Monthly Archives: July 2023

PR Newswire

WiMi Developed an HMD-based Control System for Humanoid Robots Controlled by BCI

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BEIJING, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc. (NASDAQ: WIMI) (“WiMi” or the “Company”), a leading global Hologram Augmented Reality (“AR”) Technology provider, today announced its development of a humanoid robot control system based on a head-mounted display (HMD) controlled by a brain-computer interface (BCI). This system via steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) and allows interaction with the environment and humans. The technology provides real-time feedback through the robot’s embedded camera, which integrates stimulus feedback into the HMD display.

WiMi’s researchers took control of the robot and tested its performance by using this new interaction in an experiment. Testers were asked to navigate the robot to a specific location to perform a task. This test was based on visual SLAM feedback, which provides navigation instructions through images of the environment captured by a camera.

Steady-state visual evoked potentials (SSVEP) are used as control signals, and the user’s EEG signals are captured by an EEG signal acquisition device, and real-time feedback from the robot is displayed using a head-mounted display. For navigation instructions, the researchers embedded an embedded camera in the robot and combined its real-time feedback with the SSVEP signals on the head-mounted display to form a form of interaction. The researchers used a visual SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) algorithm to implement the navigation instructions.

The control system of the head-mounted display BCI consists of several components: signal acquisition device, head-mounted display, humanoid robot, embedded camera, control algorithm, etc. The steps and results of WiMi’s BCI control system implementation are as follows:

EEG signal acquisition and processing:

The WiMi researchers first used a set of EEG signal interaction platforms for capturing the user’s EEG signals and processing those signals. The platform consists of a multi-channel amplifier, electrode caps, and data acquisition software to capture and store the user’s EEG signals in real-time. In processing the EEG signals, an efficient method is used, which is the extraction of SSVEP by frequency analysis of the signals. This method presents light flashes of a specific frequency to the user, and the user’s EEG signal will resonate at this frequency, thus enabling the extraction of control signals.

The researchers used an EEG signal acquisition device to capture the user’s EEG signals, a head-mounted display to show real-time feedback from the robot, and an embedded camera to provide navigation instructions. The control algorithm uses a visual SLAM algorithm to implement the navigation instructions, which models the environment and implements the navigation instructions from images of the environment captured by the robot’s camera.

Head-mounted display applications:

To provide feedback on the control signals, the researchers used a head-mounted display, which shows real-time images and states displayed through a built-in monitor. The head-mounted display utilizes high-resolution display technology to provide a more realistic experience of the virtual environment.

In addition, to better provide feedback on control signals, the researchers combined the display with the robot’s built-in camera. With the robot’s camera capturing images of the environment and displaying them on the head-mounted display, users can visualize the robot’s state and environmental information more intuitively. Specifically, the user is required to gaze at a specific frequency of light stimuli on the head-mounted display, which causes the user’s brain to emit a specific SSVEP signal. Once the signal is captured and processed, a control algorithm can determine the user’s intent based on the frequency and amplitude of the signal, such as moving the robot to turn left or right. The embedded camera captures the viewpoint of the robot in real-time, providing an image of the environment as well as feedback on the current position of the robot.

Navigation implementation:

Using the SLAM algorithm, an image of the robot’s environment is captured by the robot’s built-in camera and converted into a model of the robot’s environment. The algorithm is also able to estimate the robot’s position and provide navigation instructions to the user. The user can control the direction of the robot’s movement through SSVEP signals, while the head-mounted display shows the robot’s status and environmental information to provide more intuitive feedback to the user.

In addition, the researchers conducted an experimental evaluation of the control system to assess its performance in terms of control accuracy and interaction experience. The experimental results show that the control system can provide precise control signals as well as an immersive interactive experience, providing users with a novel way to control their robots.

Experimental evaluation:

To evaluate the performance of the system, the researchers conducted a series of experiments. The experiments included a user using the system for a robot navigation task and a control experiment using a traditional remote control for the task. The results of the experiments showed that users were able to perform navigation tasks more accurately and get better interaction when using the system.

The researchers conducted experiments to evaluate the control system, including performance in terms of control accuracy and interaction experience. In the experiment, participants were required to control the robot to walk to a specific location to complete a task in a simulated environment. The experimental results show that the control system can provide precise control signals with an average control accuracy of 98.1%. Meanwhile, users evaluated the system as a very good interaction experience, and considered it a very natural and intuitive way of interaction.

