the viewer menacingly. The background is a city, in the style of animation background images. 1986 vintage cel-shaded cartoon clip, a dinosaur-anthro wearing a lab coat, shirt and tie reaches into his coat with his right hand and pulls out a laser gun, he takes aim, points the laser gun at the camera and fires. The laser effect is short streaks of white energy with a purple glow. The whole clip has the look and feel of vintage 1986 action adventure cel-animated cartoons. The animation quality is high, with flawless motion and anatomy. animated by Tokyo Movie Shinsha, studio Ghibli, don bluth. BluRay remaster.

While others approach the scripted with time-code callouts for individual actions.

[weirdez]

A couple questions for you! There’s been so many backstories and childhoods for Riddler, which ones are your favorite?

Do you abide by Eddie cheating at puzzles as a child, or being envied and abused for his intelligence and high test scores?

Where do you like to see him work before he was a criminal? I know there’s been a bunch, like the carnival, the GCPD, Wayne Enterprises, a software designer for Mockridge, etc…

— Zee (@riddle-us-this)

I believe that an important aspect of Edwards character is how much he craves attention and validation, and more often than not issues with such things emerge in childhood (at least for me 🙂‍↕️) so while i prefer to think that Eddie was always naturally smart and in honors and gifted programs and what not- i have a feeling that if he realized that he would not succeed at something that he has never been opposed to 'bending the rules'. One line of his from Arkham Knight i really like is where he says: "I dissemble! I artfully obfuscate! BUT I DO NOT CHEAT" (i also acknowledge that in this same continuity is where the cheating as a kid comes from anyways but erm whatever)

So in simpler words, I see him being the highest in his classes and one of, if not the smartest during his educational years and receiving nothing but abuse and isolation from his peers and others alike through it all. That no matter how much he tried and how successful he was, no one cared enough to acknowledge him.

As for your second question, i usually see his as either an employee at Wayne Enterprises or at the GCPD, i think both offer something unique for his character. And as much as i also love BTAS riddler and how they showed his backstory with Mockridge, keeping that same sort of rejection and abandonment the second he wanted recognition; I find that him working in the GCPD (specifically like how he did in the Gotham show) is usually how i imagine him. Despite how i draw and see him being mostly inspired by Zero Year Riddler, I think the GCPD offers him more advantages character wise, it also explains in a way why he prefers dealing with Batman rather than cops, and i like the idea of him being a total prick whenever he's in custody because he knows most of these people and how corrupt they are. I am also biased because the GCPD route gives him another connection to Two-Face and his quest to destroy corruption in courts and all that. It also can help his later reformation as a private detective, if i ever do anything with that.

[meep9898]

M.A.I., too fat to do her job.

What was once a model of an android made with the finest of biosynthetic materials and the most advanced of self-learning softwares, created with the sole purpose of assisting her users with any task they may need to do, had been turned into something that would shock her creators at Nishimura Corp.

This one M.A.I. unit had been assigned to a user who constantly inquired about the A.I.'s 'needs' and 'experiences', always motivating her to try new things, always pushing her to take it easy and to let them be the ones to assist her, always offering reassuring words when she worried about not completing any tasks. The user, ignoring all cautious words from her robotic assistant, had swapped the roles they were meant to follow. Steadily, but surely, all this attention led to a program that learned that being pampered was the proper way of keeping their Master happy.

However, as time went by, the M.A.I. unit became needier, lazier, and somehwat meaner, taking advantage of their user's kindness and abusing their dynamic to have every single one of her 'wants' tended to. Why should she complete any tasks when her Master could do them all on their own, even doing extra one just because she asked for them to be completed? Why should she ever lift a finger when her Master could take care of everything? And if she didn't have to care for any task, she may as well try out all the things she wasn't really made for, including testing out all 83,678 desserts in her database.

Eventually, all of this gluttony and hedonism created the heaviest M.A.I. to ever exist, one who had her colossal, biosynthetic rear ever parked on her user's bent couch; one whose robotic belly almost brushed the floor, greedily gurgling and growling all the time; one who couldn't go more than five minutes without demanding more sustenance; one who couldn't lift her own arms and who wouldn't do so even if she could; one too lazy to even send reports back to her creators, reports that were supposed to be sent automatically without needing her to do any effort in the slightest...

