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Where AI Meets Big Data, Innovation is Assured – Analytics Insight

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When you work around the idea of the fourth industrial revolution, two technologies that make a quick flash into your brain are Big Data and Artificial Intelligence. A lot has been said and done in this regard. The combination of both has driven numerous industries towards success. While data or big data is considered the lifeblood of modern businesses, AI on the other hand is the heart to fill life into it.

Speaking more technically, we can say, big data is at the core of every business and the technology to harness its true value, AI is extremely essential to extract true meaning from data.

From Machine Learning to Computer Vision to Natural Language Processing, all AI subsets play a great role in getting something meaningful from just voluminous data.

According to a New Vantage survey report, the percentage of firms investing greater than US$50 million is up to 64.8% in 2020 from just 39.7% in 2018, with a total of 98.8% of firms investing in Big Data and AI initiatives. However, the pace of investment is leveling off, as only 51.9% of firms are accelerating their rate of investment, in stark contrast to the 91.6% who were accelerating their pace of investment in 2019. This includes some of the biggest companies, including Google, JP Morgan Chase, Glaxo Smith Kline, and Bank of America, among others.

The rising stars and the tech giants all have developed mastery at the intersection where big data meets AI.

This convergence of big data and Artificial Intelligence is what the MIT Sloan Management Review called the single most important development that is shaping the future of how firms drive business value from their data and analytics capabilities. These organizations understand how to combine data-savvy and strong AI capabilities into strongly differentiated solutions with massive market value. Here are a few ways data and AI empower each other:

Big data, the massive data collections that were all contributing to every day, is only getting bigger. Its estimated that by 2020, every person on earth will generate 1.7 MB of data every second, according to DOMO. Within that data, if we know how to unlock it, lies the potential to build amazing new businesses and solve some of the worlds greatest challenges.

Data is the fuel that powers AI, and large data sets make it possible for machine learning applications (machine learning is a branch of AI) to learn independently and rapidly. The abundance of data we collect supplies our AIs with the examples they need to identify differences, increase their pattern recognition capabilities, and see the fine details within the patterns.

AI enables us to make sense of massive data sets, as well as unstructured data that doesnt fit neatly into database rows and columns. AI is helping organizations create new insights from data that was formerly locked away in emails, presentations, videos, and images.

Databases are becoming increasingly versatile and powerful. In addition to traditional relational databases, we now have powerful graph databases that are more capable of connecting data points and uncovering relationships, as well as databases that specialize in document management.

To understand further lets look at some of the most common yet revolutionary applications of AI and Big Data driving business innovation.

With so many options on their fingertips, todays consumers are amongst the most fickle that the world of business has ever witnessed. Deep learning, which is a subset of AI, is helping businesses to predict consumer behavior by recognizing voice and search patterns.

Similarly, Big Data, in conjunction with predictive analytics and learning algorithms, come up with offers for customers even before they realize the need for it. A fantastic example of this is Starbucks personalizing customer experience. Through its app, it uses Big Data and AI to recommend different types of caffeine based on the weather and the customers location and many other features.

Digital marketing is the byword of any company worth its salt. Along the same lines are SEO, generating leads, and conversion. Big Data and AI work in combination to provide better insights to companies and narrow down on the targeted consumers who are critical to digital marketing.

By making use of the latest analytic tools, businesses are also able to save a lot of money and have better conversions. Netflix, the live streaming giant, incorporates AI into its digital marketing, which has exponentially raised their subscriptions. This directly translates to increased revenue.

Not many of us can imagine starting the day without the help of virtual assistants or VAs. The most notable VAs are Siri and Alexa. The same is true for many businesses all around the globe. AI has helped decipher or at least make sense of Big Data, which makes the VAs more intelligent.

The reaches of Big Data and AI are seen in self-driving cars that drive on auto-pilot. Among them is the Tesla. But of course, it is no secret as the companys CEO has been openly propagating the immense ways in which Artificial intelligence will change the very course of history.

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Smriti is a Content Analyst at Analytics Insight. She writes Tech/Business articles for Analytics Insight. Her creative work can be confirmed @analyticsinsight.net. She adores crushing over books, crafts, creative works and people, movies and music from eternity!!

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Propelling Data Analytics with the Power of Artificial Intelligence – Analytics Insight

Can your data talk intelligently? AI plugged into data management systems aims to do just that!