WiMi’s head-mounted display (HMD) for robot control via a brain-computer interface (BCI) demonstrates a new way of interaction, providing a more natural and intuitive way of control. Experimental results show that the control system can provide precise control signals. This control method has the potential to be used in many scenarios that require precise control, such as medical, educational, and entertainment fields. Subsequently, the control system can be combined with other sensor technologies, such as voice and gesture, to provide more diverse control. This navigation-assisted scheme provides users with a novel interaction method, which can improve the robot’s operation efficiency and interaction experience.

About WIMI Hologram Cloud

WIMI Hologram Cloud, Inc. (NASDAQ:WIMI) is a holographic cloud comprehensive technical solution provider that focuses on professional areas including holographic AR automotive HUD software, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR, head-mounted light field holographic equipment, holographic semiconductor, holographic cloud software, holographic car navigation and others. Its services and holographic AR technologies include holographic AR automotive application, 3D holographic pulse LiDAR technology, holographic vision semiconductor technology, holographic software development, holographic AR advertising technology, holographic AR entertainment technology, holographic ARSDK payment, interactive holographic communication and other holographic AR technologies.

Safe Harbor Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Among other things, the business outlook and quotations from management in this press release and the Company’s strategic and operational plans contain forward−looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward−looking statements in its periodic reports to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on Forms 20−F and 6−K, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases, and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Several factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward−looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s goals and strategies; the Company’s future business development, financial condition, and results of operations; the expected growth of the AR holographic industry; and the Company’s expectations regarding demand for and market acceptance of its products and services.

Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F and the current report on Form 6-K and other documents filed with the SEC. All information provided in this press release is as of the date of this press release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required under applicable laws.

Source: WiMi Hologram Cloud Inc.

PR Newswire

ePLDT Dominates PH Market with 12th VITRO Data Center

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Demand and anticipation from hyperscalers, CDNs, banks, BPOs, carriers, and national government fuel ePLDT’s expansion

MANILA, Philippines, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — ePLDT, the ICT subsidiary of PLDT, the Philippines fully integrated telecommunications and digital services provider, is set to further boost its 65% data center market capacity share by building its 12th data center facility. The announcement came during the W. Media Philippines Cloud and Datacenter Convention 2023, where ePLDT President & CEO Victor S. Genuino shared the company’s vision.

The decision to build the 12th data center, according to Genuino, is anchored on customers’ needs and aspirations to deliver digital innovation and promote inclusive economic growth. This also aligns with ePLDT’s vision to enhance Philippines’ regional competitiveness and attract investments post-pandemic.

“We want to be able to help the Philippines be the next hyperscaler hub of Asia while continuing to support the digital transformation journey of different sectors locally. That’s why we’ve been investing heavily in our ecosystem to ensure that our data centers will be a crucial enabler of the country’s digital economy,” added Genuino.

The 12th data center will have a power capacity of no less than 100 MW, further fortifying PLDT Group’s data center market leadership in the Philippines while leveraging on the massive infrastructure investment of the country’s largest telecommunication group.  

In a separate press briefing, Alfredo S. Panlilio, PLDT & Smart, Inc. President and CEO and ePLDT Chairman, explained that the expansion plans are strongly motivated by the growing demand from enterprise customers and hyperscalers, driving the Group’s vision for data center expansion.

Genuino also shared updates on ePLDT’s 11th data center, VITRO Sta. Rosa, which has already garnered significant interest from industry leaders, including hyperscalers, CDNs, banks, BPOs, carriers, and even the national government.

VITRO Sta. Rosa will be the largest and most advanced data center in the country, boasting a 50 MW power capacity. Designed to be Rated-3 Certified and Rated-4 Ready, it is fit to host the most critical and power-intensive IT infrastructure of hyperscalers and enterprises. 

With VITRO Sta. Rosa on the rise and a 12th data center facility underway, ePLDT’s power capacity will increase to around 200 MW once both sites are activated.

About ePLDT  

ePLDT is the industry-leading digital transformation partner of enterprises in the Philippines. Leveraging on the expertise and world-class telecommunication infrastructure of the PLDT Group, ePLDT aims to deliver customized ICT services through its suite of Multi-Cloud and Data Centers, which will enable enterprises to achieve their digital transformation vision.  

