#data visualization advantages

[primathontechnology]

Top 10 Benefits of Data Visualization

Discover the top 10 benefits of data visualization, from improved decision-making to enhanced data storytelling. Learn how visualizing data can simplify complex information and boost business insights. Data visualization is the art and sometimes science of depicting information graphically or pictorially.

[cowgirlgirl2002]

Very tired of hearing how women think their weak and how men are biologically better when is is actually not true at all so here's why women are strong too, I'll put medical and scientific facts about women

1. Women have stronger Immune system

Females have better innate and adaptive immune responses to disease-causing pathogens than males. Females also produce better protective antibodies following vaccination against flu, yellow fever, dengue, and viral infections.

Females typically develop higher innate, humoral and cellular immune responses to viral infections and in response to vaccine

Women see more colors than men

Even when compared to males who have not been diagnosed with color blindness, women seem to be able to distinguish between colors more easily than men. This allows women to more accurately identify the color of an object that may be between two similar hues, like blue and green.

Women have better night vision

However, studies have suggested that there may be slight differences in night vision between men and women. One study published in the journal Ophthalmic and Physiological Optics found that women had better visual acuity in low-light conditions than men.

Women have better muscle endurance

While men usually have the upper-hand when it comes to strength, it may be surprising to many that women may actually have better muscle endurance than men do. Research has shown that in stamina-related exercises, women were able to exercise for about 75% longer than men could. It is suggested that the presence of estrogen in women makes their muscles more resistant to fatigue, and that women have more efficient metabolism within their muscles as compared to men.

Their bodies are structurally made for greater flexibility

When it comes to stretching and flexibility, women have an advantage in several ways.Firstly, their female muscles and tendons contain more elastin, the protein which gives our muscles, organs and skin the ability to stretch, and this gives them greater flexibility on the whole.

Women have higher levels of estrogen in their bodies, leading to wider hips that allow greater movement and flexibility in the pelvic region

Women are way more agile

Women on the other hand have greater agility.This is partly explained by the fact they are smaller and have a lower centre of mass thus are able to change direction and move quicker than their male counterparts. In addition balance is better for the same reason.

Women have stronger legs/lower body

In lower body absolute strength, a woman is 75% as strong as a man. This difference is usually attributed to the similar daily usage of legs between men and women. Both walk and use our lower body muscles about the same. This is not the case in daily activities using upper body strength.

Women have higher survival rate than men

Analysis of three centuries of historical data showed women are more likely than men to survive famines and epidemics. Their advantage is earned early. Female newborns were more likely to survive trying circumstances during the last three centuries. women has fundamental biological underpinnings is supported by the fact that even under these very harsh conditions, women survive better than men, and this starts at a very young age.

Women are more resilient

Several studies show that women score higher on the resilience scale than men. A study found that women outlived men during severe famines and epidemics. This survival advantage was found to be modulated by an interaction of biological, environmental and social factors.

They have better chances of surviving traumatic injuries

Another likely reason for women's longer life expectancy could be the fact that they have higher chances of surviving injury and trauma. Researchers, in studying data on patients who arrived at hospitals with traumatic injuries, found that women in the age range of 13 – 64 were significantly more likely to survive. Again, the key to this advantage may lie in the higher levels of female sex hormones in women, which may have an enhancing effect on the immune system.

Women have better memory

Remembering the faces of people you have just met may be a challenge for many, but it may be apparently less so for women in general. Women have been found to be stronger in memory skills than men, as suggested in studies where they outdid men in memory tests. Their superior memory skills are not just limited to remembering things, like items on a list, but also faces of people as well. Other studies have found that women can remember faces better than men, as they unconsciously spend more time studying features of new faces.

[ettawritesnstudies]

If you've been on the fence about joining this new app called Cara, I've been on it for about a week and today I'm unpacking everything!

The reason behind why it exists,

Why you should care about AI and data protection

How the Cara app works

Why I LOVE the way the Cara app works

Some ideas for how you can take advantage of this opportunity, even if you're not a visual artist

Read the post to get all the details! It's way too much to fit in one Tumblr post!

[probablyasocialecologist]

Regardless of what companies and investors may say, artificial intelligence is not actually intelligent in the way most humans would understand it. To generate words and images, AI tools are trained on large databases of training data that is often scraped off the open web in unimaginably large quantities, no matter who owns it or what biases come along with it. When a user then prompts ChatGPT or DALL-E to spit out some text or visuals, the tools aren’t thinking about the best way to represent those prompts because they don’t have that ability. They’re comparing the terms they’re presented with the patterns they formed from all the data that was ingested to train their models, then trying to assemble elements from that data to reflect what the user is looking for. In short, you can think of it like a more advanced form of autocorrect on your phone’s keyboard, predicting what you might want to say next based on what you’ve already written and typed out in the past. If it’s not clear, that means these systems don’t create; they plagiarize. Unlike a human artist, they can’t develop a new artistic style or literary genre. They can only take what already exists and put elements of it together in a way that responds to the prompts they’re given. There’s good reason to be concerned about what that will mean for the art we consume, and the richness of the human experience.

[...]

AI tools will not eliminate human artists, regardless of what corporate executives might hope. But it will allow companies to churn out passable slop to serve up to audiences at a lower cost. In that way, it allows a further deskilling of art and devaluing of artists because instead of needing a human at the center of the creative process, companies can try to get computers to churn out something good enough, then bring in a human with no creative control and a lower fee to fix it up. As actor Keanu Reeves put it to Wired earlier this year, “there’s a corporatocracy behind [AI] that’s looking to control those things. … The people who are paying you for your art would rather not pay you. They’re actively seeking a way around you, because artists are tricky.” To some degree, this is already happening. Actors and writers in Hollywood are on strike together for the first time in decades. That’s happening not just because of AI, but how the movie studios and steaming companies took advantage of the shift to digital technologies to completely remake the business model so workers would be paid less and have less creative input. Companies have already been using AI tools to assess scripts, and that’s one example of how further consolidation paired with new technologies are leading companies to prioritize “content” over art. The actors and writers worry that if they don’t fight now, those trends will continue — and that won’t just be bad for them, but for the rest of us too.