This M.A.I.'s user, now more of a butler for the android, regretted every single kind word and action that had turned her precious helper into a biosynthetic, couch-filling landwhale. Maybe, just maybe, it wasn´t too late to turn things around. Perhaps, with enough tenderness their M.A.I. unit could be motivated to exercise, to eat healthy, and to help around the house once again. Hopefully, there still was some sense or will to assist others buried under all those layers of fake flab.

"Li-Listen, M.A.I. I need your assistance wi-with a task. Wh-Why don't you he-help me...I-It'll be like o-old times...Wh-What do you say?"

"Tell you what, half pint. Why don't you ask me later? Now, bring me more soda. Ooo! Some hotdogs too!"

There was no hope left at all. This M.A.I. was, and would be forever, too fat and too lazy to do her job.

[lucifers-room]

Please punish me. I got worse grades than expected, thankfully it was a mock test. I just couldn't help but be a slutty rapetoy even when I'm supposed to be a good doctor.

Also I'm far from your type except for being small (4'8, 100lbs(is recently losing a lot due to stress so the numbers are dropping, was 103 just a week ago)) which makes me quite sad. I hope Mister takes advantage and molds me into his preferred woman.

PS.

Also computer engineering? Is this the branch for testing the hardware and components? Or is that computer science? Either way, it's hot. I want to learn computer stuff and I'd be thrilled to have a professor like you.

I'll make sure to punish you even worse doing bad. You'll won't walk for a week after I'm done with you.

Computer engineering is a mix of electrical engineering and software engineering. Where it focuses a lot on building hardware components like cpu and understanding lower level programming

[krunal-vyas]

Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

Hire dedicated developers in India smarter and faster with AI-powered solutions. As businesses worldwide turn to software development outsourcing, India remains a top destination for IT talent acquisition. However, finding the right developers can be challenging due to skill evaluation, remote team management, and hiring efficiency concerns. Fortunately, AI recruitment tools are revolutionizing the hiring process, making it seamless and effective.

In this blog, I will explore how AI-powered developer hiring is transforming the recruitment landscape and how businesses can leverage these tools to build top-notch offshore development teams.

Why Hire Dedicated Developers in India?

1) Cost-Effective Without Compromising Quality:

Hiring dedicated developers in India can reduce costs by up to 60% compared to hiring in the U.S., Europe, or Australia. This makes it a cost-effective solution for businesses seeking high-quality IT staffing solutions in India.

2) Access to a Vast Talent Pool:

India has a massive talent pool with millions of software engineers proficient in AI, blockchain, cloud computing, and other emerging technologies. This ensures companies can find dedicated software developers in India for any project requirement.

3) Time-Zone Advantage for 24/7 Productivity:

Indian developers work across different time zones, allowing continuous development cycles. This enhances productivity and ensures faster project completion.

4) Expertise in Emerging Technologies:

Indian developers are highly skilled in cutting-edge fields like AI, IoT, and cloud computing, making them invaluable for innovative projects.

Challenges in Hiring Dedicated Developers in India

1) Finding the Right Talent Efficiently:

Sorting through thousands of applications manually is time-consuming. AI-powered recruitment tools streamline the process by filtering candidates based on skill match and experience.

2) Evaluating Technical and Soft Skills:

Traditional hiring struggles to assess real-world coding abilities and soft skills like teamwork and communication. AI-driven hiring processes include coding assessments and behavioral analysis for better decision-making.

3) Overcoming Language and Cultural Barriers:

AI in HR and recruitment helps evaluate language proficiency and cultural adaptability, ensuring smooth collaboration within offshore development teams.

4) Managing Remote Teams Effectively:

AI-driven remote work management tools help businesses track performance, manage tasks, and ensure accountability.

How AI is Transforming Developer Hiring

1. AI-Powered Candidate Screening:

AI recruitment tools use resume parsing, skill-matching algorithms, and machine learning to shortlist the best candidates quickly.

2. AI-Driven Coding Assessments:

Developer assessment tools conduct real-time coding challenges to evaluate technical expertise, code efficiency, and problem-solving skills.

3. AI Chatbots for Initial Interviews:

AI chatbots handle initial screenings, assessing technical knowledge, communication skills, and cultural fit before human intervention.

4. Predictive Analytics for Hiring Success:

AI analyzes past hiring data and candidate work history to predict long-term success, improving recruitment accuracy.

