The popularity of wedding drone photography is constantly rising. It’s not surprising because these flying machines can take really amazing photos and videos. But many people still aren’t sure about the necessity of aerial photography at weddings or different events. We’ve gathered for you the most important information you need to know about drones if you want to use them for a wedding (See our review of the best drones).

When using drones, safety comes first.

It may not be the information you wanted to read first. But safety is a necessary measure and you should always keep it in mind if you have decided to get some pictures from a drone. The drone itself is a little helicopter that has a camera. When the drone operator has no required skills, the risk to have some unpleasant accidents rises.

Professionalism and planning are necessary.

The drone pilot should have insurance, extended knowledge on how to operate the vehicle, an established safety plan, and excellent coordination with facility managers, wedding photographers, and the couple. Otherwise, the whole wedding party may be in danger. It is also important to be sure that your photographer and videographer cooperates with the drone pilot. You need to discuss all the plans and details with them because everyone should be aware of the other professional’s actions.

Check all the needed paperwork.

Personal property and liability insurance for commercial unmanned aerial vehicles are required for every drone pilot. In case something goes wrong, the damaged object will be restored and the operator can feel safe. This aspect shouldn’t be neglected. You need to be sure that your drone operator has taken all possible safety precautions.

Drones show a whole new perspective.

It is quite easy to find a professional drone pilot in order to shoot your wedding. But professional pictures made from the drone are quite different from the usual photos. You’ll want to be sure that all photos will be amazing because your wedding is a very special day. Drones provide an entirely new style of capturing your wedding. They bring you a unique opportunity to memorize that will never be forgotten in a completely fascinated way.

Take advantage of your location.

The drone camera can capture dynamic photos and videos that demonstrate the scale and style of your event. Drones offer unusual and great prospects for stunning places where people choose to get married. If you decided to tie the knot on an exotic beach, in a flower valley or in another amazing place, imagine that you are viewing your wedding album on your 25th anniversary and get a stunning aerial shot of your wedding venue. This is a wonderful way to take complete advantage of the magnificent location that you have chosen.

You can make your dreams real.

Drones can be very versatile and can add some creativity to plain wedding photos. A good idea is to gather all your guests to spell out words or you may organize a group photo in another way. You can also get a magnificent photo of a just the married couple surrounded by a sprawling cityscape or landscape. The contrast between the closeness of this moment and the epic splendor of the perspective makes these shots very impressive.

A drone can operate in the cold.

Drones are quite sturdy, but you should remember that they are still electronic devices. That means that you shouldn’t use them in nasty humid weather. But cold weather will not stop them. As soon as the drone starts to discharge, it will produce its own warmth.

Cold air is denser, so the drone can get even more lift. You can get some extra minutes of flight in winter but it is a controversial advantage. If your marriage takes place in a cold climate, you still will not be able to take many pictures of your guests on the street.

Drones need a lot of space.

It is better to use drones outside, but sometimes it is possible to fly them inside if the drone pilot has good skills. It is also important that the ceiling is high enough to guarantee that the drone and people are not in danger. But even if you have a lot of space, it is still better not to use a drone in a ceremony indoors because it is quite noisy. Open space remains a better option for drones.

When you decided to have an outdoor wedding, we recommend you to think about drone photography. This will be especially appropriate for family property. You will be able to look from above at the place where you spent your childhood. Or if you have a wedding on a ship, a drone is the one and only who is able to take pictures of your party.

Close-ups are not available with your drone.

Drones should never get in the way, so it is better to avoid close-ups. It would be not only very dangerous but also unpleasant, distractive and loud. Drones don’t record sound, so you will not be able to take your wedding vows on video. But they can capture the whole view. You can film a walk, the moment when the couple meets the officiant near the church and many other fascinating details. So you’ll get the whole picture of the wedding without spoiling the most intimate moments.

Take a review of Instagram marketing so that you can provide your wedding couple with ideas to share their special day on this social media.

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Today, even the field of dentistry is rich in creative entrepreneurs who actively create and introduce goods and services that may seem cool and unusual to you. Startups and innovative inventions in the field of dentistry which will surprise you. You’ll find eight unusual ideas for a dentistry business.

There are startups and inventions in the field of dentistry that will surprise you.

1. Mobile Dentistry

The best trip to the dentist is one that you’ll never make. The idea of never going to a dentist is the opinion of a businessman from San Francisco who created the HomeCareDentist mobile dentistry service. The client doesn’t have to go to the clinic and stand in an endless line. Doctors will come to the patient’s home or office.

To make this service genuinely convenient for customers, the company considered working 24 hours a day. Mobile dentistry services are quite extensive and may include usual dental cleaning and even specialized care procedures. The company employees have mobile sets of equipment that easily fit in the trunk of a car.

2. Tooth Sensors for Tracking Food Intake

Tufts University engineers have created a compact food sensor that mounts on a tooth. The sensor has tiny dimensions (2 by 2 millimeters) but despite its size, it has excellent capabilities. It can recognize glucose and salt concentration, alcohol and other substances in food and drinks that a person consumes.

These substances shift the sensor’s electrical properties and cause it to transmit a different spectrum of radiofrequency waves. It is expected that soon such tools will help healthcare professionals to determine the relationship between the food a person consumes and overall health.

3. Oral Care Drink

Canadian startup DoseBiome has created a drink that improves oral health and reduces the risk of tooth decay. The drink is called Qii and has a neutral pH level, which means you have no chance of enamel erosion and tooth decay.

Qii has green tea with lemongrass and ginger flavors. According to manufacturers, the drink is sugar-free and doesn’t contain gluten, GMOs, and soy. Taking care to take out harmful ingredients will equal fewer visits to your family dentist, in fact, healthier drinks have become a huge growth segment for companies of all sizes. Think about brands like La Croix and Bubbly selling millions of cans of seltzer which is undermining teeth rotting drink sales like Pepsi and Red Bull. Dentists are the first line of salespeople for healthier beverages, especially when finishing a procedure or getting a patient set up with the best invisible braces and best health practices so they don’t have to come back as often.