For more information about ePLDT, visit epldt.com.  

PR Newswire

Fractal EMS On-Track to Exceed 2023 Commitments

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AUSTIN, Texas, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Fractal EMS Inc (Fractal EMS) is excited to announce a new feature that adds DC-coupled solar+storage (PV+S) controls. The new software provides one platform and one interface for DC-coupled PV+S (AC-coupled projects use separate Fractal EMS controls for solar versus storage). Fractal EMS recently integrated their first DC-couple PV+S project, it was integrated on time and on budget.

Fractal EMS has 4 GWh of projects in operation and will nearly double this by integrating 25-30 projects in 2023. Daniel Crotzer, CEO, said “project financials are becoming more competitive. Owners want to self-integrate to avoid the 10%-15% integrator margin. Fractal EMS was designed to facilitate self-integration…it saves millions in CAPEX and OPEX.”

In addition to the new solar+storage platform, Fractal EMS has intensified its cyber security capabilities. This has been facilitated by implementing a Zero Trust Network Architecture (ZTNA) with industry leading policies, device/software compliance, Vulnerability Management, Incident Detection Remediation (IDR), and Security Information Event Management (SIEM). Fractal EMS provides cybersecurity monitoring & reporting and segments access based on least privilege methodology. In addition, Fractal EMS seamlessly integrates multiple security levels into “one pane of glass” for ease of management and increased efficiency.

About Fractal EMS
Fractal EMS is a fully vertical controls platform that includes software, controllers, integration and analytics (with optional monitoring, maintenance and bid optimization). Fractal provides all of the following: 1) controls 2) networking 3) SCADA 4) cybersecurity 5) HMI & historian. Fractal EMS has 4 GWh in operation globally and over 12 GWh of awarded projects. Visit the website for more information: www.FractalEMS.com

Source: Fractal EMS Inc.

PR Newswire

True and ZTE launch Joint Innovation Center to inject new vitality into Thailand’s digital transformation

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  • True and ZTE have jointly established the “True & ZTE Innovation Center” at True Digital Park in Bangkok.
  • The Joint Innovation Center offers endless possibilities, including ultra-high-capacity, optical networks, 5G wireless coverage, AI technology, Smart Factory, and various 5G applications.

BANGKOK, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — ZTE Corporation (0763.HK / 000063.SZ), a global leading provider of information and communication technology solutions, together with True Corporation, Thailand’s leading Telecom-tech company, have jointly launched the “True & ZTE Innovation Center” at True Digital Park in Bangkok. The innovative collaboration between True and ZTE will inject new vitality into Thailand’s digital transformation.

The “True & ZTE Innovation Center” aims to provide advanced digital solutions to Thai society and enterprises through technological, business, enterprise digital, and business model innovation. This will drive Thailand’s competitiveness in the global digital economy and jointly contribute to implementing Thailand’s digital strategy, serving Thailand’s digital strategy and social digital transformation.

Mr. Manat Manavutiveth, Chief Executive Officer of True Corporation Plc said, “Walking through the Innovation Center, you must have witnessed a large variety of cutting-edge digital products and solutions, which will play an important role in further promoting Thailand’s digitalization process and beyond.

“We look forward to close collaboration beyond the excellent relationship with ZTE to provide wireless and wired networks. The cooperation shows how we join force to provide cutting-edge digital products and solutions, which will play an important role in promoting Thailand’s digitalization process, providing good support for regional digitalization and reliable business environment. We therefore must efficiently capitalize on the Joint Innovation Center, which offers endless possibilities. Chief among them are: ultra-high-capacity, optical networks, 5G wireless coverage, AI technology, Smart Factory, and various 5G applications.”

Mr. Li Zixue, Chairman and Executive Director of ZTE Corporation, said, “Thailand is the most important strategic market for ZTE. We are very honored to be an important partner of True. The two sides support each other and develop together. We will continuously provide excellent wired and wireless network solutions, with comprehensive support of the highest priority. Today, in the event of the establishment of this Joint Innovation Center, we hope the cooperation between ZTE and True can become a benchmark and the model for digital cooperation between China and Thailand, to work together and create the cutting-edge digital network in Thailand, to develop Thailand’s digital economy and bring benefits to Thai people.”