[readermishok]

Scarlet fate Fragments of the Past / Hiiro no Kakera 4 / Shirahana no Ori

Original title: 白華の檻 ~緋色の欠片4~ Genre: otome, history, romance, drama Age rating: 12+ Length: Large (30 - 50 hours) Developer: Design Factory Co., Ltd. & Otomate Publishers: painted_phoenix Platform: PC (Windows 7, 10) Language: English interface and text, Japanese voices Contact: painted_phoenix

Description: Tamayori hime is the priestess who's in charge of sealing the sword that might bring the end of the world. To do this, she bears her loneliness and everybody's sin without complaint. However, everything changes when she meets a god in the middle of a snowy night. Gentouka has the power to grant immortality, and has been chased around by the government officials. And following his lead, more trouble and complications enter the life of the priestess.

The 4th installment brings gamers into the glamorous and decadent Heian period in this bittersweet love story.

Links: Yandex

I would have never followed this project to its logical end if not for these 3 points:

1) The main heroine, who outdoes lots of otome MCs. I’ve never seen such a marvelous combination of beauty, intelligence, decisiveness, and kindness. She always keeps her cool, makes rational decisions and, most importantly, fights for her happiness. Shiki isn’t some Holy Mary – she is ready to kill in the name of everything she holds dear. She’s neither an ice queen, who never cares about the people around her, nor a damsel in distress, who expects to be rescued by some knight in shining armor.

2) The plot, filled with drama and twists. Based on Japanese folklore and history, the game has many fights, intrigues, betrayals, and deaths. This VN has a very depressive mood.  There are dark themes, war, murder, betrayal, crimes. For the soul of each characters lies the sin of varying severity.

3) Thanks to Liz, artist, Shiki Ugaya now has her own sprite in the game. Capturing Shiki’s very soul, she created various facial expressions that fully convey Tamayorihime’s personality.

Major advantages of the PC version over the PSP version:

1) While the PSP version doesn’t have the heroine’s – Shiki’s – sprite at all, in the PC version, Shiki’s sprite has its own place on the screen. This became possible thanks to two talented artists: Aanu was responsible for Shiki’s face and gave her 72 different heartfelt expressions; Aigul created Shiki’s poses and different physical states, as well as designed all of her stunning clothes.

2) Aigul created sprites for Shiki’s mother, young Akifusa, young Shiki, young Tomonori, and designed different visual elements for other characters.

3) The PC version has a custom design of all gameplay elements – from the user interface to side frames.

Some bugs:

0) The game is now in open beta testing, but stable performance of all its routes is confirmed. 1) Sometimes the game can just up and freeze on you without a reason, reboot helps. ヽ(。_゜)ノ 2) Opening settings on an animated background is not recommended. 3) Too much skipping can result in a crash. Consider saving data every time you get a choice option. 4) The game can sometimes prevent you from creating a new save slot and only allow saving data in an occupied slot, forcing you to rewrite existing save data. I didn’t manage to reproduce the problem, but try to avoid saving in the middle of the action on the main screen and when the ‘skip’ button is pressed (regardless of the route).

Some errors:

1) Error file not found:./data/scenario/system/plugin_third.ks Place the attached file here: /data/scenario/system/, error should disappear. Source of safe files:

Disk:\Users\(Your username)\AppData\Local\tyranoscript

[host-hubliminal]

>>START_LOG:

HostLog_8:

Subject: Host 2.8

Name: Popcorn

Species: Bag (Of Popcorn)

Source: Showvember

Gender: Intersex Genderfluid (Femme-leaning)

Pronouns: she/he/they

Description:

Popcorn was added to the list as a joke by MOLES. Her arrival however was taken seriously.

Popcorn is a white and coral red striped bag with popcorn inside. She is not the popcorn itself, she is the bag. Her name is misleading. We know. Popcorn has limbs akin to that of a furred dragon, a very rare limb type, and her legs can shapeshift between digitigrade and plantigrade. Her limb color is a wine-plum with darker black around the foot/hand areas. She wears two white arm bands, one on each arm. Her tail follows the furred dragon shape, as well as coloration, but the plume of fur at the tip of the tail is a light, almost cotton candy pink color.

Popcorn’s object-part is known to change in size, shape, and color, but she stays consistent with a pair of 3-D glasses, and a striped popcorn bag. Her appearance is largely unimportant as no currently known forms have any special abilities that make him any different. The reason as to why this is is still unknown, but it seems to be normal for any other object in his universe.

Popcorn is a loose cannon. At first she seems unpredictable, but unlike Host 2.9 and Host 2.6, she is able to reign in this chaotic nature and use it to her advantage. And oh boy does she do that. She can be seen as greedy, self-centered, and almost barbaric, doing anything she can to get anything she wants. Despite this, she is seen to have some remorse and guilt for her actions. Her actions seem to be more influenced by emotion than anything else.

Known Abilities:

Popcorn’s abilities… Hm. Where do we begin?

The shapeshifting is most obvious and was already mentioned in his visual description.

Popcorn’s most fundamental abilities seem cartoonish in nature, slapstick if you will. Theoretically almost any object could do it but isn’t ‘Popcorn’ enough to do it. [Addendum./ We would like to thank a source of whom shall remain anonymous for the time being for this analysis and the following data as well.]

Theories say that he may have chaos-influenced abilities; the chaos they cause in turn influences what they are able to do in said situation. ‘If it’s funny enough, he can do it’.

Observed possible abilities are the snap to teleport (most normal for most show hosts, is also Host 2.2’s preferred method of teleportation), memory erasure (though it is unconfirmed if he did this with or without a device), high jumping/floatation, and minor shapeshifting of objects other than oneself.

Whether she has all of these abilities innately or by assistance is unknown.