4. Smart Music Toothbrush

BleepBleeps has come up with a new type of business by creating a music toothbrush. The brush is equipped with a player and a speaker. When you brush your teeth, the Benjamin Brush plays the owner’s favorite songs. They last at least two minutes, which is the recommended minimum amount of time we should brush our teeth.

5. A Warm Dentistry Clinic

One of the main trends in dentistry today is a calm, comfortable, and friendly clinic interior. A vivid example of this trend is a dental clinic in Tianjin City created by the Rigi Design project.

In addition to light and bright colors, the designers decided to make an informal arrangement of furniture. The clinic’s design is inspirational and lightweight, which is very different from the usual patient’s vision of “scary” dental offices.

6. Dental Button

Studies show that almost half of American adults don’t regularly visit the dentist because they are afraid. Based on this fact, one of the American dentists, Rob Walker, invented an unusual device for dental offices, which is called the Dental Button. A bright red button is mounted into the handlebar of the dental chair.

The patient can press it at any time, like when they feel the slightest discomfort or pain. The dentist will immediately stop what he is doing until the patient feels comfortable again to continue. It was experimentally found that the feeling of control over the process through the dental button reduces the level of patient’s fear and excitement by 80 percent.

7. MTG Dental Camera

MTG is a convenient camera that works with a mobile app and allows taking pictures of teeth to locate dental problems. You can choose a dentist and send your photos for express analysis.

The author of the idea, Jorge Trevino Blanco, hopes that the device he invented will help consumers keep their teeth in good shape and prevent serious dental complications.

8. Therapy Dogs

Dentists in Queensland (Australia) use an unusual way to reduce the stress of patients. They’ve employed therapy dogs to provide comfort and affection (and detect when people need it).  Therapy dogs are now actively providing comfort and support to people in many different places.

Animals, especially dogs, can visit children’s hospitals, nursing homes, and even prisons, where they bring joy and life into sometimes hopeless situations.

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If you are a hardworking, ambitious, and active person and are fond of fulfilling goals and achievements, perhaps work stress is familiar to you. Stress is a natural body’s reaction to extraordinary situations that require survival. It’s a complicated biochemical process that includes the release of certain hormones and a bunch of physical manifestations. There are ways to handle stress, and here are four effective ways to manage work stress.

Is it possible to fully manage your stress? It isn’t a conscious process, but it can indeed be processed. Today, people don’t need to fight wild beasts or chase prey. Now our prey is our careers and life goals, and our fight is with the numerous responsibilities. The circumstances have changed, but our reaction to irritants hasn’t.

How Work-Related Stress Affects Us

The problem of work stress is being studied since the 1960s. Every company that values its human resources provides management techniques to reduce stress in its employees. Reducing stress requires schedule planning, bonuses, extra holidays, or even psychotherapist’s help. Each company chooses its own techniques to cope with stress in the workforce.

Let’s see what manifestations work-related stress may have on people who are exposed to it.

Physical discomfort.

Some jobs require long periods of sitting or standing. Certain require frequent trips to different climate zones or deprive employees of night sleep. Remaining in steadily uncomfortable conditions leads to lifestyle health issues such as obesity, chronic back pain, fatigue, poor sleep, and headaches.

Emotional challenges.

Emotions are involved in any activity we’re engaged in. Emotions related to occupational factors may be very intense and devastating. Usually, the most stress-causing negative emotions related to work are associated with professional ethics, multi-tasking, or a lack of motivation to move further.

Informational overload.

Some jobs require informational overload that causes stress and may lead to mental depressions or a breakdown in thinking. These pressures can also happen to ambitious people who have several jobs or combine work with studying. However, entrepreneurs, startups, and most career hunters will be exposed to informational overload.

Problems in communication.

If you don’t work remotely, it’s impossible to go without interaction with people. If we work together, we have to communicate. Where there is communication, there will always be stress factors. Introverts are especially exposed to this type of job stress because communication is a  challenge for them.

Management-related problems.

The higher your position is in the company, the more organizational responsibilities you have. Controlling and motivating employees, solving conflicts, being in charge of finances. All these tasks require accuracy, accountability, and concentration. It’s a great strain for one person. But it’s not just the managers that are exposed to this. Regular employees suffer from poor managing skills of their bosses.

Symptoms of Occupational Stress

If you notice these symptoms, you should think of ways to process the stress at work you are exposed to:

• Sleep disorders
• Frequent headaches
• Reduced concentration and memory
• A feeling of fatigue that doesn’t go away
• A weak immune system that results in frequent infections and other related problems
• Gastrointestinal diseases
• The feeling of depression, anxiety or irritability

If you can relate to everything mentioned above, it’s time to add some self-love into your tight daily schedule. Below are tips on fighting your work-related stress.

Body relaxation techniques.

You can practice them right in your workplace. A helpful technique is to relax all your body parts one by one. Focusing on your physical self will help you distract and process your negative emotions. These exercises came from yoga.

It’s sad that some people are so stressed that they have problems even with relaxing their muscles. Such a situation requires relaxation self-teaching, including meditation, massage, or special breathing techniques. [Inhale slowly to the count of four, hold your breath for four counts and slowly breathe out to four counts.]

Quick physical help.

If some situation that happened during your working day pushed you into the abyss of stress, try to move it out. Take a 15-minutes break and try to move your body to boost blood flow. You can take a little walk, wipe the dust off your table, or even perform a short workout.

Exercise it out.

During physical exercises, our body releases hormones that help us feel happier and overcome the negative consequences of stress. Include workouts into your daily schedule, even if it seems too tight for them to fit. This is necessary to be physically and mentally healthy.

Love yourself.

Even if you did something wrong or faced negativity from your colleagues, focus on the good things you did in this situation. You may not have done anything at all, and this can still be a benefit, at least by not making it worse. Learn to see any situation from a positive angle, and you will notice that you will feel less stress.