As part of the center, ZTE and True will explore and apply the latest communication technologies, including Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS), network AI autonomy, extreme green and efficient networks, cloud IP, and portable industry core i5GC. This collaboration aims to provide efficient and reliable communication infrastructure for Thai enterprises to meet the needs of Thailand’s digital strategy.

Currently, enterprise digital innovation is one of the center’s core objectives. Through cooperation, True and ZTE will provide tailor-made innovative solutions, including digital factories, intelligent manufacturing, smart agriculture, intelligent logistics, AI machine vision applications, and frontline operational safety management. These solutions aim to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance production quality, helping enterprises achieve digital transformation and increase their competitiveness in the global market.

Furthermore, smart homes and smart living are also focal points of the innovation center. By applying AI technology and innovative solutions, the center aims to provide more convenient and intelligent experiences for personal and family life. Products such as smartphones, gaming phones, smart wearable devices, health trackers, glasses-free 3D tablets, cloud computers, WiFi 7 home routers, whole-home fiber optics, smart speakers, and smart home videos offer convenient living experiences. The users can remotely control lighting, temperature, curtains, televisions, air conditioners, and other household appliances using voice assistants or smartphones. In addition, the center offers personalized services and automated scenario settings based on environmental perception and user behavior so that life, learning, and residence can be more comfortable, safe, and convenient.

In collaboration with local ecosystem partners, the joint innovation center will thrive in the industry ecosystem through technological innovation, business innovation, enterprise digital innovation, and business model innovation. Additionally, the center will display innovative products, demonstrate innovative solutions, test new technologies, and cultivate digital skills and capabilities. ZTE will work hand in hand with True to embrace the bright future of digital society in Thailand, a vigorous, beautiful and colorful country!

MEDIA INQUIRIES:
ZTE Corporation
Communications
Email: ZTE.press.release@zte.com.cn

PR Newswire

Infobird to Expand Global Presence with Relocation of Operations to Hong Kong

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BEIJING, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Infobird Co., Ltd (Nasdaq: IFBD) (“Infobird” or the “Company”), a software-as-a-service provider of AI-powered customer engagement solutions in China, today announced its decision to relocate its operations from Beijing to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. This strategic move comes in response to the board of directors’ judgement of current business situation and economic environment, as well as the Company’s commitment to expand globally.

Infobird will relocate its operations to Hong Kong and recruit more local employees in the region. Additionally, Infobird plans to proactively expand its presence in the global market and cater to the diverse needs of customers worldwide by establishing new offices in other key locations such as Singapore, other parts of Southeast Asia, and Europe. The relocation represents a significant step of the Company towards becoming a global player in the software-as-a-service (“SaaS”) industry.

As part of its growth strategy, the Company will expand its business to focus on the SaaS segmented scenarios, particularly in the fields of finance, real estate and hotel management. By shifting its focus to high-margin market segments, Infobird aims to enhance its competitive advantage and generate positive cash flow.

Mr. Cheuk Yee Li, CEO of Infobird, commented, “Our relocation to Hong Kong marks a significant milestone for Infobird as we embark on an exciting journey towards global expansion. We are confident that this strategic move will enable us to better serve our international clientele and pave the way for innovations.”

In line with its global expansion plans, Infobird plans to actively seek strategic investments to fuel its growth and innovation and establish global research and development centers to drive continuous advancements in its technology and product offerings.

About Infobird Co., Ltd

Infobird, headquartered in Hong Kong, is a SaaS provider of AI-powered customer engagement solutions. For more information, visit Infobird’s website at www.Infobird.com. 

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “plans”, “will,” “future,” “expects,” “believes,” and “intends,” or similar expressions, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events, results, conditions or performance of the Company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date they are made. In evaluating such statements, investors and prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties and other matters identified in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks and uncertainties could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.

PR Newswire

Databricks Completes Acquisition of MosaicML

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The combined companies plan to make generative AI accessible to any size organization, enabling them to build, own and secure generative AI models with their data.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Databricks, the Data and AI company, announced it has completed its acquisition of MosaicML, a leading generative AI platform known for its state-of-the-art MPT large language models (LLMs). Databricks and MosaicML have a shared vision of making generative AI accessible for all organizations, enabling them to build, own and secure generative AI models, including LLMs with their proprietary data.