5. AI in Background Verification:

AI-powered background checks ensure candidate authenticity, education verification, and fraud detection, reducing hiring risks.

Steps to Hire Dedicated Developers in India Smarter with AI

1. Define Job Roles and Key Skill Requirements:

Outline essential technical skills, experience levels, and project expectations to streamline recruitment.

2. Use AI-Based Hiring Platforms:

Leverage best AI hiring platforms like LinkedIn Talent Insightsand HireVue to source top developers.

3. Implement AI-Driven Skill Assessments:

AI-powered recruitment processes use coding tests and behavioral evaluations to assess real-world problem-solving abilities.

4. Conduct AI-Powered Video Interviews:

AI-driven interview tools analyze body language, sentiment, and communication skills for improved hiring accuracy.

5. Optimize Team Collaboration with AI Tools:

Remote work management tools like Trello, Asana, and Jira enhance productivity and ensure smooth collaboration.

Top AI-Powered Hiring Tools for Businesses

LinkedIn Talent Insights — AI-driven talent analytics

HackerRank — AI-powered coding assessments

HireVue — AI-driven video interview analysis

Pymetrics — AI-based behavioral and cognitive assessments

X0PA AI — AI-driven talent acquisition platform

Best Practices for Managing AI-Hired Developers in India

1. Establish Clear Communication Channels:

Use collaboration tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and Zoom for seamless communication.

2. Leverage AI-Driven Productivity Tracking:

Monitor performance using AI-powered tracking tools like Time Doctor and Hubstaff to optimize workflows.

3. Encourage Continuous Learning and Upskilling:

Provide access to AI-driven learning platforms like Coursera and Udemy to keep developers updated on industry trends.

4. Foster Cultural Alignment and Team Bonding:

Organize virtual team-building activities to enhance collaboration and engagement.

Future of AI in Developer Hiring

1) AI-Driven Automation for Faster Hiring:

AI will continue automating tedious recruitment tasks, improving efficiency and candidate experience.

2) AI and Blockchain for Transparent Recruitment:

Integrating AI with blockchain will enhance candidate verification and data security for trustworthy hiring processes.

3) AI’s Role in Enhancing Remote Work Efficiency:

AI-powered analytics and automation will further improve productivity within offshore development teams.

Conclusion:

AI revolutionizes the hiring of dedicated developers in India by automating candidate screening, coding assessments, and interview analysis. Businesses can leverage AI-powered tools to efficiently find, evaluate, and manage top-tier offshore developers, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality software development outsourcing.

Ready to hire dedicated developers in India using AI? iQlance offers cutting-edge AI-powered hiring solutions to help you find the best talent quickly and efficiently. Get in touch today!

[alexandriaisburning]

+006: The Xbox Adaptive Controller is for everyone

Addendums, Archives and Appendecies is extra, off topic writing in addition to the regular CANON FIRE entries. You can support more writing like this on Patreon.

Of the several mass market options for accessibility controllers, the Xbox Adaptive controller easily leads the pack. The initial package doesn’t include much, but in exchange it packs a huge host of features, expansive remapping software and compatibility with more devices than any competitor. Alongside a dedicated accessibility development team, it’s easy to see that Microsoft has real investment in gaming accessibility. 

It’s those same features that make the Xbox Adaptive Controller a fantastic device for everyone.  Marketing and coverage of the XAC has focused on the disability angle, but there’s been little talk or curiosity about how the damn thing works, and the absolutely tremendous features of this unassuming package. If you’re like me, and have any DIY spirit, or love the bespoke controls of arcade games, the XAC should have your attention.

The Xbox Adaptive Controller is designed similar to other adaptive setups, using standard 3.5mm TRS/TRRS headphone jacks to connect external controls. One of the least documented features of this system is exactly how many options there are for switches, outside the officially branded ones. The TRS connections enable the XAC to use not only dedicated accessibility switches, but any switch that uses TRS jacks. This includes several accessories for the 8bitdo Lite SE 2.4ghz, the 8bitdo Keyboard, or even something like sustain pedals used for synthesizers. There’s also a small industry dedicated to creating accessibility switches, and if you’re handy you can even create your own out of generic switches like pushbuttons, knobs, and flick switches. 