Remember that you are your own most valuable resource and always take good care of yourself!

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The use of artificial intelligence in business is gaining popularity. According to SAS, 80% of companies from different industries expect that AI will significantly affect their activities over the next five to 10 years. Fiery enthusiasm can slightly cool when there is a lack of organizational readiness. Some businesses have had their doubts about adapting too early. A common reason for this is the conventional wisdom that artificial intelligence can only be played by big players. But is this true? Here’s how to tame artificial intelligence with a brief guide for business.

A couple of examples of how to tame artificial intelligence.

A small accounting office is making great efforts to make bookkeeping quick and easy. It launches a series of research and develops cloud software using AI, to automate bookkeeping for its clients. In 2017, it was awarded the title of Practice Excellence Pioneer. This is the most prestigious award in accounting. In the same year, its income exceeds the mark of 1 million. Pretty good result for a company with just 30 employees.

The Big Apple Diamond Jewelry Store fights in the toughest competition. AI became a salvation for the virtual seller who uses it to analyze the global diamond market. In a  few seconds, it processes a million pieces of information to find the perfect wedding ring option for the client. Buyers are delighted: the end of an exhausting search! 

“Okay,” you say. “They were convinced. But where to start? ”. Because everyone is talking about AI today but the explanations from which side to approach it are less obvious. Well, it makes sense to start with definitions.

What is artificial intelligence explained in a narrow sense and in a broader sense?

The term “artificial intelligence” today is used in a narrow and broad sense. In the narrow sense of AI – this software that simulates the work of the human brain. In a broader sense, “artificial intelligence” is a generic term used to denote a range of technologies:

1. Machine learning.

Machine learning is based on the use of statistical tools. With it, computer systems learn to use a variety of data to improve their own performance. This is done with minimal human intervention, and with none at all. An example is a face recognition system on Facebook.

2. Smart Robotics.

Today’s smart machines are systems based on artificial intelligence, learning by analyzing information from the outside world. They are already used in a number of industries and perform a wide variety of tasks, starting with creating dental implants and ending with cooking pizza.

3. Virtual Assistants.

Virtual Assistant is a software product that provides customers with round-the-clock assistance in using websites or finding the right information. Perhaps you already had the chance to meet Amy from X.ai or Watson from IBM – that’s them.

4. Automated Solution Management.

The operation of such services is based on the ability of regulated systems to make decisions regarding recurring issues without human intervention. AI-based solution management systems are already used in logistics and human resource management.

5. Data processing using natural language.

This technology is aimed at data processing and their transformation into a text that is understandable to humans. Forbes uses it to generate income reports, and the Canadian Ministry of the Environment uses it to generate weather forecasts.

The Introduction of Artificial Intelligence in the Business.

It is impossible to introduce artificial intelligence in the work of the company for a couple of days. Preliminary audit and optimization of existing processes is a long process. If you do not want to be overboard in 5-7 years, it’s time to start.

Explore Artificial Intelligence Technologies.

Find out what is meant by each of them and how they can be applied. There are many educational materials on Udemy, Coursera, and Udacity. NVIDIA has developed a detailed list of AI courses for various levels, from beginners to advanced. Use the products with artificial intelligence yourself to understand what you like about them and what doesn’t. Think how your customers can use something like this when dealing with your products.

Review Your Business.

Ask yourself where in your industry you can use advantages from artificial intelligence. Or, on the contrary, what is slowing down your company compared to competitors, and how AI would help you gain momentum. 

For example, if you have a problem with leads, consider the possibility of using machine learning for lead generation. If with attracting customers through the site – maybe you need a chatbot. Consider how you can improve existing services with it. As options for improving the website, optimizing marketing campaigns, improving customer service, and building a social strategy. Identify measurable goals and contact a technical consultant for help.

Make a Preliminary Assessment and Love the Data.

Estimate the cost of implementation. AI differs from conventional software that it’s not possible to install and forget. The machine learning process needs to be monitored. To learn, AI needs data – a lot of data collected in one place. So collect it. Include everything: your CRM data, advertising campaigns, traffic analysis, customer behavior on social networks, public competitor data, etc. Check if your IT department needs to be rebuilt to meet the requirements of implementing AI-based solutions.

Findings.

Just as the Internet has completely changed our lives over the past twenty years, so artificial intelligence will soon become the most powerful engine of transformation in the near future. And the sooner you begin to analyze how to use it to promote your business, the better you will be prepared for new market challenges.

The success of the introduction of artificial intelligence depends largely on practical readiness. The latter implies the availability of the necessary tools and qualified personnel. The initial steps for rooting AI into your company’s business processes include:

• acquaintance with artificial intelligence technologies;
• thorough business analysis for the introduction of new technical solutions;
• preliminary assessment of the cost and quality of labor;
• data consolidation;
• IT service adaptation to new working conditions;
• identification of an experimental segment for a trial launch.

All this may seem too complicated at first glance. But do not panic. In fact, there are many more chances to fail when running traditional software than when it comes to AI.

The post How to Tame Artificial Intelligence: A Brief Guide for Business appeared first on ReadWrite.

Despite all the joys that technological progress brings us this progress still leaves many with a question: “So what if so many people still don’t live to mature age?” How can a new technical toy help a man suffering from cancer? However, everything is not so sad – even when it comes to such seemingly frivolous things as virtual reality glasses. Virtual reality can saves lives and isn’t only for fun.

VR is still primarily associated with games and movies.

Nevertheless, scientists are more and more interested in it — and not for leisure. In recent years, VR has proven its ability to solve important problems. For example, in medicine, including the most problematic places in this industry.

Areas of Medicine Where VR Can Be Useful

Cardiovascular diseases.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels are the biggest cause of premature death. It’s not easy to deal with the heart, because it is a very complex organ. It’s incredibly hard to understand what’s going on inside. It requires both quick responses, balanced and accurate decisions. What does virtual reality have to offer here?