“Through this acquisition, we will be able to provide our 10,000 customers the ability to use their own data on the Databricks Lakehouse to train and deploy bespoke LLMs that offer a differentiated experience for their end users. Combining MosaicML with the Lakehouse provides a secure and best-in-class generative AI platform,” said Ali Ghodsi, Co-Founder and CEO of Databricks. “We are excited to welcome the MosaicML team of top AI researchers and engineers to the Databricks family and look forward to collaborating with them to build the future of data and AI.”

“Together with Databricks, we will empower enterprise customers to more securely and cost-effectively build LLMs and generative AI with their own data,” said Naveen Rao, Co-Founder and CEO at MosaicML. “Our team is excited to join the Databricks family and continue innovating for customers and the open source community.”

MosaicML’s product, which enables companies to efficiently build and deploy large AI models on their own data and business processes, will remain available for direct purchase. In the coming months, the Databricks and MosaicML teams will work to make training custom models even more seamless for Databricks Lakehouse customers.

The Databricks Lakehouse Platform, combined with MosaicML’s technology, will offer customers the state-of-the-art generative AI training platform while allowing them to retain control, security, and ownership over their valuable data.

About Databricks
Databricks is the Data and AI company. More than 10,000 organizations worldwide — including Comcast, Condé Nast, and over 50% of the Fortune 500 — rely on the Databricks Lakehouse Platform to unify their data, analytics and AI. Databricks is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices around the globe. Founded by the original creators of Delta Lake, Apache Spark™, and MLflow, Databricks is on a mission to help data teams solve the world’s toughest problems. To learn more, follow Databricks on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

PR Newswire

Conversation with Jane | Spain Welcome Travellers to Explore Off-The-Beaten-Path

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Through the “Conversation with Jane” series, Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun will engage leaders and individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries – with one goal in mind: an open discussion on the most trending topics.

MADRID, July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In this edition, the focus is on tourism, a topic close to Jane’s heart and one relevant to Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosana Morillo. During their meeting in Madrid earlier this month, the two leaders exchanged views on tourism, technology, among other topics.


From “sun and beach” tourism to a quality-focused industry

Spain is one of the world’s most-visited countries in the world, according to the country’s official statistics. After the pandemic, Spain’s tourism has seen a strong rebound, with two famous destinations, Barcelona and Madrid, listed in the top five most-booked summer destinations by Trip.com’s European customers.

“The travel forecast for this summer season is spectacular,” Ms. Morillo shared with Ms. Sun. “The number of visitors has surpassed the pre-pandemic level, and most importantly, travellers are spending more on travel this summer when compared to 2019.” However, Ms. Morillo added that the quantity of visitors isn’t their only focus. Currently, Spain’s tourism strategy has evolved from “mass, sun and beach” tourism to sustainable and quality tourism.

“Spain has a diverse range of landscapes and culture. While we have well-established destinations, we need to focus not just on increasing the number of visitors to these places but also on improving the quality of their experience. We should also aim to attract more travellers to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations,” said Ms. Morillo.

Having visited various parts of Spain, Ms. Sun agreed that the country has many hidden gems waiting to be discovered, adding that Trip.com Group has been preparing for the return of Chinese travellers to Spain since the outbreak of the pandemic. The online travel service provider has launched successful campaigns to keep customers interested in the country through content marketing strategies. These include influencer campaigns on its travel content platform, launching an official StarHub account for Spain, and creating curated lists for customers to explore travel inspiration in Spain.

While Spain has always been one of the most popular destinations for Chinese travellers, has there been a shift in their travel patterns or preferences in recent years?

Ms. Sun said, “The new generation of Chinese travellers seeks authentic and unique experiences in Spain. We provide them with the most exciting travel inspiration and reliable recommendations through our advanced technology and marketing capacity.”


Technology reshaping the future of tourism

Technology is revolutionising the tourism industry, and Trip.com Group is leading the way by using cutting-edge AI technology to enhance the customer experience. In 2016, the company pioneered the widespread adoption of AI technology for customer service, and over 75% of flight and hotel-related issues raised by customers are resolved through the AI chatbot today, without the need for these customers to speak to a customer service agent.

Earlier this year, Trip.com launched “TripGen”, a real-time AI travel assistant that provides users with instant suggestions on pre-trip decisions and in-trip arrangements. This innovative tool has made the entire travel process more enjoyable and stress-free.

