Latest news with #techcompany
Fast Company
6 days ago
- Business
- Fast Company
The hidden impact of sunny days on office productivity
The days are getting longer, sunnier, and warmer in the western hemisphere. Those bright summer days have a bigger impact on the workforce and the physical office than you may think. The obvious ones are longer lunches and fewer people in the office due to vacations. Yet when everybody is in the office, there is one common human habit happening during the summer that is often overlooked. One that undermines employee productivity and increases a building's carbon emissions. The productivity killer? Sunshine. Not that anybody is against it, but when the sun is at its highest and hottest, sun glare and heat penetrating the glass panes in office buildings prompts employees to leave their desks. They either spill over into another area of the office, disrupting colleagues, or they leave. Meanwhile, the air conditioning continues to blast, cooling unoccupied areas, wasting energy, increasing operational costs, and elevating the building's CO2 emissions. Office insight reduces carbon emissions Since buildings account for almost 40% of the world's carbon emissions, with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems being among the largest contributors, having insight into human behavior in the office can help reduce those emissions. This issue is not new, but the data to prove its impact on the workforce and planet has only been recently uncovered. For example, a global, well known Silicon Valley tech company took a closer look at how their workforce is using the office. Their goals were to improve collaboration, productivity, and energy efficiency. The company installed sensors that combine AI and body heat sensing technology to understand anonymous human movements in the office. At the large tech company, they aggregated 3-months' worth of office data and identified human occupancy patterns. The analysis led to specific recommendations to improve the company's office energy efficiency. Below are actual recommendations from the report: Weekday early mornings and evenings: Reduce HVAC setpoints before 8:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m., when saturation rates are consistently low. Midweek daytime control: Reduce airflow to 50% capacity outside of the following high-demand periods: Monday at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday and Wednesday between 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., and Thursday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. This data can also be used to make decisions about window shades, insulation, and lighting. Office layout impacts productivity Going beyond an understanding of how employees move around the office, the tech company was also able to infer actions and interactions among employees. Being able to visually depict human movements without identifying individuals provides genuine data into corporate culture and employee engagement. The actions are far more insightful than any feedback an employee survey could offer. For example, the frequency of impromptu meetings based on chair rollbacks. Also, seeing a cluster of humans congregating in the hallway for a short period of time, especially when the gathering is not held at the top of the hour or at the half hour. From a workforce perspective, office layouts also impact productivity and energy efficiency. This reality is not lost on employers and property managers as the latest JLL Global Office Fit Out Cost Guide 2025 reveals. The report cites an increased focus on in-office attendance, employee experience, and sustainability performance on investing in high quality workspaces. This explains why the average global office fit-out cost is increasing. Understand the workforce needs However, the latest design trends may not align with the workforce needs and/or reflect the corporate culture. For example, another insight the tech company gained from the sensors was that individuals were reserving conference rooms for themselves. This ties up meeting space for others and puts unnecessary demands on the HVAC system that is set to accommodate large groups. It is also an indicator that the open office layout increases noise levels and is not conducive to supporting focused work. You can gain a better understanding of how the workforce uses the office without compromising privacy. Aggregated data on occupancy, foot traffic, human interactions, and their impact on energy consumption can lead to more comfortable, productive, and energy-efficient offices. And having that knowledge before undertaking a costly office renovation can make a big difference in ensuring the building aligns with the needs of the workforce as opposed to making employees adjust to the confines of the office.
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Mainland China accuses Taiwan of backing cyberattacks on 1,000 sensitive targets
Mainland Chinese authorities have accused a hacker group they allege is backed by Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) of orchestrating cyberattacks on up to 1,000 sensitive mainland networks, including military, energy and government systems. The claim was made public on Monday by the Guangzhou city police, who said the group used 'rudimentary and crude' methods to launch widespread attacks from overseas IP addresses, including from the United States, France and Japan. The city's Tianhe district Public Security Bureau said the group was behind a recent incident in which a local tech company was targeted in Guangzhou, in the southern province of Guangdong. The bureau said technical analysis traced the attack to the alleged Taiwan-based group, according to Xinhua on Tuesday. 01:33 William Lai vows to protect Taiwan security and industry in speech marking year as leader William Lai vows to protect Taiwan security and industry in speech marking year as leader 'The hackers deployed phishing emails, exploited public vulnerabilities, conducted brute-force password attacks and used low-grade Trojan horse programs to carry out the attacks,' the police said. Police also said the group had ramped up its activity significantly over the past year, describing its actions as 'malicious sabotage' aimed at disrupting mainland security. Mainland cyber investigators said the group had scanned more than 1,000 key information systems across more than 10 provinces in recent years, according to the Xinhua report. Targets were reported to include military-industrial assets, power grids, water infrastructure, transport systems and government networks. They said the attackers tried to mask their origin by routing attacks through virtual private networks (VPNs), foreign cloud servers and 'zombie machines' to hide behind IP addresses from multiple countries.