First of all, modeling. Ask any surgeon – and he will tell you how hard it is to imagine, and then also describe what the heart is in three dimensions. But it is also not static. At least, static – this is not what the surgeon would like to see during the operation when dealing with the heart. How to avoid a fatal error?

Avoiding a fatal error is where virtual reality glasses come to the rescue.

In the Stanford Virtual Heart program, for example, you can explore the human heart from the inside with a VR headset. The program was launched by the School of Medicine at Stanford University with the support of VR Oculus. It helps students identify heart defects and teaches them to understand what is happening with the patient. 

But the VR headset and its benefits are not limited to careful observation. This system saves a lot of money and costs much less than the plastic models that were used before. It is planned to develop up to thirty models, allowing to explore problems of the heart with the help of virtual reality glasses.

Another area of effective application of virtual reality in medicine is post-stroke rehabilitation.

Often, people who have experienced a stroke are experiencing complications with restoring their motor activity. But VR helps these patients get on their feet faster by teaching them to control the digital avatars of their bodies. Visualization of movements helps to awaken nerve endings out of sleep.

Cancer

Although cancer does not rank first among the causes of death, the suffering that it carries with it causes people to have the most powerful emotional response. Physical pain is the main challenge that cancer throws to patients, their relatives, and doctors. Currently, opioids are used as a painkiller for cancer patients, but their anesthetic effect is unstable and gradually decreases over time.

The output help for cancer patients offers virtual reality, and is based on a distracting effect.

Immersion in the virtual world floods the brain with sensory information. It reduces its ability to process information about pain. It has been proven that VR reduces the concentration-time for pain by up to 48%, and opioids by only 10%. Virtual reality effectively combats anxiety and stress in cancer patients, especially in young people.

Companies KindVR, and Oncomfort, who see their mission in helping sufferers, have developed several programs using VR to reducing pain. Patients are able, among other things, to travel the underwater world or to visit Iceland.

Another possibility of virtual reality in the treatment of cancer is the exchange of experience in complex operations.

In 2016, a thirteen-thousandth medical intervention was broadcast on 360° video. British surgeon Shafi Ahmed used VR to share knowledge and practical skills with students and colleagues from around the world.

Respiratory diseases

Respiratory diseases are a serious global problem. It is estimated that more than 6 million people worldwide suffer from asthma, COPD, tuberculosis, and pulmonary hypertension. Diseases of the lower respiratory tract are the most common cause of mortality in children under the age of five. Very often, irreversible consequences result from improper use of inhalers and a lack of knowledge about how to behave during an attack.

Virtual applications help people with asthma cope with their symptoms starting from the age of five. They teach how to use an inhaler and how to breathe properly – sometimes it can save lives. The use of VR in the treatment of respiratory diseases is still in its initial stage, but certain steps in this direction have already been made.

There are attempts to introduce VR into the protocol of artificial ventilation of the lungs, which should reduce the risk of physiological and psychological complications during ventilation.

Diabetes

In this area, VR is primarily used for educational purposes, both for physicians and patients. For example, Diabetes Voyager uses Oculus VR and Microsoft Kinect to guide users through the heart, brain, and vascular system of a diabetic. The student has the opportunity to face the challenges that diabetes gives, including achieving a normal level of glycated hemoglobin, avoiding hypoglycemia, and fighting weight gain.

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease is the dominant type of dementia. It affects millions of people around the world, and the number of people suffering from it is constantly growing. Unlikely that you can simply dismiss this problem by explaining it to simple aging; scientists  have began a direct call to work on this problem. 

The main test for people with Alzheimer’s and dementia is in isolation.

It manifests itself in various fields: speech, interaction with the environment, and memory. The use of VR in this area is based on the principle of neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to re-form synapses when interacting with an enriched environment.

Scientists, along with programmers, develop programs that, on one hand, can revive the previous life experiences of older people. The VR stimulates positive emotions by using scenarios of traveling to exotic places, and observing wildlife. VR gives dementia sufferers a chance to feel alive and maintain a sense of self-worth.

Alleviating bordom in the lives of Alzheimer’s sufferers is not the only application for VR in the fight against this ailment.

Virtual reality technology makes possible to identify the risk of the disease at the age of eighteen based on data of the passage of the virtual labyrinth to the subjects. This helps scientists better understand how the disease develops and how it can be prevented.

Future Prospects

We have described just a few examples of how virtual reality is used in medicine. However, the potential for this technology is immense. Medical VR applications are becoming more and more diverse and can be developed for the needs of both private and state medical institutions.

In addition to training, simulation of operations, treatment of psychological disorders and distraction from pain, they can be used to diagnose and minimize labor costs during labor-intensive operations. There is a project dedicated to creating a VR application aimed at diagnosing specific and complex eye diseases.

The solution proposed by the developers reduce the number of personnel involved in the diagnosis and helps eye doctors obtain more accurate data on the nature of the disease.

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We are currently going through some serious transformations in the current workflow. The format and speed of work are changing, and the office environment is changing as well. Customers are increasingly asking architects to create offices that are not just functional and with specific brand-specific aesthetics, but also include areas for recreation, communication, and sports. Such offices increase labor productivity and make it easier to come up and implement bold ideas faster.

To create a healthy “green” office space, it is necessary to push the boundaries of standard perception, for example: “every employee should have their own stationary workplace” or “it is most convenient to work while sitting.” Technical progress, ergonomics, and knowledge of the basics of a healthy lifestyle will help us with this task. In a healthy office, the working day turns into a healthy event. We have compiled seven rules for a healthy office interior.

7 Rules for a Healthy Office

1. Creating an acoustic comfort.

Not all office employees are satisfied with their open space workplace and believe that they could be much more productive in a quieter space. Many employees spend half their time in concentration — but the calm may not be solving their problems.