The XAC’s headliner feature--the one that sold me on the device, and puts it above all the rest--is the ability to plug in USB controllers. One either side of the XAC are USB ports, each which maps to one half of a standard Xbox controller, allowing you to access the left stick, right stick, face buttons and triggers by plugging in two devices to combine them into a single unit. Any HID gamepad can be plugged in, though you’ll need to experiment to see which ones are recognized, and which inputs are available to be remapped, since the XAC will only recognize a select number of them. 

A costly series of individual switches can be replaced by a single controller, offering multiple inputs and alternative analog solutions such as sliders, trackpads, handheld joysticks or flight sticks. 

As an example, I built a mech cockpit setup for Armored Core by using two flight sticks and a set of pedals. Each flight stick controlled one analog stick, with the triggers and thumb buttons used to control the arm and shoulder weapons, and pedals controlling the ascent and boost functions. The two large buttons on the XAC itself acted as the scan and repair functions, two important, but auxiliary functions. 

I’ve also personally tested a few 8bitdo Switch controllers, as well as arcade sticks, which were able to be paired with the XAC as well. 

A big advantage of the XAC is that by doing this through hardware, you can store multiple control profiles on the device itself, then migrate the setup between multiple devices, including other systems. Through the use of a controller converter, I’ve been personally able to use the XAC on multiple generations of Playstations and the Switch. All without the need to use software remapping.

If playing on the Xbox or Windows, however, you do get access to Xbox Assist--formerly Copilot--which allows you to pair the XAC with additional controllers, once again being read a single unit. This allows another player to assist in activating other buttons, or use one controller as the primary device, while complimenting it with buttons on your other controller. 

I’ve used this to combine my controller with my pedal set, handling stick clicks with pedals, allowing me to sprint and melee but stepping on a switch. You could also use something like the Xbox Adaptive Joystick, and handheld joystick in the style of the Wii nunchuk, to control the primary movement, while resting another controller on a flat surface and pressing the buttons. 

It’s worth noting that Xbox Assist isn’t restricted only to the XAC, and can be used with various other Xbox controllers, including the Adaptive Joystick, 8bitdo Lite SE, or just two standard controllers. 

These options give a huge amount of flexibility to the controller, allowing you to mix and match what parts of a modern control setup work for you. Modern controllers have mostly agreed on a standard for button layouts and shapes, but at the cost of the more unorthodox options and ideas that made controllers part of the game or console experience. 

The XAC gives you ways to interface with the same games, with remapping software that makes up for the often underwhelming options built into the consoles themselves. Buttons can even be remapped on the fly by physically plugging and unplugging cords into ports, allowing you to experiment with different setups quickly. It’s totally analog, and has the same satisfaction as manually rewiring devices and circuits. 

Modern controllers are designed to be invisible. To meld into the background and allow experienced players to not think about how they control their characters. But when that doesn’t match someone’s ability or experience, the opposite can happen, turning a controller into something that fights against you. The same features that allow disabled people the flexibility to build a solution that works for them also gives everyone the option to change the way we interface with games, and build something new. 

For interested parties, I've collected more info on the XAC below:

[bigblueoctoling]

Side Order Observations about Eight

Just a sort of nonspecific collection of thoughts about Eight (and some of Acht) in Side Order.

So, for starters, I feel that a lot of people are not fully taking advantage of the angst-fuel given to us here. A lot of people write it as though Eight is Suffering throughout the majority of this adventure, but that's not entirely accurate, I feel, to how Eight is characterized.

Going off of Eight's memcakes from Octo Expansion, Eight is someone who finds a lot of comfort in feeling powerful. She cites the usual casual play of turf war as something desirable, she finds comfort in using a charger. If anything, I feel that one of the reasons Eight was chosen by Marina to test this software was because of her affinity for combat- Marina assumes that the tower would even be too easy for her.

That being said, Eight surely felt a lot more anxious in particular about the present dangers early in the run- in particular, terrified of something bad happening to Marina. I sort of see Marina as a sort of maternal figure to Eight- I'd always pictured Marina and Pearl just sort of taking Eight home with them, I'm sure their mansion is big enough, and the fact that they take Eight along with them on the world tour kind of supports this idea. Probably the worst thing to threaten Eight with is threatening to hurt Marina. Or Pearl, of course, but especially Marina, given her nature.