It is also theorized that she can ‘respawn herself’, but this has also been thought up as simple as a restoration chamber in another room. Either way, whether or not he can respawn himself is unknown. If he is, we may be dealing with a literal god of chaos.

Procedures to take:

She will be nerfed via standard object protocol.

END_LOG.

[eyedrateanatomy]

I needed to share this idea to you because it’s too GOOD

what if the mayor isn’t part of the cult and the cult kills him? Imagine he’s just a narcissistic idiot who doesn’t know how to manage the town and makes the police do everything so he gets all the glory?

it seems like a funny possibility because of all the build up around it. Sounds like a joke that can easily be made, but I think that he’s gonna get killed off by the cult by drowning (to go with the Narcissus myth)

but why would I bring this up? The town would CRUMBLE without him. It would make them vulnerable to the cult and all the pressure would fall onto John’s back

also, there wouldn’t be any authority for the town to follow. Someone would have to fill that spot

still, I’m DEAD SET in the idea he isn’t actually a cult member

I thought this was a very interesting idea and I wanted to share it with you 👍

LET ME THINK ABOUT THIS cause there are some good points. so, i half agree with evermore not being a member. i think hes in on it, hes just not aware that he is. no one can recognize when theyre in a cult. i think evermore was given the finances by the cult to rise to this amount of power and fame and become the mayor because of his insistence. remember, his sin is greed

its just hard for me to imagine someone with such a high ranking in the town to Not know about skiddad and his followers, and perhaps the eyes. i think he knows of the missing children, but not what happens to them. hes a pawn whos not being told everything. they just let him loose after reshaping his worldview and making him dependent on them. evermore is just... good enough for the cult. yes hes great at public speeches and controlling the masses, yes he spends 99% of his time in his office staring at a mirror so others can do his dirty work (meaning he wouldnt know the extent of everything going on in town). hes like the cults mascot in a way

i think the most rational explanation for this is that he had a quick visit with the eyes of the universe, and had his greed and desire for fame and riches get taken advantage of. hes indoctrinated just enough to side with the cult so that he wont question anything theyre doing. surely they Must be a good group, they helped him become the mayor!

it wouldnt exactly matter if evermore knew of the cult or not, because hes still doing exactly what they want. and evermore doesnt work alone. kill him off by drowning, or whatever is most fitting, and he could be replaced with anyone... it Could be john, but in all honesty, my bet is on garcia

so. this is something ive been considering for some time. garcia is confirmed to be a secretary + lawyer. he holds a lot of responsibilities in this position, organizing events and meetings, handling large amounts of data, keeping track of all of evermores employees, etc. he has a lot of insight on the town, if not more than the mayor. hes also capable of controlling evermores decisions by being a secretary. being a lawyer means he can represent criminals and cult members, and defend them in court. hes a very convincing man

i know pelo probably doesnt understand the exact definitions of secretary and lawyer, but im trying to say that garcia has an insane amount of power by having these organizational and social skills. hes not deputy mayor, but he is up there with evermore, being his assistant and all. and like i said earlier, evermore likes making people do the work for him

also he is Undeniably mr clown. you cannot convince me otherwise. not only are they visually similar, but its odd how garcia just Showed Up after mr clowns supposed "death" (which he likely faked). we know mr clown is a dedicated member, hes been kidnapping and murdering children for who knows how long, and now hes confirmed to have political power over the town on nearly the same level as the mayor. if evermore truly doesnt know enough of whats going on compared to his own secretary, that makes all this information scarier

between evermore and garcia, whos really the one in control?

[academicfever]

Research 101: Last part

#Citing sources and the bibliography:

Citation has various functions: ■■ To acknowledge work by other researchers. ■■ To anchor your own text in the context of different disciplines. ■■ To substantiate your own claims; sources then function like arguments with verification.

Use Mendeley:

It has a number of advantages in comparison to other software packages: (1) it is free, (2) it is user-friendly, (3) you can create references by dragging a PDF file into the program (it automatically extracts the author, title, year, etc.), (4) you can create references by using a browser plug-in to click on a button on the page where you found an article, (5) you can share articles and reference lists with colleagues, and (6) it has a ‘web importer’ to add sources rapidly to your own list.

plagiarism – and occasionally even fraud – are sometimes detected, too. In such cases, appeals to ignorance (‘I didn’t know that it was plagiarism’) are rarely accepted as valid reasons for letting the perpetrator off the hook.

#Peer review

For an official peer review of a scholarly article, 3-4 experts are appointed by the journal to which the article has been submitted. These reviewers give anonymous feedback on the article. As a reviewer, based on your critical reading, you can make one of the following recommendations to the editor of the journal: ■■Publish as submitted. The article is good as it is and can be published (this hardly ever happens). ■■Publish after minor revisions. The article is good and worth publishing, but some aspects need to be improved before it can be printed. If the adjustments can be made easily (for example, a small amount of rewriting, formatting figures), these are considered minor revisions. ■■Publish after major revisions. The article is potentially worth publishing, but there are significant issues that need to be reconsidered. For example, setting up additional (control) experiments, using a new method to analyse the data, a thorough review of the theoretical framework (addition of important theories), and gathering new information (in an archive) to substantiate the argumentation. ■■Reject. The research is not interesting, it is not innovative, or it has been carried out/written up so badly that this cannot be redressed.

#Checklist for analysing a research article or paper 1 Relevance to the field (anchoring) a What is the goal of the research or paper? b To what extent has this goal been achieved? c What does the paper or research article add to knowledge in the field? d Are theories or data missing? To what extent is this a problem? 2 Methodology or approach a What approach has been used for the research? b Is this approach consistent with the aim of the research? c How objective or biased is this approach? d How well has the research been carried out? What are the methodological strengths and/or weaknesses? e Are the results valid and reliable? 3 Argumentation and use of evidence a Is there a clear description of the central problem, objective, or hypothesis? b What claims are made? c What evidence underlies the argument? d How valid and reliable is this evidence? e Is the argumentation clear and logical? f Are the conclusions justified? 4 Writing style and structure of the text a Is the style of the text suitable for the medium/audience? b Is the text structured clearly, so the reader can follow the writer’s line of argumentation? c Are the figures and tables displayed clearly?