If we talk about simple building techniques: open ceilings, glass partitions, enclosing walls and windows, linoleum on the floor – all this together dampen up to 3% of the sound or reflects it (glass jar effect). The easiest ways to improve the situation are the use of carpets, suspended ceilings and separation screens of workstations above eye level, as well as phyto walls.

Often we have to resort to unique means, like closing glass, bare concrete, and other glossy surfaces, creating physical barriers to sound in the form of screens, soft and “green” phyto walls. Popular booths and mini-rooms for noisy telephone conversations. Decorative elements made of felt and other sound-absorbing materials help reduce decibels inside the room which helps employees not be distracted by annoying noises.

2. Use every square foot as a benefit for the body.

If you are lucky enough to have a courtyard, you can hold meetings there in good weather, put outdoor furniture so that employees can dine in the fresh air, you can even organize a small sports ground. Sports help to shift attention and get some rest in a short amount of time.

Air quality for both sports and work must be at the highest standard. To do this, the building itself should have high-quality ventilation and air-conditioning systems, “smart” humidity control systems. Some devices will help not only to control the smell but also to create pleasant fragrances.

Since all five human senses are involved in the perception of any space, to bring the interior concept to perfection, aroma designs are now gaining popularity. The fragrance allows you to create an atmosphere appropriate to the room.

The terrace is not a waste of working space, as was previously thought, but a bargain purchase. Here you can hold meetings, including with clients (fresh air removes barriers), celebrate collective holidays, and have a good rest for a few minutes.

3. Let there be light.

It is essential to plan and arrange the workplaces so that employees receive a lot of sunlight. You can use unique films to control the level of insolation. They will protect against ultraviolet radiation and allows the air inside the room to not heat up.

You should also pay attention to the lamps that will be used in the office. Incorrectly designed light not only hurts eyesight but also increases fatigue. The optimum light temperature and the shade of light, suitable for the office, will be selected by the lighting technicians, who, as a rule, are hired during the project development phase.

4. Oxygen cocktail.

Using plants is an inexpensive and effective way to reduce employee stress and improve the office environment. They are a powerful antioxidant, anti-stress and air purifier. They can fight with bronchitis and seasonal epidemics, pathogenic microbes, and fungi. They also release many useful substances into the surrounding space. Plants help increase the humidity of the air, fight dust, ionize the air, and fill the room with pleasant aromas.

5. Creating different scenarios for work.

The working space should be dynamic, that is, employees can work not only sitting, but also standing, sometimes even lying down. An inexpensive way to change the position of the body – several puffs, pillows or levels can be placed in a room or distributed throughout the office. Many furniture factories offer exciting solutions for work from different points of the office, for example, benches with built-in USB charging ports, or a place for exercise.

Some companies – especially those in the creative industry – take into account the fact that employees can get carried away with work so much that they forget about sleep. Therefore, the office can be equipped with special recreation areas where employees can nap.

6. Protecting the backs, arms, and brains.

It is necessary to approach the choice of furniture, especially the working chair, with special scrupulousness. A high-quality and thoughtful chair is the key to a healthy back. 

A chair is a critical element when planning a workplace, be it at home or the office. The average consumer does not notice how they sit and on what. But at the end of the working day, the daytime vigor is replaced by back pains, fatigue, and impaired concentration. That’s why it’s so important to choose the right chair for the primary time of your work life.

During the working day, doctors recommend changing the sitting position to a standing one. Due to this, there is no stagnation of blood and lymph, and the brain cells are activated due to active oxygenation.

7. Good rest improves work efficiency.

The office should have space for recreation: game zones, coffee points, telephone booths for personal and work conversations. The game zone perfectly removes the accumulated stress. There can be various versions of games – table football, hockey, air hockey, table tennis, and darts. There can also be a place for board games.

Coffee points often become a place of spontaneous creative brain-storming, including interdisciplinary discussions with a high synergistic effect. Colleagues from different business divisions can meet over coffee — and talk here.

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Every year, the Future Today Institute publishes a report on the IT trends of the future, which will affect various sectors of the economy. In 2019, the number of innovations mentioned in the forecast almost doubled compared with the previous year. Technologies are being developed faster and faster. In order for your business to keep up, you’ll want to pay attention to the latest IT trends. What innovations in the field of IT will be in demand in 2020 and how to apply the IT trends of the future to business development today?

IT Trends of the Future

1. Artificial Intelligence

Scientists at Stanford University believe that by 2030, all US cities will use artificial intelligence (AI) technology to ensure public safety. In their opinion, the AI will help prevent crimes and even act as an assistant in court proceedings.

Solutions based on AI have already formed the basis of many IT trends of the future: from smart home to speech recognition, face recognition, and even imitation of emotions. Elements of artificial intelligence – machine and deep learning are now actively used in robotics. And researchers at the Future Today Institute suggest that soon, artificial intelligence will become part of all modern innovations, aiding family dentists, analytics in different spheres, etc, simplifying data collection and its processing.

2. Voice and visual product search

According to a recent forecast, by 2021, the leading trading companies will begin to introduce a visual and voice search for goods. Using AI technology, large online stores can better understand the desires and interests of consumers. Analysts predict that as a result of innovations, the revenue of trading platforms will increase by 30%.

3. Individual approach to the online buyer

Innovative industry in the concept of artificial intelligence – learning in real time. Using this technology, an online store, for example, will be able to display products individually for each user, depending on their behavior on the site. Thanks to technology, it will be possible to adjust the site models in real time using a continuous stream of data on visitors’ transactions.

Innovations in the Transport Industry

1. Logistics automation

Analysts believe that the automation of cargo delivery is a very relevant topic not only for carriers but also for large online stores. When retail sales grow from 9 to 30 percent, companies are faced with the question of how flexible they can be in the delivery of goods. The demand for transport management systems of the supply chain will grow in the coming years. Cloud services for logistics automation will significantly optimize the delivery of goods.