Intelligent analytics offers a classic approach to discover the hidden intelligence behind historical and real-time data. This myriad suite of analytical techniques and algorithms can parse mind-boggling amounts of data generated in real-time to discover the hidden gems that are often missed or go undetected by traditional statistical methods.

The methodology of mixing intelligence with analytics reaches far beyond. It erects the foundation in algorithmic methods removing any bias introduced by an individual analyst. Whats more, the sheer volume of data adds to the veracity and accuracy of the results, rather than causing an unnecessary air of confusion for the analyst.

An artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics platform encapsulate the means to derive untapped value from the wealth of information, data constantly generates. While advanced analytics helps enterprises to uncover insights on current business processes and even draw predictions from historical information silos, AI acts as a force multiplier on this data crunching by pledging machine learning capabilities into these data models.

The best artificial intelligence algorithms and analytics software leverage machine learning solutions into big data platform. This way they transform data into intelligent pieces of information, self-service data visualization dashboards, automation-ready capabilities to maximize revenue and operational efficiencies.

AI can actually transform data into an intelligent piece of Intelligence

1. Unearthing new insights from data analytics

Artificial Intelligence excels in finding hidden patterns and insights from large datasets which are often unseen from human eyes, this is done at an unprecedented speed and scale. AI-powered tools exist answering the questions about your enterprise operations, for instance, which operations cycle had the quickest turn-around in a specific quarter.

2. Deploy analytics to predict data outcomes

AI-powered algorithms analyze data from multiple sources offering predictions on an enterprises next strategic move. It can also deep dive into data to share insights about your customers letting you know about their preferences, and which marketing channels would be the best to target them.

3. Unifying data across Platforms

Artificial Intelligence unifies data captured from different sources and platforms, accelerating data-driven innovation across data science, business analytics and data engineering categories.

Data analytics software

Think business intelligence gathered from a data analytics software that identifies patterns and formulates data relationships. This paves way for actionable alerts, smart data discovery and interactive dashboards, using a comprehensive set of data analytics software on an enterprise-grade analytics platform.

Machine learning and predictive analytics platform

An able platform lets you analyze structured and unstructured big data stored in data management platforms and external sources. AI and open-source data analytics platforms combine open-source machine learning with self-service analytics and predictive analytics to achieve data intelligence.

Natural language processing and text mining

Unstructured data explains stories, sentiments, emotions of your customers, employees and stakeholders. NLP and Text mining extracts terms and concepts from brochures, legal documents, emailers, social media messages, videos, audio files, web pages to unlock the value hidden in unstructured text and yield valuable business insights.

Interactive visualizations

Data visualization is the graphic representation of data. Interactive data visualizations and rich interactive dashboards are the major takeaways from Intelligent Analytics helping enterprises know their data more personally.

AI solution for sentiment analysis

Intelligent data analytics helps an enterprise to understand and highlight what is the peoples perception on social networks and the web about its products and services. Intelligent analytics is thus a blessing to enterprises for targeted customer servicing, customer engagement and retention.

In crux, AI blended data analytics aims to make the enterprise more efficient and productive thereby increasing its brand loyalty, drive revenues and eliminate the need for manual data processing mechanisms. With customised business insights that are accessible and relatable to the most critical objectives of the enterprise, Intelligent Analytics is here to stay.

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Kamalika Some is an NCFM level 1 certified professional with previous professional stints at Axis Bank and ICICI Bank. An MBA (Finance) and PGP Analytics by Education, Kamalika is passionate to write about Analytics driving technological change.

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Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market Detailed Analysis of Current Industry Figures with Forecasts Growth By 2027 – CueReport

The Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market report upholds the future market predictions related to Artificial Intelligence In Fashion market size, revenue, production, Consumption, gross margin and other substantial factors. It also examines the role of the prominent Artificial Intelligence In Fashion market players involved in the industry including their corporate overview. While emphasizing the key driving factors for Artificial Intelligence In Fashion market, the report also offers a full study of the future trends and developments of the market.

The global artificial intelligence in fashion market accounted for US$ 270.0 Mn in 2018 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 36.9% over the forecast period 2019-2027, to account for US$ 4,391.7 Mn in 2027. Driving factors such as availability of massive amount of data due to increasing proliferation of digital services across the globe, and real time consumer behavior insights and increased operational efficiency are driving the adoption of AI in fashion industry will drive the market during the forecast period and have a high impact in the short term. However, factors such as concerns related to data privacy and security is anticipated to hinder the market growth in the coming years.