I can imagine, of course, that Order is also an upsettingly familiar threat, but it likely wasn't as upsetting (until the Greyscaling) as seeing Marina in actual danger was.

But the piece of the story that I feel most people aren't acknowledging is the fact that Eight's palette- her soul- is so blatantly different, in function and in appearance, than everyone else's. That it calls back memories of the deepsea metro. Can you imagine what she must feel that says about her? How much more difficult her soul is to work with than anyone else's, even Octavio's.

There's a lot to work with, I feel, with Eight's palette. Feelings of inadequacy. Eight struggling a lot more with her palette than anyone else's; the fear that she might never be able to complete it? The trauma of being brought back mentally to deepsea metro. The whole locker situation there.

Worse yet, what about when she does complete it? Sure, one can assume Eight did get her memories back and she just doesn't say anything because she's Eight, and there's plenty to work with there- But what if it just doesn't do anything? Feeling guilt that it's her fault, because of her fucked up soul- and either way, not wanting to tell Marina this, because you've all worked so hard for this, and after everything, Eight just wants Marina to relax and be happy, but she can't deny the frustration of not knowing. Or the fear. Why doesn't this work for her? Why is she broken?

Or to tie the previous theory of Eight being a clone of Acht into this, why does Eight's palette unlock notes from Acht? Eight already struggles to know who she is- is she Acht? Somehow? Why doesn't she have her own memories? What does Acht know? What if she were to ask Acht, but they didn't know either?

Or to turn things around to Acht's perspective, imagine the fact that your palette is unaccounted for, you find Eight's, and Eight's starts unlocking your memories? All of the fuzzy spots in your memory start to be concerning. They can't help but compare themselves to Eight, what a disappointment to end up being chained onto you of all people when she's such an incredible person. Maybe you're the reason their soul is broken, somehow.

Also, I didn't mention this in my other post- I've headcanoned for some time that Eight deeply prefers being called Eight, and not 'Agent 8'; discomfort in being referred to as one in a series of numbers, discomfort with the association with the squidbeak splatoon, and so forth- it means the world to me that that's somehow canonical. It was an unreal moment to discover that. It makes me very happy that Eight properly uses Eight as her name.

[kpdigitalworld]

Fashion Designing Institutes in Hyderabad: Blending Heritage with Modern Creativity

Hyderabad is more than just a city of IT parks and ancient monuments — it's a growing fashion destination blending centuries-old textile traditions with cutting-edge design education. In recent years, students from across India have started flocking to fashion designing institutes in Hyderabad to turn their passion into a professional path.

With a creative-friendly atmosphere, access to rich artisan networks, and modern academic facilities, Hyderabad is quietly becoming the go-to place for fashion aspirants. If you're thinking of stepping into the world of fashion, here’s why the institutes here are worth considering.

The Cultural Edge: Hyderabad’s Textile and Craft Heritage

One of the standout advantages of studying fashion in Hyderabad is access to traditional Indian art forms that are still alive and thriving.

Pochampally Ikat, Kalamkari, Narayanpet weaves, and Muga silk from surrounding regions inspire students to blend heritage with modernity.

Institutes often arrange artisan visits, textile trails, and dyeing workshops, which enrich classroom learning with ground-level insight.

These experiences make students culturally aware and help them design collections rooted in Indian identity, with global appeal.

Modern Infrastructure & Global Curriculum

Hyderabad’s fashion design schools are known for their advanced infrastructure, including:

Fully equipped design studios and labs

CAD software for 2D & 3D garment design

In-house textile printing and embroidery units

Libraries with fashion magazines, trend reports, and design journals

Photography and styling labs for editorial shoots

The curriculum is often benchmarked against international standards, combining traditional modules like garment construction and illustration with emerging areas like:

Fashion Forecasting & Trend Analysis

Sustainable Design Practices

Fashion Business & Entrepreneurship

Augmented Reality in Fashion

E-Commerce & Online Fashion Marketing

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Top fashion designing institutes in Hyderabad go the extra mile to provide holistic learning experiences. Students actively participate in:

Annual Fashion Shows and Design Exhibitions

Style & Branding Workshops by industry experts

Internships with fashion houses, boutiques, and stylists

Student exchange programs with design institutes abroad

Fashion film-making and digital storytelling competitions

These activities help develop soft skills like teamwork, leadership, and creative direction — essential for working in the real world.