#Presenting ur research:

A few things are always important, in any case, when it comes to guiding the audience through your story: ■■ Make a clear distinction between major and minor elements. What is the key theme of your story, and which details does your audience need in order to understand it? ■■ A clearly structured, coherent story. ■■ Good visual aids that represent the results visually. ■■ Good presentation skills.

TIPS ■■Find out everything about the audience that you’ll be presenting your story to, and look at how you can ensure that your presentation is relevant for them.

Ask yourself the following questions: •What kind of audience will you have (relationship with audience)? •What does the audience already know about your topic and how can you connect with this (knowledge of the audience)? •What tone or style should you adopt vis-à-vis the audience (style of address)? •What do you want the audience to take away from your presentation?

■■If you know there is going to be a round of questions, include some extra slides for after the conclusion. You can fill these extra slides with all kinds of detailed information that you didn’t have time for during the presentation. If you’re on top of your material, you’ll be able to anticipate which questions might come up. It comes over as very professional if you’re able to back up an answer to a question from the audience with an extra graph or table, for example.

■■Think about which slide will be shown on the screen as you’re answering questions at the end of your presentation. A slide with a question mark is not informative. It’s more useful for the audience if you end with a slide with the main message and possibly your contact details, so that people are able to contact you later. ■■Think beforehand about what you will do if you’re under time pressure. What could you say more succinctly or even omit altogether?

This has a number of implications for a PowerPoint presentation: ■■ Avoid distractions that take up cognitive space, such as irrelevant images, sounds, too much text/words on a slide, intense colours, distracting backgrounds, and different fonts. ■■ Small chunks of information are easier to understand and remember. This is the case for both the text on a slide and for illustrations, tables, and graphs. ■■ When you are talking to your audience, it is usually better to show a slide with a picture than a slide with a lot of text. What you should do: ■■ Ensure there is sufficient contrast between your text and the background. ■■ Ensure that all of the text is large enough (at least 20 pt). ■■ Use a sans-serif font; these are the easiest to read when enlarged. ■■ Make the text short and concise. Emphasize the most important concepts by putting them in bold or a different colour. ■■ Have the texts appear one by one on the slide, in sync with your story. This prevents the audience from ‘reading ahead’. ■■ Use arrows, circles, or other ways of showing which part of an illustration, table, or graph is important. You can also choose to fade out the rest of the image, or make a new table or graph showing only the relevant information.

A good presentation consists of a clear, substantive story, good visual aids, and effective presentation techniques.

Stand with both feet firmly on the ground.

Use your voice and hand gestures.

Make eye contact with all of your audience.

Add enough pauses/use punctuation.

Silences instead of fillers.

Think about your position relative to your audience and the screen.

Explaining figures and tables.

Keep your hands calm.

Creating a safe atmosphere

Do not take a position yourself. This limits the discussion, because it makes it trickier to give a dissenting opinion.

You can make notes on a whiteboard or blackboard, so that everyone can follow the key points.

Make sure that you give the audience enough time to respond.

Respond positively to every contribution to the discussion, even if it doesn’t cut any ice.

Ensure that your body language is open and that you rest your arms at your sides.

#Points to bear in mind when designing a poster

TIPS 1 Think about what your aim is: do you want to pitch a new plan, or do you want to get your audience interested in your research? 2 Explain what you’ve done/are going to do: focus on the problem that you’ve solved/want to solve, or the question that you’ve answered. Make it clear why it is important to solve this problem or answer this question. 3 Explain what makes your approach unique. 4 Involve your audience in the conversation by concluding with an open question. For example: how do you research…? Or, after a pitch for a method to tackle burnout among staff: how is burnout dealt with in your organization?

[tricitymonsters]

I know I put a lot of attention on Steam because of the sheer size of the marketplace and the effort Steam itself takes in marketing for devs but I really wanted to take a second to shout out TCM's numbers on itch.io because I really feel like the game found it's first platform there and I especially want to highlight what a great community it is for Indie Devs of all experience levels.

So I have TCM split up between 4 titles on itch- the main one is for all the new stuff and then each beta has it's own homepage. Downside, it kinda splits all my metrics up but the plus side its much easier to navigate for yall so I'll refrain from complaining lol.

Now given we started with just the Mori beta in late 2021, and added chapters slowly over time, here's where we're at right now.

Views: 312k

Downloads: 22.3k

Browser Plays: 35.6k

Ratings: 347

Collections: 5295

Comments: 189

So there are a couple really interesting things going on with this data. Let's analyze

Firstly, the numbers on the main chapter beat the *hell* out of the beta numbers. BUT this makes sense as more people are going to find the main game or PLAY the main game first at a vastly higher rate. So even though that game page has been up the least amount of time, it gets *by far* the most traffic. For example, if we take away the main page numbers, here's how the betas are doing on their own:

Views: 63.3k

Downloads: 5.4k

Browser Plays: 18.2k

Ratings: 133

Collections: 847

Comments: 42

So, if you were an indie dev posting your game on itch.io, these numbers should tell you to carefully consider how you're going to organize your game- especially if it comes in multiple parts. When I was going through the betas I did consider keeping everything on one page and therefore aggregating all of my traffic stats into one place but there are pros and cons.

Mostly, I went with separate pages because:

It's easier to organize files for downloads per character/game piece than to have a huge list of system-specific builds for every character that players have to scroll through. It's just hard to parse out.

Second, I thought that breaking up the chapters like this might help me better gauge each character's popularity via their stats. This... sort of worked. Because the Mori beta went up almost a year before Amir's, his numbers are MUCH higher and I have to be careful not to conflate that with his raw popularity. Another tricky note is that since Mori was the first chapter uploaded, many people will play his beta and then if they decide they're not into the game, won't play the other two characters, which again inflates Mori's numbers.