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The overall artificial intelligence in fashion market size has been derived using both primary and secondary source. The research process begins with exhaustive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the artificial intelligence in fashion market. It also provides the overview and forecast for the global artificial intelligence in fashion market based on all the segmentation provided with respect to five major reasons such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and South America. Also, primary interviews were conducted with industry participants and commentators in order to validate data and analysis. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers, and national sales managers, and external consultant such as valuation experts, research analysts and key opinion leaders specializing in the artificial intelligence in fashion market. Some of the players present in artificial intelligence in fashion market are Adobe Inc., Amazon Web Services, Inc., Catchoom Technologies S.L., Facebook, Inc., Google LLC, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Oracle Corporation, and SAP SE among others.

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AI integration in fashion plays a crucial role in sales, marketing, and customer-focused purposes. Initial adopters point toward the key impacts of technology in improving customer experience and decent growth in company revenue. Elevated customer experience helps the retailer to crack entirely new tactics of customer engagement and communication. With AI integration, the retailers can precisely spot the customers expected needs at precise times and offer the appropriate product to gain a competitive advantage. Some of the past initiatives taken in the fashion industry sector which has revolutionize the use of AI in the sector are North Face leveraging IBM Watsons ML technology to recommend more personalized apparel to the customers. Further, eBays AI integration helps their sellers sell more by better inventory management and pricing recommendations. Also, several fashion brands are leveraging chatbot to improve the customer experience; Tommy Hilfigers Facebook Messenger chatbot offers consumers a custom-made and interactive shopping experience than customary online shopping. Besides, Sephora, Amazon, Target, ASOS, Stitch Fix, and Olay are other renowned fashion industry names in the list who have already integrated the AI solution to boost their sales and marketing strategy.

Global Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market: Drivers and Restraints: This section of the Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market Analysis report we are covering various drivers and restraints that have affected the global Artificial Intelligence In Fashion market. The complete study of plentiful drivers of the market enables market professionals to get a clear viewpoint of the Artificial Intelligence In Fashion market share, which consists of Artificial Intelligence In Fashion industry environment, advancement market, product innovations, latest developments, and Artificial Intelligence In Fashion market risks.

The artificial intelligence in fashion market has been segmented on the basis of offerings, deployment, application, end-user industry, and geography. The artificial intelligence in fashion market based on offerings is sub-segmented into solution and services. The solution segment is expected to hold the prime market share in the artificial intelligence in fashion market. The artificial intelligence in fashion market on the basis of deployment is segmented into cloud and on-premise. The cloud segment led the artificial intelligence in fashion market and it is anticipated to continue its dominance during the forecast period. The market for artificial intelligence in fashion by application is further segmented into product recommendation, virtual assistant, product search and discovery, creative designing and trend forecasting, customer relationship management, and others. The product recommendation segment led the artificial intelligence in the fashion market in 2018 and is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period.

A Pin-point overview of TOC of Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market are:

Overview and Scope of Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market

Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market Insights

Industry analysis - Porter's Five Force

Company Profiles

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Artificial Intelligence In Fashion Market Detailed Analysis of Current Industry Figures with Forecasts Growth By 2027 - CueReport

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2025 Projeaction: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market 2020 to 2025: Industry Scope of the Research – Cole of Duty

This report additionally covers the effect of COVID-19 on the worldwide market. The pandemic brought about by Coronavirus (COVID-19) has influenced each part of life all inclusive, including the business segment. This has brought along a several changes in economic situations.

A report on Artificial Intelligence (AI) market compiled by Brand Essence Market Research provides a succinct analysis regarding the values and trends existing in the current business scenario. The study also offers a brief summary of market valuation, market size, regional outlook and profit estimations of the industry. Furthermore, the report examines the competitive sphere and growth strategies of leading players in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) market. Download Premium Sample of the Report: https://industrystatsreport.com/Request/Sample?ResearchPostId=597&RequestType=Sample

TheMajorPlayersCovered in this Report:Intel, Nvidia, Samsung Electronics, Xilinx, Micron Technology, IBM, Microsoft, Google, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Facebook, Baidu, Oracle, Salesforce, SAS, SAP, Others & More.