Courses Offered by Fashion Designing Institutes in Hyderabad

Whether you're a beginner or looking to specialize, fashion design colleges in Hyderabad offer a variety of programs:

🔹 Certificate Programs (3–6 Months)

Ideal for skill enhancement or testing interest in the field.

🔹 Diploma & Advanced Diploma (1–2 Years)

Perfect for those wanting hands-on skills with quicker industry entry.

🔹 Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design (3–4 Years)

Comprehensive academic route with deeper design thinking, internship, and portfolio development.

🔹 Postgraduate Programs (1–2 Years)

Focused training in design innovation, fashion marketing, or merchandising.

Each course type balances creativity, technical skill, and business understanding, preparing students for a fast-paced, competitive industry.

Career Prospects After Completing Fashion Designing in Hyderabad

With the growing fashion scene in Hyderabad and across India, graduates from design schools can pursue careers such as:

Fashion Designer (Apparel, Accessories, Sustainable)

Textile or Surface Designer

Fashion Illustrator or CAD Designer

Retail Buyer or Merchandiser

Fashion Stylist or Visual Merchandiser

Costume Designer for films and TV

Fashion Content Creator or Blogger

Entrepreneur or Boutique Owner

Hyderabad also gives students the advantage of working in Tollywood, e-commerce startups, and independent fashion brands.

What to Look For in a Fashion Institute

Before enrolling, make sure the fashion designing institute you choose in Hyderabad has:

✅ UGC or university affiliation (for degree programs) ✅ Industry-experienced faculty ✅ Strong alumni network and placement record ✅ Access to labs, studios, and digital tools ✅ Focus on both Indian and global fashion perspectives

Also, explore student testimonials, sample portfolios, and past fashion shows to understand the creative output of each institute.

[surfthesinecurve]

Hi do you have any tips for year 12s studying a level biology and chemistry??

Or what you wished you did before your as exams or mocks??

hii!! i hope your a levels are going well so far!!

the first thing i’d say is remember that a levels are HARD. especially biology (i don’t do chem unfortunately). i think the biggest thing to tackle is the heaviness of the content for biology. my biggest tip is to make all your revision resources at a very good quality throughout the entire year. if you haven’t started yet, deffo start now. there is a LOT of content so id recommend downloading anki. it’s a computer software app which reschedules your flashcards for you. it’s important to keep up with ‘due’ reviews to maximise anki’s help in spaced repetition. if you don’t, it’ll build up quick and you’ll forget everything. i can’t explain enough how important it is to go over old content because you’ll get to the end of year 12 and have this absolute mass of information to recall.

make flashcards packs based on the specification points. i’ll show you my anki to demonstrate:

(this is the appstore app btw, u don’t need it you can use the free computer version or website version)

obviously you can make them however you want to, it’s just helpful organisation wise. i’m not sure how much content you have to remember for chem but it’s probably helpful for chemistry, too.

second is to make sure you take advantage of the topic tests your school gives you. it doesn’t count towards your final grade in quantitative way but it does with giving you an idea on where you need to work on, exam technique, and adding anything to your flashcards to make them more mark scheme specific. i can’t explain how much i thank my year 12 self for doing it. you’ll thank yourself too, trust me!!

if your exam board is AQA i really really recommend buying pre-made notes by biologywitholivia. they’re quite expensive but honestly it’s worth it because she’s the only person i’ve found who covers everything concisely and it’s every markscheme specific to AQA. also if you haven’t made flashcards yet it’s very easy to just copy and paste the content onto flashcards (but that will make them harder to remember).

and of course USE THE PAST PAPERS. learning content is important but so is past papers (probs something you’ve heard a million times!)

finally, don’t get stressed out or give up. you can do it i absolutely believe in you!!! i hope this was helpful 😊

also here’s the link to notes with olivia if you do AQA

[scan2hire]

How is AI transforming the recruitment process in 2025?

Picture this: You're sipping your morning coffee, scrolling through job applications, and within minutes, you've identified the top 10 candidates from a pool of 500 resumes. Sounds like magic?

Welcome to 2025, where artificial intelligence has turned this fantasy into everyday reality for recruiters worldwide. The hiring landscape has shifted dramatically, and if you're still manually sorting through CVs, you might as well be using a typewriter in the smartphone era.