It was obvious in the gap after Spooktober 2021 and Amir's chapter that I had a project worth pursuing but the way I structured itch.io has made it hard to accurately gauge how popular exactly each character is.

Most of you know I'm running a popularity poll right now for some milestone art and while I expected Mori to lead (even with all the caveats I just listed, he does tend to be the most popular of the bunch) but I did not expect Akello to be *right* on his ass, even before weighing the patreon votes so.

Goes to show you that understanding structure and traffic trends can really go a very very long way to engaging your audience and build a stable, fun community around your game.

Another huge advantage to itch is that- in generalities- the community and ecosystem there is much kinder to beginner devs and passion projects. On steam, I'm taking up the same marketplace space as AAA multimillion-dollar games and while the eyeballs that comes with that is great for TCMs longevity hopefully, it also comes with the reality that I'm marking a queer niche adult visual novel right next to Mainstream Gamers. Now, I do want to be extremely clear that my experience with Steam so far has been really good- TCM has good and (more importantly) honest reviews, people have passed constructive critique to me and been extremely reasonable, I've managed to connect to some content curators who have similar tastes... But Steam is also the home to like. "Oooh Naur Woke Games Kill Art" Lists and stuff so. My experience on Itch is that- while some of that exists to a certain degree- the general ecosystem is much more forgiving and less sharply fractured.

I'm not sure that I would change anything I've done in the point leading me here so far, I think that by and large I've made the best choices I could given what I knew at the time and also managed to roll with the punches as the come but my experienced advice at this stage is definitely for an indie dev who hasn't landed a solid success yet or a hobby dev looking for feedback to start with Itch.io as a place to build your game's community.

There are other game hosting sites too, like Gamejolt, for instance, but while TCM used to be on Gamejolt their content policies and audience demographics were not a great fit, as was my experience with Newgrounds.

So. there are MANY choices but in all I'm grateful I didn't jump right into steam and also that my itch.io audience has been SO supportive and so enthusiastic about rating/commenting/and curating TCM to help spread the word. Especially since early in the project I had basically no marketing budget (I have a very small one now that covers the occasional blazed post but still).

ANYWAY thanks for reading my big dumb rambling posts but I really wanted to shed some light on the virtues of Itch after I've been chasing my own tail trying to get Steam working for me the way I want.

[bliow]

AGARTHA Aİ - DEVASA+ (4)

In an era where technology and creativity intertwine, AI design is revolutionizing the way we conceptualize and create across various industries. From the runway to retail, 3D fashion design is pushing boundaries, enabling designers to craft intricate garments with unparalleled precision. Likewise, 3D product design is transforming everything from gadgets to furniture, allowing for rapid prototyping and innovation. As we explore these exciting advancements, platforms like Agartha.ai are leading the charge in harnessing artificial intelligence to streamline the design process and inspire new ideas. 

AI design

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized numerous industries, and the realm of design is no exception. By leveraging the power of machine learning and advanced algorithms, AI is transforming the way designers create, innovate, and deliver their products. AI-driven tools enable designers to harness vast amounts of data, allowing for more informed decision-making and streamlined workflows.

In the context of graphic design, AI can assist artists in generating ideas, creating unique visuals, and even automating repetitive tasks. For instance, programs powered by AI design can analyze trends and consumer preferences, producing designs that resonate with target audiences more effectively than traditional methods. This shift not only enhances creativity but also enables designers to focus on strategic thinking and ideation.

Moreover, AI is facilitating personalized design experiences. With the help of algorithms that analyze user behavior, products can be tailored to meet the specific needs and tastes of individuals. This level of customization fosters deeper connections between brands and consumers, ultimately driving customer satisfaction and loyalty in an increasingly competitive market.

3D fashion design

In recent years, 3D fashion design has revolutionized the way we create and visualize clothing. Using advanced software and tools, designers can create lifelike virtual garments that allow for innovative experimentation without the need for physical fabric. This trend has not only streamlined the design process but has also significantly reduced waste in the fashion industry.

Moreover, 3D fashion design enables designers to showcase their creations in a more interactive manner. By utilizing 3D modeling and rendering technologies, designers can present their collections in virtual environments, making it easier for clients and consumers to appreciate the nuances of each piece. This immersive experience also helps in gathering valuable feedback before producing the final product.

Furthermore, the integration of 3D fashion design with augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) technologies is bringing a fresh perspective to the industry. Consumers can virtually try on clothes from the comfort of their homes, thereby enhancing the shopping experience. As this field continues to evolve, it promises to bridge the gap between creativity and technology, paving the way for a sustainable and forward-thinking fashion future.

3D product design

3D product design has revolutionized the way we conceptualize and create products. With advanced software tools and technologies, designers can now create highly detailed and realistic prototypes that are not only visually appealing but also functional. This process allows for a quicker iteration of ideas, enabling designers to experiment with various styles and functionalities before arriving at the final design.

One of the significant advantages of 3D product design is the ability to visualize products in a virtual environment. Designers can see how their creations would look in real life, which is essential for understanding aesthetics and usability. Additionally, this technology enables manufacturers to identify potential issues in the design phase, reducing costs associated with prototype development and rework.

Moreover, the rise of 3D printing has further enhanced the significance of 3D product design. Designers can swiftly turn their digital models into tangible products, allowing for rapid prototyping and small-batch manufacturing. This agility not only speeds up the time-to-market for new products but also paves the way for more innovative designs that were previously impossible to execute.

Agartha.ai

Agartha.ai is a revolutionary platform that merges artificial intelligence with innovative design, creating a new avenue for designers and creators alike. With the rapid advancements in technology, Agartha.ai leverages AI to streamline various design processes, enabling users to produce unique and captivating designs with ease.