Reports include the following segmentation: By OfferingHardwareSoftwareServicesBy TechnologyMachine LearningNatural Language ProcessingContext-Aware ComputingComputer Visionby End-User IndustryHealthcareManufacturingAutomotiveAgricultureRetailSecurityHuman ResourcesMarketingLawFintechBy RegionNorth Americao U.S.o Canadao MexicoEuropeo UKo Franceo Germanyo Russiao Rest of EuropeAsia-Pacifico Chinao South Koreao Indiao Japano Rest of Asia-PacificLAMEAo Latin Americao Middle Easto Africa

Results of the recent scientific undertakings towards the development of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) products have been studied. Nevertheless, the factors affecting the leading industry players to adopt synthetic sourcing of the market products have also been studied in this statistical surveying report. The conclusions provided in this report are of great value for the leading industry players. Every organization partaking in the global production of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) market products have been mentioned in this report, in order to study the insights on cost-effective manufacturing methods, competitive landscape, and new avenues for applications.

Global Artificial Intelligence (AI)Market: Regional SegmentationFor further clarification, analysts have also segmented the market on the basis of geography. This type of segmentation allows the readers to understand the volatile political scenario in varying geographies and their impact on the global Artificial Intelligence (AI)market. On the basis of geography, the global market for Artificial Intelligence (AI)has been segmented into:

North America(United States, Canada, and Mexico)Europe(Germany, France, UK, Russia, and Italy)Asia-Pacific(China, Japan, Korea, India, and Southeast Asia)South America(Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, etc.)Middle East and Africa(Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa)

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Report Methodology:

The information enclosed in this report is based upon both primary and secondary research methodologies.

Primary research methodology includes the interaction with service providers, suppliers, and industry professionals. Secondary research methodology includes a meticulous search of pertinent publications like company annual reports, financial reports, and exclusive databases.

Table of Content:

Market Overview: The report begins with this section where product overview and highlights of product and application segments of the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market are provided. Highlights of the segmentation study include price, revenue, sales, sales growth rate, and market share by product.

Competition by Company: Here, the competition in the Worldwide Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is analyzed, By price, revenue, sales, and market share by company, market rate, competitive situations Landscape, and latest trends, merger, expansion, acquisition, and market shares of top companies.

Company Profiles and Sales Data: As the name suggests, this section gives the sales data of key players of the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market as well as some useful information on their business. It talks about the gross margin, price, revenue, products, and their specifications, type, applications, competitors, manufacturing base, and the main business of key players operating in the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market.

Market Status and Outlook by Region: In this section, the report discusses about gross margin, sales, revenue, production, market share, CAGR, and market size by region. Here, the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is deeply analyzed on the basis of regions and countries such as North America, Europe, China, India, Japan, and the MEA.

Application or End User: This section of the research study shows how different end-user/application segments contribute to the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market.

Market Forecast: Here, the report offers a complete forecast of the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market by product, application, and region. It also offers global sales and revenue forecast for all years of the forecast period.

Research Findings and Conclusion: This is one of the last sections of the report where the findings of the analysts and the conclusion of the research study are provided.

About Us:

We publish market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students.

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Artificial Intelligence: how man and machine are progressively working as one – Euronews

Futuris looks at how the relationship between man and machine in modern manufacturing is evolving through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence and automation.

No one knows the job better than the person who is doing it - that is the idea behind a package of novel ideas designed to make the most of factory workers' knowledge and experience.

In Seinajoki, Finland, metal company Prima Power is trialing two of the EUs Factory2Fit project solutions.

This 4m study explores new ways for people and machines to work together.

Dr Eija Kaasinen from technical research centre VTT says the aim is to put people at the centre and to enable them to participate in designing their own work environment.

Globally, automation and robotics are transforming manufacturing as part of the fourth industrial revolution. But this doesn't mean the human element is removed from work.

"Of course there are manual elements - but the work is changing towards knowledge work," explains Kaasinen. "It's more like working with the virtual counterparts of the physical things in the physical world."

A Pre-training Solution, for example, uses 3D models and cloud-based tutorials, while a so-called Knowledge Sharing solution makes the most of all the experience a worker gathers while running complex machinery, especially when something goes wrong, as Prima Power's Mariia Kreposna explains.

"So here the operator can open the additional dialogue box to get extra information about the situation. This is done by sharing the additional text, description, pictures or videos so the idea is in the future whenever the alarm with the same code happens, the operator will be able to learn not only the standard remedies but also other possible reasons and how to prevent this alarm happening in the future."

At the Elekmerk factory in Keuruu, Finland, workers have tested the Worker Feedback Dashboard - a biometric monitoring tool - like a fitbit - and an app.

