With the long weekend upon us, Canadians will likely spend the next few days out at the lake or in their backyards, gathered around a campfire.

This familiar sight also comes with a familiar question: Why does campfire smoke seem to follow you around wherever you go?

As it turns out, the answer boils down to physics.

“What ends up happening is the fire is heating the air and that creates buoyancy, which is the scientific term for hot air rises,” research scientist Kerry Anderson told CTVNews.ca in a telephone interview on Saturday.

Based in British Columbia, Anderson spent more than 30 years with the Canadian Forest Service and currently works for Environment Canada modelling smoke from forest fires for the prediction system FireWork.

He said because hot air is less dense, it lifts and creates a low-pressure zone that draws surrounding air into the fire in order to fill that area.

When someone stands next to a fire, they essentially create a barrier, or shadow, that blocks the surrounding air from being drawn in, creating another low-pressure zone, Anderson explained.

“And what ends up happening is the hot air that’s rising ends up being brought into this vacuum, so it gets pulled toward you,” he said. “And with the head at the top of your body, the smoke is drawn into your eyes.”

How tall a person is, their distance from the fire, whether they’re standing or crouched down, wearing a big jacket or blanket, or sitting in a chair will affect the size of this barrier and how strongly the smoke will be pulled into their face.

For those looking to enjoy a campfire this weekend, Anderson said one way to minimize this phenomenon is to have people position themselves evenly around a fire so the smoke isn’t drawn to any one individual.

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Having a foundation in place for any young coach is essential in college football. Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire has a good problem on his hands with the most important position. 

Tyler Shough or Donovan Smith? The Red Raiders look as if they have stability at quarterback for the first time since 2016. Both combined to lead Tech to a 7-6 record and its first bowl game since 2017. 

But Texas Tech is a young program, and McGuire is hoping to build a lasting culture in Lubbock for years to come — especially with the Big 12 undergoing its makeover starting in 2023. 

Donovan Smith

Tyler Shough

Tyler Shough

What is the biggest weakness for Tech entering 2022? It’s actually not the offensive line or quarterback. Running back could need a tune-up in terms of who will be the leading rusher, but there are prospects in place. 

Receiver, on the other hand, could use an upgrade. The loss of Erik Ezukanma could be one that hurts for a while. In retrospect, the departure of Kaylon Geiger hurts just as much. 

Both pass-catchers led the charge for Shough and Smith’s aerial production last season under Matt Well and later Sonny Cumbie. The two recorded over 40 receptions each and combined for five scores. Ezukanma averaged a team-high 14.7 yards per reception among receivers with at least 15 catches. 

Geiger was close behind with an average of 12.5 per catch. 

Myles Price will get the first crack at becoming either quarterback’s go-to option on the perimeter come Week 1 against Murray State. He served as the de-facto No. 3 target last season, recording 38 catches for 523 yards and a pair of touchdowns. 

That’s not enough to win in the Big 12 and the Red Raiders have been known for their pass-heavy schemes. McGuire is expected to have a more balanced approach coming from Baylor, but the limitations at receiver put a damper on immediate expectations. 

Price was one of three receivers to finish with at least 30 catches in 2021. Tight end Travis Koontz was close with 21 receptions, but he now hopes to make the final 53-man roster with the Las Vegas Raiders. 

Myles Price

Myles Price

Myles Price

The three returning receiver options combined last season for 33 receptions and scored just two touchdowns. Tight end Mason Thorp was at his best on first and third downs while Loic Fouonji served as a vertical option, averaging 21.8 yards per catch. 

Of his eight receptions, four came on plays over 12 yards. 

This isn’t to say that the Red Raiders won’t have options in the passing game, but a majority of players are unproven. It might not be a problem once Tech hits its midseason stride, but there’s a bit of urgency in terms of finding a new No. 1 before September hits. 

You can follow Cole Thompson on Twitter at @MrColeThompson

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The group is staffed with former hardware and software engineering leaders for the iPhone, iPad and Mac, in addition to key hires from NASA and industries spanning gaming, graphics and audio. But the division has suffered departures of some key engineers to Meta and other companies in recent months. 

The team developing the device works from offices in Sunnyvale, California, a few miles from the company’s Cupertino headquarters, Bloomberg has reported. The device has faced several challenges during development, such as finding compelling applications and content. Technical hurdles also included overheating and refining the device’s on-board cameras. 

The company has been working on AR versions of its core iPhone apps for the headset, as well as new apps that will handle tasks such as streaming immersive content and holding virtual meetings. 

Apple’s headset was originally planned for an unveiling in 2019, with a release coming in 2020, Bloomberg reported at the time. Apple later aimed to announce it in 2021 before a release in 2022, only to delay those plans again into later in 2022 or 2023.