The platform provides tools that empower both emerging and established designers to explore the possibilities of AI design. By utilizing intelligent algorithms, Agartha.ai can assist in generating design options, ensuring that creativity is not hindered but enhanced. This results in a more efficient workflow and allows designers to focus on the conceptual aspects of their projects.

One of the standout features of Agartha.ai is its ability to adapt to different design disciplines, such as 3D fashion design and 3D product design. By supporting a broad spectrum of design fields, it positions itself as a versatile tool that meets the evolving needs of today's creative professionals. Whether it's crafting intricate fashion pieces or developing innovative product designs, Agartha.ai is at the forefront of the design revolution.

[roo-bastmoon]

Homage vs. Copying

So I'm not feeling super great these days, but I still dip into Jikook spaces for a quick hit of lovely serotonin and to check up on my friends. Alas, I see some folks raging in the tags that JK is stealing Jimin's original concepts because he's too stupid or lazy to come up with his own... I'm not having flashbacks to BTS' plagiarism scandal, I'm not. I have thoughts--and lots of photo examples--about this topic, under the cut. Let's get into it--and keep it civil, too.

First off--let's just establish that folks have the right to use the Jikook tag to both celebrate and critique Jikook and the fandom around Jikook. People get to write about what they want on their blogs. They get to rant, so long as no one is using hate speech and slurs. (The minute I see that shit, I quietly report.)

Clearly, folks who are angry at Jungkook (or Jimin) come into the Jikook tag because they want attention from Jikookers, and the best use of my time and energy is to self-police and block them. That way I am not infringing on their right to scream into the wind all they like, but I also don't have to hear the noise.

Second off, unless JK called any of us up and said: "Hey, guess what? After 10 years of evidence to the contrary, suddenly I'm incapable of original thought, so I just take advantage of Jiminie-hyung, whom I keep calling out and hyping up and praising and asking to spend time with and traveling with and whose style I also match in my personal life!" maaaaybe we give the benefit of the doubt, and at least entertain the possibility that Jungkook is expressing visual alignment with Jimin because he can't just openly claim him in other ways?

Like, I'm not saying that IS what's going on, because Jungkook doesn't call me up and tell me his thoughts, either. It's fine; I'm not mad. He doesn't even text Jin back. I am just saying we should maybe sit with the idea for a bit and really marinate on what that might mean for a queer couple.

(Or we could just take in things without pronouncing any opinions yet--ya know, until we get more data around Jungkook's choices and how Jimin feels about it.)

It's fine not to assume the similarities are romantic gestures; but it's also fine not to assume the worst--that JK is siphoning off Jimin like a leech. Jungkook was consulted by the Seven stylist and he got to be creative director for his Vogue shoot; he also had some say in his music videos and performance stages. He is making choices deliberately, and it makes no sense to me that he would choose to openly copy a bandmate out of laziness. He has a professional reputation to consider.

Rather, I think this is one of the few places where he has artistic license to tether a thread between him and Jimin. I think he's paying homage.

(Side note: In film and photography, an homage is an imitation of another work. At first glance, it may seem like an homage is a rip-off or a lesser copy, but it actually pays tribute to and honors the source work. Homage is a great way to use other filmmakers' styles and content to crystallize your unique voice as a filmmaker.)

So that's my currently theory about what's going on.

Yet, honestly? None of us really know WHY there's so much similarity in their looks these days. The similarities are now stacking up so much as to be undeniable, though.

Personally, I'm leaning to this being a celebration of the fact that Jikook have always shared similar tastes; it's one of the many ways they click. Jikook know that. The stylists know that. So yeah, when JK gets a chance to observe and emulate (and expound upon) Jimin's style, he does. Because Jimin is one of the coolest people in the world to him. So he shows this in his own creative work and in his own personal wardrobe.

Here's why I hold that opinion at the moment:

Could this all be the stylists choosing to recycle looks or throw bread crumbs to Jikookers? I guess.

Could this be Jungkook just borrowing from Jimin as a shortcut? I'm not sharing his brainwaves, so I can't tell you there's zero possibility.

But what seems more likely is that of all the artists in the world, Jimin is the one Jungkook has always kept his eyes on. Out of love and respect, not malice and opportunism.

Like with the 1108 and 13 numbers that THEY keep inserting into their own communications, these similarities in style is also an emerging pattern.

If you feel protective of Jimin, I understand why you'd be wary of so much similarity. But consider what we know of both Jimin and Jungkook over the past 10 years...

While neither of these human beings are perfect (and they will continue to make mistakes), they clearly love each other. And you don't steal from the people you love. But you do honor how amazing they are whenever you get the chance.

So maybe let's just hear JK out on this?

Okay, that's all the energy I have for this topic. I got deadlines and health tests to power through over the next few weeks. If you comment with your own ideas, that's cool--but please keep it respectful of Jikook and each other. I don't want to banhammer anyone but I will.

Love, Roo

PS Even if I'm not around much, you can be sure I'll buy and stream 3D, and I encourage you guys to give it a chance too! <3

[lostyesterday]

for the ST ask game – either the TNG or Voyager crew and who would be the best to worst at playing baseball in a Take Me Out To the Holosuite style episode

I love this question so I’ll do both!

TNG:

Data: He loves playing games with really specific rules and he has super strong physical abilities. Including him almost feels like cheating though, and he might think so too. I can see him being the umpire like Odo was in DS9. I think he would greatly enjoy that as well.

Guinan: This seems exactly like the kind of random thing she’d be unexpectedly really good at, and she did live on Earth for a long time so it’s entirely possible she’s already played the game and gotten really good at it.

Tasha: Really athletic and competitive and would clearly do well.

Beverly: She’s athletic and a good team player. Baseball doesn’t really seem like her kind of sport, but I still think she’d be very competent at it.

Worf: Technically he was in the DS9 episode, but he’s still a TNG main so I’m ranking him here. He’s pretty good at baseball.

Riker: Another fairly good baseball player, and I could see him getting competitive and taking it very seriously too.