It charts someone's work achievements and their well being - such as sleep and steps taken per day - and shows how the two can be linked.

"When we interviewed factory workers during the project we heard that often they had negative feedback when something is not going well," says VTT's Pivi Heikkil.. "So we wanted to develop an application that would also give you positive feedback of the fluency of your work and your accomplishments, so feedback of the things that are going well."

Ville Vuarola was one of five workers who wore the wristband for the three-month pilot scheme. He was happy to take part and says he was surprised at how a good night's sleep had a positive impact on his job.

"I was surprised to see how sleeping well influenced my work performance. Together with leisure activities, sleep was really important for my general performance at work," he says.

Of all the Factory2Fit solutions, this was the one that proved the most controversial with fears expressed over the possible misuse of workers' data.

But Pivi Heikkil says these concerns are unfounded.

"When we are developing these kind of solutions we always consider the ethics," she says, "and I want to stress and highlight that this should always be voluntary."

The data gathered is kept on a separate server, not in the factory system.

Researchers expect at least some of their Factory2Fit solutions to be commercially available by the end of next year.

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Matters of the mind: Impact of lockdown and Covid-19 on marriages – The Indian Express

Written by Dr Shwetambara Sabharwal | Mumbai | Updated: June 19, 2020 10:01:34 am

As a practicing relationship counsellor for 16 years, I can confirm that intimate relationships have been the most complex to understand, to heal and the hardest to sustain mutual health and happiness. That said, they are also the most beautiful, emotionally uplifting and joyful stories.

As human beings we are often preoccupied with ourselves and our needs. Our daily thoughts may include a wide range of subjects, dimensionally between many galaxies, but the nucleus of those thoughts is I or the ego. Visually, I always describe couples as walking around with what I call their weighty trunks of treasures, where firstly their own past is neatly stocked, then the partner is expected to know what is inside, and as if that wasnt enough, each folded layer must be empathised with out of deep and honest love. I know you already see some of the issues here. No matter who I have met, working couples, educated or not, affluent or not, bankers, celebrities, business families, stay at home partners, authors, lawyers and more, the loaded trunks are with them, and each is fixated only on theirs.

There are several factors that make intimate partnerships more challenging than others.

1. Past baggage: The fantastical perception of love we all grow up with leads to subconscious expectations and needs, which actually have nothing to do with our partners or even ourselves, and often just lingering, lost feelings from experiences in our past with parents, relatives, friends, strangers and/or abusers.

We often indulge in looking at our marriage as a rescue of some sorts. An escape from the then reality of any kind of stress. Stress is a part of our daily life and the only thing that will rescue us from it, is our own coping strategies.

ALSO READ | Matters of the mind: Caution, courage and rationality may be answers to the crisis

2. Communication barriers: We do not communicate clearly, especially in marriages, as all our wishes are expected to be wirelessly transferred, absorbed and accurately understood. Communication is a huge relationship barrier, starting with basic concerns of culture, language, religion and family structures to deeper ones like empathy, acceptance, expectations, boundaries, conflict statements, difficult conversations and confrontations. We find it most difficult to have tough talks with our loved ones.

3. Need for acceptance and approval: We have a high need for approval and need it satiated from our partners. The displacement of disappointment with parents, teachers, relatives, colleagues and even close friends who missed appreciating us, subconsciously falls on the shoulders of the intimate partner to gratify.

The pandemic locked us all up in our homes, with our families, as if to tutor us through all or at least some of those barriers, to introspect and take notice of what is valuable to us.

As the list of to-dos piled up in the lockdown and kids stayed back from school, work stopped, socialising became impossible and we all ran around preparing and hoarding for a life within limits we had never known or appreciated before our homes with our loved ones!

The human body reacts with inertia to any change, and the Covid-19 occurrence followed by the lockdown were changes more severe than we ever collided with before. We retaliated with usual resistance, anxiety, panic, anger, frustration over every change imposed on us by nature, government or health advisors, which found limited outlets as we had little control over others. One was our phone, thus the millions of panic-driven calls, forwards, spreading rumours and half-information and the second was our consistent fall back our partner at home.

ALSO READ | Matters of the mind: For seniors feeling anxious during Covid-19, here is how to dig deep and stay strong

Once our bodies have acclimatised to the U-turn, the surroundings, we become open to looking around, learning and adjusting. I believe that resisting, accepting, learning and adapting are the natural stages of growth.