During its development, the device faced pushback from former chief designer Jony Ive, who didn’t believe Apple should release a headset that would take people out of the real world. Ive, who left Apple in 2019, preferred the concept of augmented reality-only glasses, but that product wasn’t going to be ready until much later. 

Ive also spurned a plan for the headset to have both a stand-alone mode and an option that would make the device more powerful when wirelessly paired to a processing hub in the wearer’s home. That plan was nixed, and current versions of the device are stand-alone only. They include a more powerful variation of the M1 chip that appears in the company’s latest laptops. 

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—Bloomberg News

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Lawsuit alleges Google and Deepmind Technologies used NHS data of 1.6 million Britons ‘without their knowledge or consent’

Alphabet’s Google and DeepMind Technologies are being sued over the alleged “unlawful use of patients’ confidential medical records.”

On Monday, the law firm Mishcon de Reya announced the High Court representative action, revealing it was acting on behalf of Andrew Prismall, who brought the claim on behalf of approximately 1.6 million individuals.

The claim is for the misuse of private information and arises out of an arrangement formed in 2015 between Google and DeepMind and the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, said the law firm.

NHS data

It alleged the tech companies obtained and used a substantial number of confidential medical records without patients’ knowledge or consent.

“I hope that this case can achieve a fair outcome and closure for the many patients whose confidential records were – without the patients’ knowledge – obtained and used by these large tech companies,” said Mr Prismanll.

“This claim is particularly important as it should provide some much-needed clarity as to the proper parameters in which technology companies can be allowed to access and make use of private health information,” added Ben Lasserson, Partner at Mishcon de Reya.

The case centres over the five year data sharing agreement that was signed in 2016 between the Royal Free NHS Trust and Google’s DeepMind artificial intelligence (AI) division.

The agreement was linked to the development of DeepMind’s mobile application called Streams, aimed at helping hospital staff monitor patients with kidney disease.

But under the terms of the agreement, which weren’t disclosed until they were reported by science magazine New Scientist in April 2016, Google had broad access to data on the 1.6 million patients who used the trust’s three hospitals (Barnet, Chase Farm and the Royal Free) each year.

The data included information on people who are HIV-positive and details of drug overdoses and abortions, as well as real-time data on admissions, discharges and patient transfers, and access to five years of patient data.

ICO ruling

Google at the time acknowledged the agreement, saying the NHS had no separate data set for people with kidney conditions, which meant all hospital data was needed in order for Streams to run effectively.

The data sharing deal was then lambasted in an academic paper in March 2017 published in Health and Technology for failing to be clear over privacy and data use, which in turn helped prompt an official investigation by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), alongside complaints from the general public.

In July 2017 the ICO ruled that the data sharing agreement was illegal, as it deemed the deal to be a breach of the Data Protection Act.

As a result of an investigation by the ICO, Royal Free NHS Trust were asked to sign an undertaking which committed it to acting in accordance to data protection laws with the assistance of the ICO.

What Happened To DeepMind?

DeepMind was founded in the UK in 2010, by 37-year-old former teenage chess prodigy and neuroscientist Demis Hassabis, along with Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman.

DeepMind co-founder and chief executive Demis Hassabis. Image credit: DeepMind

The firm was created to find applications for artificial intelligence technologies created by British researchers. It specialised in machine learning and developing systems in neuroscience, primarily for use in e-commerce and games.

In 2014 Google acquired DeepMind, and while no purchase price was officially revealed (it was thought to be £400 million), sources reported Google’s CEO Larry Page had been heavily involved in the deal – a sign of the status Google placed on the acquisition.

But Google’s tenure of DeepMind was not to last.

In November 2018 Google announced it would transfer control of DeepMind to a new Google Health division in California, as part of its efforts to commercialise its medical research efforts.

In 2019 London-based DeepMind artificial intelligence unit created a working prototype of what would be its first commercial medical device, the result of the unit’s three-year collaboration with Moorfields Eye Hospital.

Then Google officially absorbed DeepMind Health and its team into its new health division.

In 2021 Google disbanded its Health division and transferred its remaining staff to other divisions.

In January 2022 DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman left Google for a job at a venture capitalist firm.

DeepMind co-founder Mustafa Suleyman. Image credit: DeepMind
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The acclaimed Keweenaw Time Traveler (KeTT) is getting a major upgrade. On June 1,
the online interactive historical atlas will add 600,000 records across 14 million
data variables, an exponential increase from its current 25,000.

In addition, KeTT will significantly improve user experience. A newly designed user
interface makes it easier to search for information about past people, places and
stories. 