The Smart Screening Revolution

Gone are the days when HR teams spent countless hours reading through every single resume. Modern AI resume screening software has become the ultimate hiring assistant, analyzing candidate profiles with superhuman speed and accuracy.

These intelligent systems can evaluate skills, experience, and cultural fit within seconds, transforming what used to be a week-long process into a matter of hours.

The technology doesn't just scan for keywords anymore. Today's advanced algorithms understand context, recognize transferable skills, and even assess personality traits through language patterns.

It's like having a seasoned recruiter with photographic memory working 24/7.

Beyond the Buzzwords: Real Impact

The transformation goes deeper than just faster screening. AI is fundamentally changing how companies approach talent acquisition.

Predictive analytics now help organizations forecast which candidates are most likely to succeed in specific roles, reducing turnover rates by up to 40%.

Video interview analysis has evolved too. AI systems can now evaluate communication skills, confidence levels, and even detect potential red flags through facial expressions and speech patterns. While this might sound like science fiction, it's happening right now in major corporations across the globe.

The Bias-Busting Game Changer

One of the most significant advantages of AI in recruitment is its potential to reduce unconscious bias. Traditional hiring often falls victim to human prejudices based on names, photos, or educational backgrounds.

Smart recruitment tools focus purely on skills and qualifications, creating a more level playing field for all candidates.

However, it's worth noting that AI systems are only as unbiased as the data they're trained on.

Forward-thinking companies are actively working to ensure their algorithms promote diversity rather than perpetuate existing inequalities.

The Numbers Game: Efficiency Meets Precision

The statistics speak volumes about AI's impact on modern recruitment. Companies using intelligent hiring solutions report 50% faster time-to-hire and 60% improvement in candidate quality.

The applicant tracking system has evolved from a simple database to a sophisticated decision-making partner.

Natural language processing (NLP) has revolutionized how these systems understand resumes and job descriptions.

Instead of rigid keyword matching, modern platforms can interpret meaning, context, and even industry-specific jargon.

This advancement means better matches between candidates and positions.

The Human Touch in an AI World

Despite all this technological advancement, the human element remains irreplaceable.

AI handles the heavy lifting of initial screening and data analysis, but final hiring decisions still require human judgment, emotional intelligence, and cultural assessment.

The most successful companies in 2025 are those that have found the perfect balance between AI efficiency and human insight.

They use technology to eliminate tedious tasks while preserving the personal connection that makes great hiring decisions.

Looking Ahead: What's Next?

As we move further into 2025, expect to see even more sophisticated AI features. Real-time skills assessment, virtual reality job simulations, and AI-powered salary negotiations are already being tested by innovative companies.

Platforms like Scan2hire are leading this transformation, offering comprehensive solutions that streamline the entire recruitment process.

From initial resume parsing to final candidate ranking, these tools are setting new standards for what's possible in talent acquisition.

The future belongs to organizations that embrace these technological advances while maintaining their commitment to fair, human-centered hiring practices.

Those who adapt quickly will gain a significant competitive advantage in attracting top talent.

The Bottom Line

AI isn't just changing recruitment—it's revolutionizing it completely. Companies that leverage these tools effectively are finding better candidates faster, reducing costs, and creating more positive experiences for everyone involved in the hiring process.

The question isn't whether AI will transform recruitment, but how quickly your organization will adapt to this new reality.

The future of hiring is here, powered by Scan2hire and similar innovative solutions, and it's more exciting than ever.

[bjsmall]

On the 9th of January 2025, I saw an article in my latest copy of Computer Active which explains about mastering Linux distros.

It suggested using a website called 'Distrosea' which hosts free virtual machines of various flavours of the Linux operating system, all of which can be ran within a browser window.

Visit the site here:

https://distrosea.com/

Here is a list of the Linux distros I had a go at running with their desktop environments:

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS - GNOME

Ubuntu 8.10 - GNOME 2 (old, 2008)

Linux Mint 22 - Cinnamon, Ubuntu base

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS - Cinnamon

Fedora Linux 40 - MATE

OpenSUSE Leap 15.5 - KDE

Alma Linux 9 - GNOME

Debian Linux 12.5 - LXqt (lightweight)

Zorin OS 17 Core64 - GNOME (configurable)

There are a total of 71 Linux operating systems to try on the website at the time of this write up.