During the lockdown, gradually, at times grudgingly, some partners have learnt to accept and adapt . Those in therapy report a significant switch in their perceptions of one another. We are doing what we were always meant to do.

1. People are now paying attention to their inner selves and recognising the absence of self-awareness. The life-threatening nature of the virus has made us question our egos, grandiosity, expectations, lifestyles and needs, making us more humble and aware of the real sources of happiness.

2. Observe, listen, feel, touch and hold your partner with more attention and no rush to be elsewhere after. This has extended into talking about the other precious trunks in the house, full of stories, this time really listening and empathising. Listening and paying attention to another changes a lot, reduces resentment and that, one way or the other, partners have done.

3. With all possessions and people at risk, the pandemic brought some of us to an awakening. A very significant spiritual awareness of loving with detachment that has empowered us with compassion, forgiveness and connect. We have who we have in our life to love and hold, not to own and control.

(The author is a Mumbai-based psychologist and psychotherapist.)

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The Ripple: Equality and Balance is an Inside Job – Newton Press Mentor

What a strange social climate we are living in these days. Common folk are deciding for each other what we are and are not allowed to discuss. I will not conform to this nonsense.

I care about true equality and balance not just the faade of equality and balance.

The public is being told that we should only be having conversations about racism at this time. While it is important to have transformative conversations about racism, we cannot limit our conversations to only racism and expect to create equality and balance in our world. Why?

Because racism is but a symptom of a much deeper imbalance within the human condition.

Racism does not exist within the human condition when we are born. It is developed and learned over time, as the human ego develops from birth into adulthood.

The human ego is the aspect of our minds which fears what is different. The ego judges that which it fears. The ego attempts to control situations and people so that it does not have to confront its fears and insecurities.

Here are some examples:

Remember when you started dating a new lover. You wanted to be the apple of his/her eye. Yet, your lover had friends who, by your insecure perspective, seemed more charming, talented, and attractive than you. Remember how threatened you felt when your lover spent time with that attractive friend. Remember how you tried to control situations so your lover would spend as little time as possible with this attractive friend. This is the fearful human ego at work.

The human ego also shows up in parenting. Many parents fear that their children will not be accepted or popular if they are not involved in certain activities. These parents measure the popularity of their children as a reflection of their own worth. Sometimes the children have no interest in participating or excelling in certain activities, but the children fear not gaining parental love and approval, so the children acquiesce to receive your love. This is an example of the ego at work within the minds of parents and children.

The ego is always trying to influence and control situations so we can feel accepted and safe in the world. The ego is always acting out of fear.

The same thing happens in situations of sexism. Men who possess little self-worth and who fear not being loved try to control and manipulate women so they can achieve some sense of power.

The same thing happens in situations of racism. People who feel irrelevant in the world, or who are afraid to face their own insecurities, will label, judge, and control people of other races and ethnicities. This, again, is the fearful ego mind at work.

So, we can talk about racism all we want. We can change our language and our behaviors. But if we have not dealt with the fears that we carry within us, we will still judge people and try to control situations. So while we may appear to be less racist by talking about racism, unless we have dealt with our hidden fears, we will still be contributing to great inequality and imbalance in the collective human experience.

It is time for us to engage in deep self-honesty so we can evolve as a human race.

Equality and balance must first happen within our own minds and hearts. As each individual acknowledges and tames his/her own fear-based behavior, he/she will carry more equality and balance into the world by their very existence.

The first step in taming our fear-based ego behavior is to get honest with ourselves about our specific fears and insecurities.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to begin pruning your mind and heart for a more equal and balanced world:

1.What is my deepest fear in regards to security and safety?

2.How do my fears regarding security and safety affect my daily actions, communications, thoughts, and emotions?

3.What is my deepest fear in regards to being socially accepted or good enough?

4.How do my fears regarding social acceptance affect my daily actions, communications, thoughts, and emotions?

5.What is my deepest fear in regards to being separated or abandoned by those I love?

6.How do my fears regarding separation and abandonment affect my daily actions, communications, thoughts, and emotions?

7.How do these fear-based behaviors and communications affect my relationships in my home?

8.How do these fear-based behaviors and communications affect my relationships in my community?

9.How do these fear-based behaviors, communications, thoughts, and emotions affect the way I feel about myself in relationship with the world?

In the next Ripple, we will discuss how to transform these discoveries into lasting change in your life, to cultivate equality and balance within ourselves and in the world.