The KeTT is a one-of-a-kind example of deep mapping — a living map connecting layers of archival, geological and geospatial
data across time and space. Begun in 2016 and launched publicly a year later, KeTT is changing how we learn about, share and research the history and heritage
of Michigan’s Copper Country. ​The atlas contains historical data from archival collections
from across the region — including the Michigan Technological University Archives,
the Keweenaw History Center in Keweenaw National Historical Park, the historical societies
of Keweenaw and Houghton counties, and census data from IPUMS USA — collected and connected using high-resolution scans of hundreds of historic maps. 

“The Keweenaw Time Traveler provides an immersive mapping experience in which to explore and search for people
and places in the Copper Country from about 1880-1970,” says Don Lafreniere, KeTT
project director and chair of the Department of Social Sciences at Michigan Tech.
“It facilitates engagement with the humanities and brings history and geography to
life through the use of advanced digital spatial technologies. With the launch of
our new interface on June 1, both researchers and citizen historians will have access
to even more data — data that will be so much easier to search for now.”

“The Keweenaw Time Traveler is a prime example of what can be done with history and
technology at a flagship technological university like Michigan Tech.”Don Lafreniere, KeTT project director and chair of the Department of Social Sciences
at Michigan Tech

Lafreniere says earlier iterations of the KeTT attracted attention and accolades around
the world, inspiring similar projects from New York to Madrid, Spain. Sarah Fayen
Scarlett, KeTT project co-director and associate professor of history at Michigan
Tech, believes the expanded capabilities of the new version will only increase this
exposure. “KeTT is Google Maps for history,” she says. “It’s a way for individuals
to understand their roots better, their place in history and the history behind their
place. Now, with the new upgrades we built, it will be even more accessible and useful
than before.” 

The Keweenaw Time Traveler

The Keweenaw Time Traveler is an online interactive historical atlas changing how
we learn about, share and research the history and heritage of Michigan’s Copper Country.
It is the public face of the Copper Country Historical Spatial Data Infrastructure
housed in Michigan Tech’s Historical Environments Spatial Analytics Lab. 

The KeTT is one of the longest-running continuously funded projects in the Department
of Social Sciences. It has received over $1.4 million from financial supporters including
the Office of Digital Humanities at the National Endowment for the Humanities. Other
funders and partners include the Council on Library and Information Resources, the
Portage Health Foundation and the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw.

Keweenaw citizen historians and others interested in the KeTT are invited to attend
a relaunch celebration June 2 at 6 p.m. at the Carnegie Museum of the Keweenaw (105
Huron St., Houghton). Please register at keweenawhistory.com.

An online launch celebration will take place on Facebook Live on June 3 at 3 p.m.
EDT. For details, visit facebook.com/keweenawtimetraveler.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.

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There’s no end to Twitter saga after billionaire Elon Musk’s dramatic entry to buy out the micro-blogging site, with rapper Snoop Dogg too throwing his hat in the ring.

There’s no end to Twitter saga after billionaire Elon Musk’s dramatic entry to buy out the micro-blogging site, with rapper Snoop Dogg too throwing his hat in the ring after the news broke out that Tesla CEO’s deal is on hold.

While Musk’s buy out plan has already flooded his timeline on Twitter with ideas for the transformation of the microblogging site, the rapper too shared his vision.

Also read: Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here.

As the boss of Twitter, the Rapper laid out a set of new rules for the company, which included replacing the board of directors, giving everyone a verified account and putting free internet on aeroplanes.

“Gonna replace the board of directors with Jimmy from my corner Fish Fry, Tommy Chung and that guy with the ponytail on CNBC. Everyone gets a blue checkmark. Even that bots with 10 letters in their name that hit you in DMs n just say “Hello”. Nah f**k those bots,” he said in a series of tweets.

Musk on Saturday (local time) said that Twitter’s legal team accused him of violating a non-disclosure agreement by revealing that the sample size for the social media platform’s checks on automated users was 100.

“Twitter legal just called to complain that I violated their NDA by revealing the bot check sample size is 100!” Musk tweeted.

Twitter recently agreed to an acquisition by Tesla CEO Elon Musk in a deal worth USD 44 billion, although it is still subject to shareholder approval. However, Elon Musk declared that the USD 44 billion takeover bid of the micro-blogging site is on hold.

Musk said earlier this week that Twitter’s decision to ban former US President Donald Trump was a mistake and he would reverse it if his acquisition of the social media company is successful. 

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Cryptocurrencies trended lower Saturday in the wake of the collapse of TerraUSD and the most volatile week for Bitcoin trading in at least two years.

Cryptocurrencies trended lower Saturday in the wake of the collapse of TerraUSD and the most volatile week for Bitcoin trading in at least two years.