Ms. Morillo agrees that technology is transforming the tourism industry in all aspects, not only from the stages of pre-booking, booking, and customer service, but it is also reshaping the ways of talent training and destination development.

“Technology will not only change the way people buy products but also the future of destinations. For example, we have seen many cities implementing technologies to direct the flow of passengers and improve mobility in the city, which will ultimately enhance the travel experience,” Ms. Morillo commented.


Women are the backbone of an organisation

Ms. Morillo assumed the State Secretary for Tourism role in December 2022, following a successful career spanning multiple sectors, including software, investment banking, and hospitality. “I think everybody should work in the public sector at some point in his or her life, because you can give back to the society and make a difference,” said Ms. Morillo.

Ms. Morillo is a strong advocate for gender equality in the workplace and encourages more women to take up leadership positions. “While the gender ratio in middle management teams in Spain is equal, it becomes increasingly unbalanced at higher management levels. This needs to change,” Ms. Morillo shared.

The Spanish government recently approved a draft Equal Representation Law that aims to promote more equal representation of women and men in politics, business, and other spheres of public life. While Ms. Morillo views this as a positive step, she believes that more needs to be done to create a truly gender-inclusive workplace.

Ms. Sun agrees and believes that striving for equal gender representation in senior management teams is the right thing to do and will lead to more rational and considerate decision-making for governments, companies, and organisations.

“With more than half of Trip.com Group employees and one-third of middle managers being female, women are the backbone of our business,” said Ms. Sun. “I look forward to further enhancing the figure in the near future.”

During their discussion, Ms. Sun also shared with Ms. Morillo’s the Group’s recently launched Childcare Subsidy programme. Under this new scheme, full-time employees with newborn children after 1 July 2023 will receive a subsidy of RMB 10,000 for each child on their first, second, third, fourth and fifth birthdays. The Group plans to invest RMB 1 billion as subsidies to support its employees in family planning and promote working families.

Over the years, Trip.com Group has introduced several family-friendly policies, including hybrid work and assisted reproduction benefits.

“As we have always said, our employees are our greatest asset. The launch of this new initiative is a testament to our commitment to supporting our employees to achieve their family and career goals,” said Ms. Sun. “Going forward, we will continue to create family-friendly workplaces across our various offices.”

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com.

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PR Newswire

Anthology Announces AI-powered Course Building Tools, New Student Success Features in Blackboard Learn

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New progress tracking, accessibility and course building tools streamline critical processes for instructors and provide key data to unlock learner success 

BOCA RATON, Fla., July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Anthology, a leading provider of education solutions that support the entire learner lifecycle, announced a host of new features, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), designed to help instructors create more engaging learning experiences more quickly and provide granular, easy-to-action insight on learners’ progress. The new capabilities – Accessibility Checker powered by Anthology Ally, Holistic Student Overview, Progress Tracking, and course building tools – are key innovations aimed at improving student success and retention and are the result of significant investment in Learn product development and the user experience.

“From the beginning, our team has been building a Learning Management System that, as part of a broader Anthology ecosystem, delivers meaningful, data-informed experiences that drive student success,” said Jim Milton, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Anthology. “This announcement is the next step along that journey, with features that simplify and streamline instructor processes while connecting data from the LMS and across the institution to deliver unprecedented insight.”

Demonstrating the company’s commitment to ethical and responsible use of AI guided by Anthology’s Trustworthy AI Framework – developed in collaboration with Anthology institutions – the new course-building capabilities in Blackboard Learn are designed to provide inspiration to instructors and instructional designers as they develop their courses and allow them to create more engaging learning experiences more quickly. Seamlessly embedded into Blackboard Learn’s workflows, the tools can suggest a possible course structure aligned with its learning outcomes, generate images, suggest test questions and grading rubrics, and drive toward more authentic assessment. The capabilities are opt-in and the instructor is always in control of the content generated.

“Traditionally, the LMS has been a static environment, focused on the management of the learning process,” said JD White, Chief Product Officer at Anthology. “With these new AI-powered features, we are fundamentally changing the equation by providing an experience that can deeply inspire in the pedagogical process. It means instructors can build more engaging courses more quickly.”