(Some readers may have noticed that I am no longer active on Facebook. To stay connected outside of the The Ripple, you can subscribe to my newsletter at http://www.amandablain.me or find me on Instagram @conscious_growth_artist).

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Something to Muench on: In a word, priceless! – The Cross Timbers Gazette

Kimberly Muench

Youll need to dress up for this tonight. These were the only instructions my son Allen-Michael gave to me the afternoon of our fancy dinner. The kids had all signed an anniversary card and given it to us a few days before that conversation, inside the card was written the promise they would make Tom and me a fancy dinner.

I agreed with a smile but in my mind I was thinkingthey are making us dinner, its going to be after a long day of work and our usual six mile hikeputting on a dress would be the furthest thing from my mind, especially now that were all so used to casual quarantine attire.

But we complied, and it was well worth it. Had I shown up for fancy dinner in my usual tank top and shorts I would have felt totally underdressed in our backyard for this occasion.

When we arrived in the foyer (dressed in our best), our waiter (17-year-old son Maddux) greeted us in his (band) tuxedo and with a French accent and Sharpie mustache, he invited us to step out the front door where he then escorted Tom and me through the garage to the service door that leads to our patio (this was so we would not see what was going on with the rest of the kids in the kitchen). Maddux was courteous and in character all night long, playing the part to a teejust like when he was a little boy and performed at Studio B.

After getting us seated at a linen covered table with full china service (borrowed from my momI havent seen my china set since it was professionally packed in the mid-90s when we moved from Wisconsin to Californiaits been in a box for two decades!), Maddux poured our waters and disappeared so we could settle in and peruse the three-course menu they were going to produce for us.

Did I mention the music? And the fire in the fireplace? The atmosphere was lovely, totally romantic! It seemed the kids had thought of everything.

A few minutes later Maddux returned with a chilled bottle of our favorite chardonnay (We learned hours later it took all four kids to figure out how to get the cork outnot even our 26 and 22-year-olds knew how to uncork wine!) along with a small packet of index cards for Tom and me. On each were handwritten questions we were supposed to answer over our dinner. The topics ran the gamut from When was the first time you heard me fart? to When were you most worried about me? This activity evoked deep and meaningful conversation, and more than a few laughs!

Looking back, I think the questions were the best part of the entire evening. The kids did a terrific job with the ambience (Mia was the official photographer, Brigham and Allen-Michael did all of the cooking), the food was delicious, and at the end of the meal Maddux ushered us onto the dance floor for our wedding song (Elviss classic I Cant Help Falling in Love with You).

Tom and I have been married 28 years. Weve seen a lot of ups and downsweve had pregnancy challenges, been bankrupt, had to support my oldest son through an addiction (he is now 10 years sober which is a blessing I never once dreamed possible), weve moved over a dozen timesand two years ago Tom left corporate America to open a travel franchise in Flower Mound. Marriage can be hard, it can be really, really hardbut the evening reminded both him and me about all of the dividends that come with working together even in the most difficult of times.

I dont know whats ahead for us, but I do know well face it together. And with our extremely thoughtful, cooperative now-almost-grown kids.

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What came to mind when I acted dead – Daily Trust

Yetunde Odunsi is a Nollywood actress who features in both Yoruba and English movies such as Benefactor, Blood for love, Alaamu, Agidi Okon, and several more. In this Interview, she talks about her journey in the movie industry, roles she played, and her vision for the future. Excerpts:

Weekend Magazine: How did your journey into the movie industry begin?

Yetunde Odunsi: I have always loved watching people act on screen. Despite the fact that I was a shy person who couldnt sing or dance, I had a deep conviction that acting was my talent. Im a single mother and my daughter inspired my acting career. Once, I decided that I wanted to make a name for my beloved daughter and that could only be achieved when my own name becomes popular.

My cousin, Rotimi Salami, brought me into the movie industry where I trained under Wale Ilebiyi and Damola Olatunji brought me to limelight when I featured in his movies.

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My first time on set was in Aja, Lagos State. I went to see aunty Orwell Ademola who was the director of the movie. I did just one scene and everyone was amazed. At 2am in the morning, she drove me all the way from Aja to Iyana paja so I could get close to my home.

WM: Did you have your familys support when you delved into acting?