The price of Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency, had fallen 3% to below $29,000 just after noon in New York, according to pricing compiled by Bloomberg. Ether held steadily below the $2,000 threshold at around $1967.

Also read: Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here.

The wipeout of algorithmic stablecoin TerraUSD and its sister token Luna knocked more than $270 billion off the crypto sector’s total trillion-dollar value. The weekly net change in Bitcoin volatility was the highest in the two years since Bloomberg first began recording data.

Altcoins did not escape the declines on Saturday, with Solana and Polkadot down more than 5% and Avalanche down nearly than 8%.

“Multiple headwinds have given market players almost nowhere to hide in any asset class this week,” said Coinbase Institutional’s Brian Cubellis and David Duong in a report Friday, adding that volumes on its exchange were the highest since January’s crypto sell-off. 

“Interestingly, despite larger volatility than during the sell-offs in January or December, volumes are still somewhat lower in comparison, which suggests lighter positioning as well as potentially decreased interest from retail due to a difficult market environment,” they wrote in the note.

The analysts said Bitcoin’s $30,000 threshold will become “a major resistance” if prices continue to consolidate below that mark over the next few days. “If things were to deteriorate further the next line of support would come at around $20,000 which was the all-time high in the previous 2017/2018 cycle,” they added.

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Shenzhen [China], May 13 (ANI): OnePlus had last month announced the Ace smartphone and now it is getting a new sibling that will likely be a more affordable alternative.

According to GSM Arena, the new phone will be called OnePlus Ace Speed Edition and will arrive on May 17, as confirmed by the company.

Also Read | Tamil Nadu Minister K Ponmudy Stirs Row Amid Language War, Says ‘Hindi Speakers Sell Pani Puri’.

The announcement on Weibo confirmed the launch will be in China, which is no surprise seeing how the Ace is exclusive to its home market. But it might still make it overseas under a new name.

No specs about the phone have been revealed yet. One can only assume it will have an LCD, given how the fingerprint scanner is on the side. The images reveal a speaker grille, a USB-C port, a microphone and a 3.5 mm audio jack on the bottom, reported the outlet.

Also Read | Manchester City Unveil Sergio Aguero Statue to Celebrate 10 Years of Iconic ’93:20′ Premier League Title.

Further, as per GSM Arena, the phone is already certified by TENAA, which revealed a 6.59″ screen diagonal and a 2.85GHz CPU, likely part of a Dimensity 8000 chipset. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)

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British postal service Royal Mail is planning to use a fleet of 500 drones for deliveries to rural locations.

The pandemic reminded many of us of the vital role the humble postie plays in keeping people connected. However, many rural communities struggle to access the services we often take for granted due to their location.

Royal Mail wants to change that and has identified over 50 postal routes it wants to create using drones over the next three years.

The company is partnering with logistics drone firm Windracers on the effort and the first routes identified for the service include the Isles of Scilly, Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands, and the Hebrides.

Stephen Wright, Chairman at Windracers, said:

“The middle mile of supply and logistics, especially to remote locations, has long been overlooked by the industry and is ripe for innovation.

We’ve spent the last five years focused on developing the most commercially viable essential logistics drones so we’re truly delighted to be working with Royal Mail on this ambitious and pioneering deployment of autonomous aircraft.

It puts the UK firmly at the forefront of this exciting sector.” 

The UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) will provide faster and more convenient to customers in remote communities.

Royal Mail has conducted four trials in the last 18 months. The most recent trial was held last month on the Shetland Islands where a UAV made the 50-mile flight (each way) between Tingwall Airport in Lerwick to Unst.

In the trial, a twin-engine UAV with an autopilot system was used to make the trip. Once at the destination, the drone is unloaded and letters and parcels delivered by the local postie. Each UAV can carry up to 100kg of mail of all shapes and sizes.

Beyond helping to connect rural communities, Royal Mail believes the UAVs will help it to further reduce its carbon emissions.

Simon Thompson, Chief Executive Officer at Royal Mail, commented:

“On-time delivery regardless of our customer’s location or the weather – whilst protecting our environment – is our goal.

Even though we go everywhere, Royal Mail already has the lowest CO2 emissions per parcel delivered, this initiative will help reduce our emissions even further.” 

The rollout will be subject to approvals from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) but Royal Mail is aiming to deploy 200 drones over the next three years to support over 50 new routes.

Long-term, Royal Mail said it’s aiming to more than double that number to create a fleet of 500 drones “servicing all corners of the UK”.

(Image Credit: Colin Keldie, courtesy of SATE project)

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Explore other upcoming enterprise technology events and webinars powered by TechForge here.

Tags: deliveries, drones, logistics, royal mail, uav, windracers

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