Deanna: I think she’d be a pretty average player, not notably bad or good.

Geordi: He doesn’t seem like he’d be that into sports, plus I’m not sure how accessible baseball would be for him with his visor. As a visually disabled person who has technically attempted to play baseball myself, it’s very hard to play without normal vision. That ball is so tiny and moves so fast. (I made an extremely ill-advised attempt to bat in a school PE class. The ball did not hit me in the face but it was a close thing.) I can see an argument that Geordi’s visor might also be an advantage, though, if he can use it to track things like speed, in which case he’d be much higher on this list.

Wesley: He’d try his best, but he really doesn’t seem like he’d enjoy team sports.

Picard: I cannot picture Picard playing baseball. It’s not even that he’s not athletic, his existence as a character just feels in every way antithetical to the concept of baseball. If TNG had a baseball episode, he would somehow find a way to avoid participating, unless of course he was forced to by Q or something. He would hate it very much.

Voyager:

Janeway: Put in a similar situation as the original DS9 episode, I think Janeway would be just as competitive as Sisko, plus she has strong athletic skills. Baseball doesn’t seem like her kind of sport exactly, but she would make it work.

Chakotay: A sports person and generally athletic. I think he’d have a good time.

Tuvok: He could be good at baseball, the question is whether he would take it seriously. I think if it was framed as a tactical exercise and there was some genuine incentive to beat the other team he would do an extremely competent job.

The Doctor: I had a huge amount of difficult ranking him. In theory, he has the capability of being the best player, but he seems to have little interest in physical hobbies (which makes sense for his character and situation), so I don’t know if he would take it seriously. It might theoretically make sense for him to be the umpire. I do think he would like getting to be the final arbiter of all the rules and yelling at everyone so I think he’d go for it.

B’Elanna: She’d be a fairly competent player, but I don’t think she’d enjoy the game very much. She’s more of a solo sports person.

Harry: Baseball doesn’t seem at all like his kind of thing, but he’d try his best and be fairly decent at it.

Seven: She would claim to find the situation ridiculous but actually become super competitive. She has strong physical abilities, but her real downfall is that she would just be really bad at team sports. She would absolutely get kicked out of the game for breaking the rules.

Tom: I can see Tom liking baseball (it actually makes a lot of sense given his 20th century America obsession), I just don’t think he’d be good at it. I think it might actually be really funny if Tom claimed to be an expert at it and then was just absolutely terrible at actually playing.

Kes: I just don’t think she would be interested.

Neelix: He would try his best, but I think the rules would seem silly to him and he’d have trouble learning all of them and then get kicked out of the game for doing something wrong accidentally.

[lattewithatwistoflemon]

Back to being a Trekkie, perhaps.

I’ve watched a good bit of the original Star Trek, but until now I had only seen a tiny snippet of The Next Generation about 10 years ago. I had only seen Data for probably 5 minutes, but he made me feel like “wow, I have to watch this series sometime!”

Now, ten years later, I happened upon a book called “Fan Fiction” by Brent Spiner. I thought it would be him talking about his views on fan fiction of his character, but I was very wrong. Nonetheless, I absolutely adore the book. And after reading it, decided to finally delve into the world of TNG. Now, I don’t know if it was because the book put me on a personal level with the actor, or because the scene I had seen years ago made me that attached, or because I had ten years to form an impression of this character in my mind, but…

I did that unhealthy thing that happens when you crush on someone you don’t know very well. I had expectations. Assumptions. I had this perfect visual in my head of him being a logical machine with the mindset of “it would be illogical for me to have sex, because I am not a sexually reproducing biological organism”. I was looking forward to a whole arc of him learning about sex and how it’s not just for reproduction. I wanted a full coming of age story of him learning that he can be attracted to someone and can fall in love before he has sex. I thought he would be clueless in this field because he wasn’t built for sex. I thought maybe he wasn’t equipped with the parts for it and would have to get the parts built so that he can make love to a woman. But on episode 2 or 3, I’m already disappointed. The opportunity for that arc was totally wasted. He has sex right away, claiming he’s “very skilled in acts of pleasure”. Which on the one hand, should make me very happy. I like how openly sexual the show is, and I like the idea of him having sex… but I wanted that to come way later. Like season 3. After a lot of build-up.

So yeah, it made me feel devastated that I had these preconceived notions about this character that were totally wrong. And as a writer, I’m just flabbergasted at them not taking advantage of this potential story arc. That said, I think it’s safe to say that I am very attached to this character already! That’s kind of impressive for a character to get to me so much that early on!

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Fluorescent nanomaterial could transform how we visualize fingerprints

Researchers created a fluorescent nanoparticle using a combination of materials (MCM-41, chitosan and dansylglycine) to examine latent fingerprints. These nanoparticles have special properties that make them adhere well to fingerprint residues, even old ones. The nanoparticles work on various surfaces, including metal, plastic, glass and complex objects such as polymer banknotes. They have the potential to be used directly at crime scenes without lab facilities, which is a significant advantage over some previous reagents. They produce high-quality fingerprint images, with the vast majority of those tested meeting the UK Home Office standards for a successful identification. This new method captures the finer details of a fingerprint, making it easier to identify individuals and is expected greatly to aid in forensic investigations. The research was published in a RSC Advances paper, highlighting that the new nanomaterial has proven to be a versatile and effective tool for visualizing fingerprint evidence. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) techniques at Diamond provided useful data to validate these results.

Read more.

[jazzsstash]

Victory: Probable

Soundwave turned off his audials as he stepped into the arena. Neither the crowd nor his opponent would be worth listening to. The vibrations of the ground were enough for him to tell where the grounder was, even if he took his optics off the mech.

He took advantage of his visor to observe his apparent opponent while appearing to be merely waiting. The mech was spending their entrance time bowing and calling out to their audience, allowing Soundwave the input and time to engage basic combat analysis protocols. The routine algorithms barely taxed his processor.