In addition to the AI features, Progress Tracking delivers easy-to-action and more granular insight into how a learner is performing, engaging, and progressing in a course, empowering instructors to better understand student engagement and quickly recognise and reach out to any learner needing help. Coupled with Holistic Student Overview – a comprehensive picture of a learner’s performance – Blackboard Learn provides an unprecedented level of insight into a learner’s journey.

All institutions that use Blackboard Learn Ultra will also gain a digital content reviewing tool – Accessibility Checker powered by Anthology Ally. The tool reviews and flags course content with accessibility issues for instructors, allowing them to quickly remediate issues like missing alternative text for images.

Anthology also launched a new digital adoption solution – Anthology Adopt powered by Pendo – to provide institutions with valuable insights and enables administrators to deploy in-app messaging to guide users on features and functionality to improve their overall experience and help drive and scale adoption.

Institutions continue to choose the powerful benefits of Blackboard Learn Ultra. The number of courses taught in Learn Ultra has increased by 50 percent since June 2022 and take-up is increasing at an accelerating pace in 2023. It has never been easier to transition to Learn Ultra with new tools such as the Ultra Adoption Toolkit and bulk course conversion. The planning, change management, and conversion tools – built in partnership with Blackboard Learn institutions, their instructors, and users – together are powering the fastest, most efficient conversion process and can also be utilised by clients migrating from other LMSs.

The AI-powered tools are scheduled to enter testing environments for Blackboard Learn Ultra clients in August and planned for production in September. The features are included for all Learn clients that choose to make them available. Accessibility Checker powered by Anthology Ally, Progress Tracking, and Holistic Student Overview are now available to Learn Ultra institutions globally.

About Anthology

Anthology offers the largest EdTech ecosystem on a global scale for education, supporting more than 150 million users in 80 countries. With a mission to provide dynamic, data-informed experiences to the global education community through Anthology Intelligent Experiences™, we help learners, leaders and educators achieve their goals by offering over 60 SaaS products and services designed to advance learning. Discover more about how we are fulfilling our mission for education, business and government institutions at www.anthology.com.

Contact:

Erin Mitchell
Anthology
Erin.Mitchell@anthology.com 

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PR Newswire

Introducing Unitree Go2 – Quadruped Robot of Embodied AI

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HANGZHOU, China, July 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — On 12 July, Unitree unveiled its latest quadruped robot – the Unitree Go2, which features embodied AI. This product is expected to revolutionize the consumer-grade quadruped robots industry, leading to a transformation of the sector. Back in June 2021, Unitree released its first side-follow bionic robot—Go1, a technological breakthrough that attracted widespread attention and generated discussions worldwide upon its release. As a leading company in science and technology innovation, Unitree is now back, once again leading the industry! Equipped with standard 4D ultra-wide LiDAR and empowered by GPT’s large language model, Unitree Go2 of embodied AI joins you in exploring the future world!

Introducing Unitree Go2 - Quadruped Robot of Embodied AI
Introducing Unitree Go2 – Quadruped Robot of Embodied AI

Unitree Go2, as a quadruped robot, is not only advanced in its configuration and cool appearance, but also offers a range of interactive functions, perfectly simulating the behaviour of a real pet dog. This create a more intimate and enjoyable human-robot interaction experience. Now, Unitree Go2 is coming with a starting price from $1,600 (tax and freight excluded),

1. Standard 4D ultra-wide LIDAR upgrades recognition System by 200%.

Go2 features Unitree’s self-developed 4D LIDAR L1 with 360°x90°hemispherical ultra-wide recognition, super small blind spot and a minimum detection distance as low as 0.05m, enabling it to recognize different terrains.

2. Embodied Intelligence: AI+robot, Go2 is born with the empowerment of GPT

GPT embraces great language capacity and a large language base, which enables Go2 to fully understand its user’s intention and better comprehend its surroundings. Also, Go2 is able to make decisions based on information from its sensor. The increasing information it stores adds its unique characteristics, making it the closest friend of its user.

3. Remote control+long endurance+high-performance motor, hardware upgrades make the robot a new intelligent friend.

To execute more complex actions, Go2 had its motor performance enhanced by 30% with a peak joint torque of 45N.m. A new internal trace connecting technique allows greater flexibility and smoother movement for the robot. Besides, it is also equipped with a battery capacity increased to 8,000mAh, with an optional 15,000mAh ultra-long life battery available for even longer operation. What may surprise you most is that Go2 also features with 4G module, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2 and more stable and various network connections.