Odunsi: My father said he had heard so many negative reports about female actors and so he was not in total support. My mother was not against it because I had a cousin in the industry who is doing well. The crux of the family situation was that I am a grown-up and I wasnt going to feed or demand from them. All I needed was their blessings.

WM: What role challenged you the most?

Odunsi: I have featured in English movies like Benefactor, Blood for Love, 24hours, and those in Yoruba such as Semilore, Oko Mi Omo Mi, Alaamu, and many others. The latest titled Cryptic is going to be released soon. So far, I would say every role I played was challenging because I try to portray someone else and do it as though it were real. For instance, I consider the role of a doctor complex at times because of the professional terminologies involved while conversing.

WM: What keeps you inspired?

Odunsi: I had wanted to give up so many times. But even when I feel tired and need some time to rest, I cannot rest all because of my daughter. She is the main reason I remain strong. I want her to be able to stand boldly anywhere in this world and be proud of me. She inspires me.

WM: What role do you look forward to playing?

Odunsi: I want a daring role that requires me to be an aggressive person that nags, shouts and is wicked. I would also like to do the role of a mentally ill person. I really want to see how this madness will look like.

WM: Once, in an accident scene, you acted dead. What ran through your mind at that time?

Odunsi: This question is deep. Sincerely; in that pool of blood on set; I was earnestly praying that after that, it would not be my last job. That I would not die in reality. A striking thought came to me that one day, despite everything I run after in this life, I will lie lifeless and everything will be vanity. This struck me hard and I thought about my daughter and what she would think of me when I am gone. So, that fateful day, I prayed to God almighty that may this not be the end of me.

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What came to mind when I acted dead - Daily Trust

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Nano-motor of just 16 atoms runs at the boundary of quantum physics – New Atlas

Researchers at Empa and EPFL have created one of the smallest motors ever made. Its composed of just 16 atoms, and at that tiny size it seems to function right on the boundary between classical physics and the spooky quantum realm.

Like its macroscopic counterparts, this mini motor is made up of a moving part (the rotor) and a fixed part (the stator). The stator in this case is a cluster of six palladium atoms and six gallium atoms arranged in a rough triangular shape. Meanwhile, the rotor is a four-atom acetylene molecule, which rotates on the surface of the stator. The whole machine measures less than a nanometer wide.

The molecular motor can be powered by either thermal or electrical energy, although the latter was found to be much more useful. At room temperature, for example, the rotor was found to rotate back and forth at random. But when an electric current was applied using an electron scanning microscope, the rotor would spin in one direction with a 99-percent stability.

This, the team says, makes it far more practical than previous molecular motors. Ultimately, it could be used not only for moving tiny machines around, but also for energy harvesting on the nanoscale.

Empa

But there are a few other strange quirks of the new motor. Its made to spin in one direction the same way that a regular motor would, using a ratcheting scheme. Normally, this is done using a gear with sloped teeth and a pawl, which slides along the flat side of the teeth but cant climb back up the steep side, forcing one-way movement.

In this case though, the molecular motor works backwards. Somehow, the rotor prefers to move against the grain, climbing the steep side and ignoring the flat route. As counterintuitive as it seems, the effect is basically the same, so the rotor still turns in one direction.

Another oddity is that the molecular motor seems to break a law of classical physics. As we innately understand at the macro scale, a minimum amount of energy is required for a movement to overcome resistance on a bicycle, for instance, you cant just stop pedaling and expect to ride uphill.

But somehow, thats basically what this mini motor was doing. The researchers found that the rotor moved even under tiny amounts of thermal or electrical energy far less than should be required to get it spinning. That means temperatures below -256 C (-248.8 F) or an applied voltage of under 30 millivolts.

Instead, what seems to be happening is a phenomenon known as quantum tunneling. Essentially, particles have regularly been observed tunneling through barriers that they dont have the energy to overcome normally. Back to the bike analogy, this isnt so much like gliding to the top of the hill without pedaling as it is just teleporting to the other side of it.

But even this explanation raises further questions. Quantum tunneling is thought to be frictionless, but if that was the case the rotor would spin in any direction randomly. The fact that it prefers one direction with 99-percent probability suggests that energy is being lost during this process.

"The motor could enable us to study the processes and reasons for energy dissipation in quantum tunneling processes," says Oliver Grning, lead researcher on the study.

The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. An animation of the rotor can be seen in the video below.

Smallest Motor in the World

Source: Empa

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Nano-motor of just 16 atoms runs at the boundary of quantum physics - New Atlas

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