Size: taller and heavier than him. Charisma: high, the crowd was responding to them with enthusiasm. Armor: heavy, but with gaps and seams. Alt mode: undetermined, no major kibble indicators. Wings or rotors: absent, not a flier. Probable level of skill: moderate. Likelihood of being underestimated: high. Likelihood of a win: inconclusive, Soundwave favored.

Optimal strategy: go for the joints. Knee joint: ideal. Heavy mechs go down hard. However, he had to keep up his guard, and avoid hits to his helm and his own legs. If the mech could get a hit in on his sensory suite or legs, he would be the one to go down. Potential outcome: unacceptable.

Soundwave timed his opening down to the nanoklick of the announcement. The mech began to turn from the crowd. Slow, as expected. Distraction and frame size were both significant factors. Playing to the crowd was only a valuable strategy when you could trust that your opponent was doing the same. Soundwave did not. The crowds did not seem to care about his indifference, waving banners for him just as vigorously as for his opponents.

The difference in speed allowed him to land a clawed blow to an unarmored seam, curling efficiently away to face his opponent again. Unfortunately, the mech had spun quickly enough that it was to an elbow, rather than a waist seam or knee joint as Soundwave would prefer. Energon dripped down the mech's servo, filling the air with a sharp sweetness. No high grade in their lines, then. The line he'd sliced would still weaken the mech nicely, especially if they tried to move it too much and further weakened it. Likelihood of winning: increased.

Soundwave circled around, watching the mech who was watching him. Every step that the both of them took hummed up through his pedes, providing information that his optical suite cross-referenced with visual data on the speed and fluidity of his opponent's motions. The mech's intake was moving. Soundwave spared a thread to muse over if the mech thought that Soundwave was listening. Yes, he decided, given that his uninjured servo was gesturing towards Soundwave rather than the crowd. A tactical advantage. Likelihood of winning: increased.

Soundwave launched another attack, sweeping in as the mech turned their face up and away, seemingly for the dramatic effect. Foolish showbot, thinking that nobody would interrupt them. The arena wasn't a stage. They were no actors. They were here to kill each other. Soundwave had never forgotten that.

He slipped under the other mech's guard, dug his claws under their faceplate's seam, and tore it off. Likelihood of winning: assured.

Soundwave slipped away, maneuvering around the mech's wild flailing. It wouldn't do to let them land a lucky hit at the last minute.

Soundwave turned to observe his former opponent. Energon was leaking from their elbow, and a small fountain of the liquid was spurting irregularly from where their faceplate used to be. Estimated time to deactivation, based on frame size: 28 klicks. Soundwave wondered if they were screaming, or if their missing faceplate precluded that ability. He didn't turn on his audials to check.

He stepped away lightly, ensuring the mech would not feel the vibrations of his pedes setting down. They staggered, blind and desperate, towards the last place that they had perceived him. It was pitiful, watching them desperately strain to try to take him down with him. They had barely scuffed his paint. Soundwave: superior.

After roughly 25 klicks, the dying mech crashed to their knees, energon running in brilliant streams down their chest.

The door to the arena opened. Soundwave left. AO3 link

[evidence-based-activism]

I’m curious your thoughts on the Imane Khelif situation now that it’s been proven she is biologically female and the “test” was Russian propaganda? How do we prevent this situation in the future?

I have looked and found no evidence that "it’s been proven she is biologically female."

My thoughts on the situation are discussed in this post.

(If you'd like to send me a source, feel free, but if it's another article saying she has an "F" on her passport then I'm just going to redirect you back to the linked post.)

As to preventing situations like this, I touch on this in the post above, but I believe the answer is (roughly) as follows:

Have major international and national sports regulatory bodies acknowledge the biological differences in men and women that support the need for sex segregated sports (discussed in this post) as well as the historical discrimination against women and women's sports. Given the decentralized nature of these organizations, focus should be on the largest national and international regulatory bodies.

Have these regulatory bodies acknowledge that transgender women are physically advantaged in sport-specific tasks as compared to female people and acknowledge the harm they have done to women and women's sports in prioritizing identity over biology.

Have these regulatory bodies create sport-specific rules concerning sex-segregation in sports. That is, each sport should either be entirely sex-segregated (by biology) or not sex-segregated at all. These decisions should be primarily based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence concerning relevant biological differences, but historical context should also be taken into consideration. The data sets the evidence discusses should be open-access to allow for independent corroboration of results.

Have these regulatory bodies create clear, fair, rules concerning athletes with DSDs (disorders of sex development/"intersex"). Each DSD should be considered individually to determine the rules concerning which sex category the athletes will compete in (reasoning discussed in the first link). Again, these rules should be based on peer-reviewed scientific evidence concerning athletic ability. The rules should be publicly accessible.

Non-invasive sex testing (as in, a cheek swab, which is significantly less uncomfortable than a COVID nose swab, and absolutely nothing like the historical "visual inspections" of the past) should be uniformly required at a predetermined competition level (e.g., for professional athletes). Any discrepancies would be investigated non-invasively (e.g., genetic testing, which requires only a blood sample) and the rules discussed above would be applied as appropriate. The specifics of any individual athlete's medical results should not be made public.

Currently, these regulatory bodies' disregard for patently obvious scientific realities have eroded public trust and damaged their reputation. These actions would help to restore trust, but, more importantly, would also allow for independent investigation and evaluation of relevant rules. (That is, allow concerned parties to "trust but verify".)

Equally important is that these actions would protect the privacy of all athletes, while also maintaining fair, evidence-based, competition. The IOC did a great disservice to Khelif. If they had clear, transparent, evidence-based rules concerning sex-testing and athletes with DSDs they could have simply indicated that she did/did not meet the requirements as defined by their organization. At the very least, they could have followed up on this issue before Khelif became the center of a media circus. Instead, they created a situation where the only way to "prove" Khelif is female is to release her highly private medical information, which is an inappropriate invasion of privacy.

I hope this helps!