4. Gait + Posture + Offline Interaction, software upgrades make the robot understand you better.

To better adapt to different terrains, Go2 adopts an advanced Operation and Control System to realize more graceful pacing and stronger balance, including going up and down stairs, jumping, headstand, handshake and flip. In addition, Go2’s voice assistant including offline voice commands has been fully upgraded, which means that users can control the robot’s movements and functions through voice commands even when there is no internet.

5. Image transformation+force sensor+OTA Upgrades, enjoy limitless fun in the new App.

Go2 provides real-time image transmission and radar altitude map display, which helps users to check the surroundings anytime and anywhere. The app also supports displaying ethe parameters of each sensor, so as to have a clearer picture of the robot’s operation status. Besides, equipped with 4G module, it can control the robot in an over-the-horizon distance. Another advantage is that it supports OTA upgrades. The robot automatically connects to UnitreeCloud and upgrades and optimises its own program through OTA service, thus continuously improving user experience.

6. Robotic Arm+charging pile+ high computing power module, equipped with more advanced tech devices

Go2 is equipped with a servo robotic arm, which can complete grasping, carrying and other actions. Combined with navigation LIDAR, high computing power module and charging piles, Go2 achieves home guarding, independent inspection route planning, and positioned shoot and record, and provides acoustic and visual alarms when encountering anomalies. Also, it is worth mentioning that Go2 can also carry a range of powerful and high-performance accessories to suit different customer needs, bringing even more possibilities for exploring the real world.

Announcing Unitree Go2 marks another revolution in the field of robotics. This robot is not only an outstanding example of high-tech achievements, but also an indispensable part of future intelligent life. It can be applied in many fields, such as family entertainment, intelligent assistant, education and training, medical care, offering people more convenient, intelligent and efficient services. We believe that as Unitree continues to explore and innovate, it will keep leading the development of the quadruped robot industry. When exposed to the charm of science and technology, we want to invite you to create a better technological world and a brighter human future with Unitree Go2.

To find out more about where you can purchase a Go2 quadruped robot, visit our website.

Official: www.unitree.com/en/go2
Store Go2: https://bit.ly/43t9R5d
Youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zPvT0ig1VM
Business cooperation: sales_global@unitree.cc
Business contact: +86 15776583869
Marketing cooperation: pr@unitree.com

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Yes 5G Better (2)gether with a Free Nothing Phone (2)

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The Nothing Phone (2) was only just announced last week. The smartphone made its Malaysian debut at the Nothing Drop on the 15th of July at Crossover in Mid Valley Megamall in Malaysia. The drop was sold out in a matter of hours. Now, the smartphone is becoming more accessible with a partnership with Yes 5G by YTL Communications.

Yes 5G X Nothing 2 1
Source: Yes 5G

The partnership will bring the Nothing Phone (2) to consumers at no cost – just a subscription to Yes 5G’s Infinite+ Ultra Plan for MYR178. The subscription comes with unlimited, unthrottled data on both 5G and 4G networks, 110GB data for hotspot and tethering, unlimited domestic calls, and – if you need it – supplementary lines at MYR20. Of course, to be eligible for the free Nothing Phone (2), you will need to sign a contract for 3 years.

That said if you don’t want to be on a contract for 3 years, you can opt to get the Nothing Phone (2) with their Yes Infinite Basic Plan at a discounted subscription price of MYR38. The plan comes with similar features as the Infinite+ Ultra plan with a more limited 20GB of data for tethering and hotspot. Subscribing to this plan with entitle you to a Nothing Phone (2) at MYR3,499. However, you do get an MYR20 rebate on the MYR58 plan for 12 months, giving you savings of MYR240.

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Source: Yes 5G Online Store

The offer is available online from the Yes Online Store, Yes Exclusive Stores and at selected Yes Flagship stores starting on July 22, 2023. If you can’t wait until then, you can pre-register for Yes 5G’s open sale happening on July 22, 2023. The first 100 customers at the Yes Experience Store at Lot 10 in Kuala Lumpur can purchase the Nothing Phone (2) with the exclusive Nothing Launch Edition set which comes bundles with the Ear (Stick), a 45W adapter and a case for the Phone (2).