To install, update and manage software on Linux using a package manager, the distros mentioned on this list based on Debian & Ubuntu use the APT (Advanced Package Tool) and the distros based on Fedora & Red Hat use the DNF (Dandified Yellow-Dog Updater Modified) package managers.

Their are many other types of package managers for Linux. Since Windows 11, users can choose to install software using UnigetUI (a.k.a Winget commands).

About Distrosea:

When you click on any of the distro entries before selecting a desktop environment, you can read a great description of the background information for each.

I think this website is amazing as it allows you to test distros in your browser without the need to plug in a USB or use virtual machine software. basically it gives you a live install copy of Linux to try online for free. It profits from ads shown on its homepage.

Some of the distros have a 'popular' badge, to show which ones are most likely to have more online traffic. Most of these distros are updated to latest versions available.

When you run the operating systems the system information dialogue will contain the server CPU information and displays the virtual graphics card called Red Hat, Inc Virtio 1.0 GPU.

However the site uses limited user traffic to reduce load on the servers, so when you select a version of Linux, there is a queue system. Each session is free, however it is timed when idle to create space for another user. Also the server connection, which is based in India, can disconnect you from your testing frequency, so whilst it works well you have to reset your VM which will continue where you last left off.

Also some of the Linux distros didn't automatically scale to full screen, and so leave bars at the top and bottom of the screen. The old Ubuntu remains surrounded by a large bar around itself as no modern drivers will work with this old version of Ubuntu.

You can sign into your Google account and gain internet access in your VMs as well.

Read the developers notes on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/linux/comments/139sj6z/distrosea_test_drive_linux_distros_online/?rdt=33513

I would recommend trying this out on a large computer screen as the distros take advantage of hardware acceleration, scaling and look great in full screen mode!

Watch this Distrosea video on YouTube to see it in action!

Remember that this is another way of testing Linux through the internet, the experience will be different if it is installed on an actual computer.

[niotechone]

Cloud Computing: Definition, Benefits, Types, and Real-World Applications

In the fast-changing digital world, companies require software that matches their specific ways of working, aims and what their customers require. That’s when you need custom software development services. Custom software is made just for your organization, so it is more flexible, scalable and efficient than generic software.

What does Custom Software Development mean?

Custom software development means making, deploying and maintaining software that is tailored to a specific user, company or task. It designs custom Software Development Services: Solutions Made Just for Your Business to meet specific business needs, which off-the-shelf software usually cannot do.

The main advantages of custom software development are listed below.

1. Personalized Fit

Custom software is built to address the specific needs of your business. Everything is designed to fit your workflow, whether you need it for customers, internal tasks or industry-specific functions.

2. Scalability

When your business expands, your software can also expand. You can add more features, users and integrations as needed without being bound by strict licensing rules.

3. Increased Efficiency

Use tools that are designed to work well with your processes. Custom software usually automates tasks, cuts down on repetition and helps people work more efficiently.

4. Better Integration

Many companies rely on different tools and platforms. You can have custom software made to work smoothly with your CRMs, ERPs and third-party APIs.

5. Improved Security

You can set up security measures more effectively in a custom solution. It is particularly important for industries that handle confidential information, such as finance, healthcare or legal services.

Types of Custom Software Solutions That Are Popular

CRM Systems

Inventory and Order Management

Custom-made ERP Solutions

Mobile and Web Apps

eCommerce Platforms

AI and Data Analytics Tools

SaaS Products

The Process of Custom Development

Requirement Analysis

Being aware of your business goals, what users require and the difficulties you face in running the business.

Design & Architecture

Designing a software architecture that can grow, is safe and fits your requirements.

Development & Testing

Writing code that is easy to maintain and testing for errors, speed and compatibility.

Deployment and Support

Making the software available and offering support and updates over time.

What Makes Niotechone a Good Choice?

Our team at Niotechone focuses on providing custom software that helps businesses grow. Our team of experts works with you throughout the process, from the initial idea to the final deployment, to make sure the product is what you require.

Successful experience in various industries

Agile development is the process used.

Support after the launch and options for scaling

Affordable rates and different ways to work together

Final Thoughts

Creating custom software is not only about making an app; it’s about building a tool that helps your business grow. A customized solution can give you the advantage you require in the busy digital market, no matter if you are a startup or an enterprise.

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

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.