2. Unmanned cars

Cars with autopilot is another trend of the future (based on the concept of artificial intelligence). Tesla already allows drivers to turn on the autopilot in their cars, provided they keep an eye on the road. Recently, Uber launched about a hundred autonomous cars on the streets of Pittsburgh. However, while the innovation is only being tested, a company employee is constantly in the car to monitor the work of the algorithm and security.

According to the forecast, by 2030, half of the cars will be equipped with an autopilot function. And in a note for Forbes, analysts even speculate on how insurance companies will evaluate risks, based on the growing number of unmanned cars. It is quite obvious that cars on autopilot will soon become quite commonplace.

Mobile Solutions Trends

1. Chatbots

Experts predict that by 2021, the largest enterprises will spend more on chatbots than on creating mobile applications, and the chatbots market will amount to $3.5 billion. Chatbots themselves will acquire human traits – first, they will learn to communicate (as Siri already does), and then recognize and mimic human emotions.

We are waiting for the so-called era of post-applications – to the fore come virtual assistants created using AI technology. Experts believe that in a couple of years, chatbots will penetrate into all areas of communication.

2. Internet X

In 1990, John Romki created the world’s first Internet-connected item, connecting his toaster to the network. Since then, the number of devices managed via the Internet has grown significantly and has formed the so-called Internet of Things or IoT. Now there are about 9 billion smart devices operated via the Internet in the world: mobile devices, production equipment, elements of a smart home, etc.

In parallel with the growth in the number of devices, LPWA is developing – low-power long-range networks as an alternative to Wi-Fi. LPWA will allow the signal to overcome long distances and obstacles. The development of this technology, along with the growing number of smart devices, will push the development of the Internet of Things. And it, in turn, evolves into the Internet of X, that is, into a concept that applies to almost everything.

3. Pocket education

New technologies are appearing more and more often, in order to keep up, specialists in all spheres will need to periodically update their knowledge. Given the modern pace of life, online learning will gain momentum. Moreover, education will have to be as accessible as possible, so futurists suggest a boom in the creation of mobile learning applications.

User Experience

User experience helps to distinguish the company from competitors. Design based on user experience will continue to develop in parallel with the latest technologies. Traditional interfaces are transformed into voice or even neural, the so-called “brain-computer” and will also be actively used in robotics. The task of high-quality user experience will remain unchanged – to make technological innovations as convenient and understandable for a person as possible.

Big Data

Analysis of large amounts of data is already actively used by companies. With the growing amount of information and the development of AI, not only Big Data will develop, but also the field of application of this technology. Opportunities for analyzing large amounts of information will be applied in all areas. Big Data will be one of the tools of Internet marketing. This technology allows you to quickly process huge amounts of data based on consumer behavior.

The post IT Trends of the Future That Are Worth Paying Attention to Today appeared first on ReadWrite.

Today, every average schoolchild knows who influencers are. These are the influential people on Instagram – celebrities who have millions of active followers. The presence of your product in an educational account — means that millions of people will see your item. Many of those people (parents and such) are likely to buy that product or service after the approval of the Insta-authority. This is using nano-influencers to promote your brand on social media.

Regardless of all the obvious benefits that advertisements done with influencers may bring you, there are disadvantages too. The first is the price. The bigger the influencer’s audience grows — the more expensive the collaboration becomes. The second is obvious commercialization and loss of sincerity that comes together with fame and influence. More people start considering them fakes and don’t believe them anymore.

Besides, a customer of the average income feels difficulties in associating oneself with the rich and famous. This is why recently micro influencers who have less audience were on the top of social media marketing trends. But now there’s a new thing – nano influencers. Who are they and how can they help you with sales?

Who Are Nano Influencers?

Nano influencer is not a celebrity or a very rich person. It’s an average social media user who has an attractive Instagram account. The number of followers this person has is not big – a thousand or several thousand. How can such a small account be helpful?

Usually, such an amount of followers of the average person means that the content is engaging and the person has a certain authority in the local community. Many of their followers are their acquaintances but their accounts may be interesting even for strangers.

Nano influencers rarely have the experience of social media marketing but they know how to make their accounts attractive – through attractive pictures, interesting discussions or informative value that meets a certain audience’s group needs. They also know how to use the proper hashtags that increase the visibility of their posts to a wider audience. Such people like to show what they bought, what place they visited and what service they used and they often share their experience with their audience.

Reasons to Collaborate with Nano-Influencers

They dig the interests of your target group

Each brand that sells goods or services should understand what its target audience wants. But who will know it better than a representative of this audience? These are average living people and their needs are close to the needs of other people from your target group. Working with such people may help you be more specific in your targeting, find new horizons to promote your brand and increase sales through social media.

They are real and are easier to relate to

Maybe with nano influencers, fewer people will see your brand, but there are chances to improve sales and get new committed customers. The example and advice of an average person who tried a product visited some place or went to some holistic health center are helpful to many other average people. They also want to try something that was tried and praised by a nano influencer, because it’s a person who is just like them.

They won’t cost you much

Such people will be glad to receive free products and a small payment. Of course, as their audience grows, their demands will become higher (and this is why micro influencers are losing their relevance) but people with one thousand followers will be happy to help you without a big cost.

What Are the Possible Problems?

The first thing that makes some marketing specialists feel skeptical about nano influencers is difficulties in tracking the efficiency of such an advertisement strategy.  It’s much easier to track one macro influencer than twenty nano influencers. Studying the efficiency is a very important part of social media marketing that helps develop better selling strategies.

The other problem is that you need sponsored posts to contain certain keywords and be written in a certain way that may not always respond to the account’s initial mood and style. There can be also problems with the narrow audience if your goods don’t meet their expectations. However, these problems can be avoided with a smart approach and negotiation with the influencer.

Marketing through nano influencers is a new important tool in social media marketing that can really increase your sales. This strategy won’t make your brand famous but will help you find new customers in your local area.

The post Using Nano-Influencers to Promote Your Brand on Social Media appeared first on ReadWrite.

Color design can be an effective marketing tool if used correctly. Acting directly on the subconscious of the site visitor, the color in web design can form a positive attitude to the product, trust, and positive emotions that cause a person to make a purchase and believe your brand.

When a person first enters the site, he intuitively perceives the picture as a whole. Within the next 1-2 seconds, the client decides to stay and explore the resource or to close the tab and go back to the search results. If the color design of the online business is chosen and implemented correctly, the user will more likely remain on the page.

Let’s see how to choose the right shades and predetermine the process of your client choice.

What You Need to Know About the Combination of Colors

The principles of color combinations originate from Newton’s color ring. Of the three primary colors, intermediary ones are produced by mixing, which is located in the adjacent ring segments. To choose colors, use one of the following seven schemes:

• Monochromatic – for design creation, one primary color is chosen, and additional colors are formed from its hues (saturation and brightness are adjusted).
• Complementary – in this case, the color selection for the web site begins with the choice of two contrasting tones, which are complemented by several more derived shades.
• Split – this scheme is similar to the complementary one, but one of the contrasting colors is replaced by two similar ones from the adjacent segments.
• Analog – according to this scheme, 3 colors are chosen from the neighboring segments: one is used as the main one, and the other two play the role of additional accents.
• Triad – the designer takes three colors that are equally distant from each other, and on the basis of them forms a color palette.
• Rectangle – here, four colors are used, and each pair is chosen according to the principle of contrast.
• Quadrate – the scheme resembles the previous one, but all colors are equally distant from each other.

Which color to choose for the site?

In developing the color scheme of the site you should not be guided solely by your own preferences. After all, the site is created, first of all, for the user. How to choose the right color for a site is a question of understanding the psychological aspect of the influence of colors and using this knowledge in accordance to your goals. There are three methods for choosing the color of the site which we will discuss in detail below.

Corporate style.

If your product has a corporate identity or a logo that has already entrenched in people’s memory and become recognizable, or you plan to do it this way, it makes sense to design the site in the appropriate colors.

But you need to pay attention to how the selected colors are combined with each other and how they will look in the design of the site. In some cases, colors from the logo can be replaced with similar shades, adjusting the intensity, brightness, and other color options.

Theme.

Colors for website design should correspond to its theme or product/services to which it is dedicated. For example, purple is the traditionally chosen shade for perfume sites, a site about auto lease deals is difficult to imagine without the use of dark blue or gray colors in the design.

The target audience.

Who are your customers, for whom the site is created? If it is men, it is better to prefer dark or neutral shades. For women, it is better to choose pastel colors. For children, traditionally colored in rich and bright colors is the way to go.

How Many Colors Should Be Chosen for Design?

The site, designed with a large variety of colors, is hard and even repulsive: getting to it, the user wants to quickly close this tab. If there are few colors, the site may look monotonous, and the user’s attention will be dispersed. The optimal working palette for the designer is 3-4 colors:

• Main. The basic color in the design, which highlights the main content on the pages.
• Additional. Color to highlight background information, which is advantageously combined with the main color, complementing it.
• Background. Calm shade on which the main and additional colors are not lost.
• Accentuating. Contrast primary color that attracts the visitor’s attention to key elements of the site.

Colors and Psychological Characteristics of Their Perception

Color perception is not constant. How a person responds to the same color depends on many factors. But still, before choosing a color for a site, you need to examine the typical associations for each color that are specific for most people.

Red

Associated with aggression, power, passion, and love. It focuses the attention, causes anxiety, and feeling of danger. This color is ideal for highlighting triggers, calls to action, functional elements of the site. But you need to be careful, as such a saturated and expressive color can play against you.

Orange

This color is associated with youth, friendliness, positive and bright positive emotions, and energy. It awakens creativity, adding dynamics to the site. It is often used for youth style design. Orange looks favorably in the design of accents.

Yellow

The color of joy, childhood, happiness, and vitality. Sometimes associated with solidity, status, and credibility. The nuances of perception depend more on the chosen hue. You can confidently use yellow colors for a business site, and for the store of children’s goods as well. This universal color fits different themes, reinforcing each specific message.

Green

Associated with health, nature, development, environmental friendliness, safety, and finances. This color opens up many possibilities of color combinations: it can be mixed with warm and cool hues, depending on the subject of the site. Saturated and dark shades of green best convey the emotions of money and financial stability.

Dark Blue

Such a choice of color for website design will be justified if you need to gain the user’s confidence, instill calm and confidence in them, create a sense of reliability and convince them of your professionalism. In addition, deep blue looks luxurious and aesthetically pleasing in the design of the site.

Purple

A color of luxury and refinement. Associated with romance, mysticism, and mystery. Suitable for mystical sites and in the store selling exclusive products. Violet can also work in cases where the target audience is women.

White

Clean, spaciousness, and express freedom. This color is often used for the background. This solution is optimal for online stores because it allows you to better focus on the products. With a large amount of content, white background allows you to visually structure information and get rid of the feeling of clutter. Used to create a trendy minimal design.

Black

Refinement, tension, domination, and minimalism. Be careful with this color. It can delight the user with a combination of minimalism and luxury or can cause a negative reaction and irritation.

The post How Does Color Affect Your Potential Customers? appeared first on ReadWrite.

Flyers are tempting us to quickly and easily exchange an old car for a new one. They assure us that this trade-in and trade-off is profitable. Not all drivers fully understand what the essence of the Trade-In service is, what is it good for and is there a catch to it?

In many civilized countries, the Trade-In service has been operating successfully for a long time. The vast majority of Americans, for example, have no idea how to independently sell their used car.

Old cars are usually discarded and disposed of, and the one that is still serviceable changes for a new one but with an additional charge. All the rest is the dealerships problem. He can put a used car in his salon or sell it through specialized auctions, from where American cars are distributed around the world.

Another illustrative example of the efficient operation of the trade-in service several years ago was demonstrated by Germany. In the midst of the economic crisis, they developed a program to support the domestic auto industry, according to which everyone who bought a new car received 2500 euros for their old one.

Advantages of Trade-Ins

Save Your Time

The first and most important advantage of a trade-in is the tremendous amount of time you save. To sell a used car, you need to regularly give free ads to specialized publications, wait for someone to pay attention to your car, call and ask a hundred questions, ask to see it personally. And so it can go on for months. And if you are still lucky, and the buyer is found, you will have to re-register the documents yourself and stand in lines. Basically, selling a car yourself is time-consuming and at times could be frustrating.

Some drivers prefer an even faster way to get rid of their used car. There are a lot of companies lately that will buy your car for cash. This option is not as profitable (you won’t get as much for your car), but it’s really fast and convenient. It’s a good solution for those who need to get rid of a car really fast, for example, if they are moving to a different country soon.

Fewer Problems

Arriving at a car dealership that provides a trade-in service (and there are a lot of them), the owner of a used car gets rid of a lot of the problems described above. As a rule, dealers take upon themselves all the concerns for completing the necessary documents and do it very quickly.

In fact, it is possible to become the legal owner of a new car within 5-6 hours without any risk of encountering fraud, which there is a lot of lately. And if for some reason you don’t have enough money for a new car, you can ask the dealer for a loan.

Great Opportunities

By the way, trade-ins are not only for used cars but also for new vehicles. This also makes sense. For example, when there is a desire to change something in your life, and there is no possibility to pay for it. When you trade-in your old car for a new one, there is less risk of you having problems with that car since it’s new. Such an acquisition may be beneficial in terms of price.

Limitations of Trade-In System

The process of selling used cars is not easy. You need to find a place to store cars, hire staff, and equip a car service center. All this is expensive, so car dealerships use any possible opportunity to try and “knock down” the price, finding fault with every little thing. To do this, diagnostic stations have a special price list, in which all the shortcomings have their monetary value, sometimes unreasonably high.

As a result, the estimated value of a used car is 5-10% lower. Add to this the costs of the procedure of technical and legal diagnostics, paperwork, pre-sales preparation, and you will receive a drop in the final price of up to 20%.

As a rule, at the first meeting, the client does not agree with the estimated value of the car, as his own vision of the price of the car is much higher. This is normal because the seller always wants to get the maximum profit from their vehicle.

A lot will depend on the make, model, and condition of the car you’re selling, but it also happens that the prices for new cars that are available through trade-in are obviously higher. In addition, not every vehicle is suitable for exchange.

The car dealership is very reluctant to deal with cheap or, on the contrary, expensive, rare and exclusive copies. That’s because with cheaper cars, there is less profit to be made. On the other hand, rare and expensive models will require costly repairs to get them ready to be re-sold and there is a smaller market for them as well.

How to Do It Right

If you are ready to accept less money for your car in order to save your own time and to avoid risks, then a trade-in might be a good option for you. Go to a dealership that has the car you want to upgrade to and see how much they are willing to give you for your old car. Usually, the dealership will want to do a diagnostics on your car to see everything that’s wrong with it before offering you a price.

Once your car goes thorough diagnosis, they will inform you how much they will pay for the trade-in. If it suits you, enter into an agreement and wait for the completion of the formalities. If you are not satisfied – take the documents and leave.

The only required item is diagnostics. You have to pay for it anyway. In order to avoid misunderstandings, find out the value of your car in advance.

The post Trade-In: Exchange or Deception? appeared first on ReadWrite.

When you own a small business, you may not always be able to afford to hire a full-time staff, this is where hiring outside help in the form of freelancers can help. With freelancers, you only pay them for the time they work or for the services they offer. Often times this is the more affordable way to service more customers.

However, not all freelancers are the same, some are skilled and some are not. Below are six tips that will help you hire the best one for your business needs.

1. Know what you need.

For many, this means identifying the projects you are less excited to work on. Maybe you don’t have the needed knowledge in a certain field or rather spend your time working on something else. For example, not everyone wants to do their small business bookkeeping, so why not outsource by hiring someone else to do it for you.

2. Know what you can pay for.

Don’t expect to hire freelancers for pennies. Sure you can find overseas writers who will write a $5 article, but don’t expect to get anything good out of them. Remember the saying, you get what you pay for. To get more professional results, never choose the cheapest options. If you have a large volume of work that you need to outsource, the freelancer may be willing to lower their rate to get it.

3. Look at your network.

Examine your network first before posting a job online. Begin with the people you already know and see if they can recommend any freelancers they previously worked with. You can even ask your clients or business networking groups if you participate in any.

If you don’t get any results from this, try out social media. Tweet or make a post on LinkedIn describing what you’re looking for and asking if anyone has any referrals. Sometimes this can provide surprising results.

4. Make a post on job boards.

There are many freelance job boards like Freelance Writing Jobs and Craigslist Gigs section. You won’t find freelancers on CareerBuilder or Monster, so you can avoid those. Specify the project in the description and how long you expect the project to take. Then either ask people to include their rate in their cover letters or specify what you’re willing to pay. Be detailed and specify the creative experience that you are seeking.

5. Sort through the applicants.

Now prepare to get flooded with applications. First, begin taking out the people who don’t have any of the experience you requested. Then you can either conduct a video or phone interview or simply ask them to do a paid test assignment. Give them a firm deadline along with instructions on what you need to be done. If they can’t follow instructions or make the deadline, then they probably won’t be a good candidate.

6. Be picky.

Never settle for a freelancer that doesn’t meet your expectations. Sure you might have a project that needed to get done yesterday and may decide you will deal with a sub-par freelancer. But this might come back to bite you. For example, freelancers who turn their work in late, usually do so when you have a deadline with a client. A freelancer that needs their hand to be held will require extra attention from you when you don’t have the time to do give it.

It may take longer but it’s best to wait for the perfect freelancer in order to set up your business for success. Sometimes it’s also a good idea to hire more than one person just to make sure you have a more diverse set of skills. And remember, there are many talented freelancers out there, so long as you’re willing to invest the time looking for them.

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