Arabian Business
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Arabian Business
AB Majlis podcast: Yango Play takes on global streaming giants with MENA-focused content strategy
Yango Play, the entertainment arm of tech company Yango, is betting on locally relevant content and multi-format entertainment to compete with global streaming giants in the Middle East, according to MENA Region Director Roman Shimansky. In an interview with the Arabian Business podcast AB Majlis, Shimansky revealed that Yango Play is experiencing 'tremendous growth' across GCC countries and Egypt just one year after launching in the region. 'We want to make the local content and stories as best as we can, to bring the higher production value, to just make the product really tailored,' Shimansky said. 'This is something that none of the global players would be able to do just by investing so much into being locally relevant and caring about every single country in the region.' The platform differentiates itself by offering seamless transitions between music, video, and gaming experiences within a single subscription service. Drama and comedy genres currently drive the highest engagement on the platform. Shimansky announced that Yango Play will launch on PlayStation, expanding its device availability beyond mobile and smart TV platforms. The company is also experimenting with gamification features following successful trials during Ramadan. Looking ahead, Yango Play aims to position itself as a platform for nurturing young creative talent in the region. 'I strongly feel that there is a big gap overall into how the streaming platforms and overall production caters to the new generations, millennials, Gen Zs,' Shimansky explained. The company uses both AI-driven personalisation and human curation to tailor content recommendations by country, recognising distinct preferences across the region while developing original productions intended to appeal to wider regional audiences. Yango Play's strategy comes as Middle Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have increased investment in local film and creative industries as part of economic diversification efforts. The data-driven subscription economy Shimansky, who holds a master's degree in computer science and information technology, brings a unique blend of analytical thinking and creative passion to Yango Play's operations. This duality is reflected in the platform's sophisticated approach to measuring success. 'I'm the number one fan of metrics in our whole office,' Shimansky told AB Majlis. 'We're experimenting with complex metrics, like projecting two different versions of the future, one where we had a particular title and another where we didn't, to measure how a show impacts retention.' This analytical approach extends to content development, where Shimansky believes data can enhance creativity rather than restrict it. 'With content creators and producers, giving them insights allows them to produce content that better connects with the audience. The creativity is the essential part, but data insights can help make it slightly better.' Genre classifications are also evolving beyond traditional categories. 'For recent couple of years, genres have evolved into more complex descriptions. It's more about the hashtags you can associate with certain types of titles,' he explained, adding that Yango Play's approach to genre is increasingly focused on experimentation and mixing different elements. As the subscription economy continues to expand, with consumers subscribing to multiple services rather than owning content, Yango Play is positioning itself at the intersection of technology and entertainment – a space Shimansky believes will define the future of media consumption in the Middle East. Tune in to AB Majlis every Monday To listen to the full episode and gain a comprehensive understanding of doing business in the Gulf region, visit our RSS feed or check out AB Majlis on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms. Episodes are also available on: Tune in every Monday for weekly episodes that will help you stay ahead of the curve and enrich your understanding of the Gulf region.
Gizmodo
11-05-2025
- Gizmodo
Anker's 5-in-1 USB-C Hub Is at a Record Low Price, Now Almost Free on Amazon
If you've ever found yourself frustrated by the lack of ports on your laptop (whether you use a Mac or a PC), you're not alone. The push in recent years toward thin devices has meant sacrificing necessary connectivity and you're left with dongles or needing to unplug devices just to get through the day. But there is a simple, game-changing solution: the Anker USB-C Hub 5-in-1. This compact device packs an impressive punch and offers all the ports you're missing in a travel-friendly form factor. And right now, it's available on Amazon at a record low price of just $21, down from $34 which is a massive 37% discount that makes it almost impossible to pass up. See at Amazon You Will Love It Don't let its small size fool you: the Anker 332 USB-C Hub is a powerhouse of utility. With a single connection to your laptop's USB-C port, you have instant access to five useful ports. You have a 4K HDMI port that allows you to connect to an external monitor or TV and present with ease, extend your desktop or watch movies in beautiful ultra-high definition. You also have two USB-A 3.0 ports and one USB-C data port (both up to 5Gbps speeds) which allow you to move large files in seconds, sync your phone or connect peripherals like keyboards without giving up performance. And with a single 100W Power Delivery input, you can charge your laptop to capacity while working via the hub, courtesy of up to 85W of pass-through charging. Setting up the Anker hub is straightforward: You just have to plug it in, and it connects to both MacBooks and Windows laptops, Chromebooks, and any USB-C accepting device that supports DisplayPort Alt Mode and Power Delivery. No complex drivers and software installation are required. Despite its minimalist appearance, the hub is designed for heavy daily use and comes backed by Anker's reliable 18-month warranty and customer support, offering peace of mind with every purchase. Whether you're working from a coffee shop, traveling for business, or setting up a home office, the Anker USB-C Hub ensures you're never left scrambling for adapters or unplugging devices. The current deal on Amazon has never been seen outside of major sales events, and now is the perfect time to solve your connectivity woes for good. See at Amazon
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
What's your pet saying? AI could help translate animal sounds into words
A cutting-edge tech company is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to decode the hidden meanings behind the 'purrs' and 'barks' from people's beloved pets. Baidu, the tech giant behind China 's largest search engine, filed a ground-breaking patent this week that revealed its ambitious vision to translate animal sounds into understandable words using data-driven analysis and advanced AI technology, Sky News reported. 'There has been a lot of interest in the filing of our patent application,' a Baidu spokesperson told CGTN News. 'Currently, it is still in the research phase.' Outlined in the document, the system aims to gather a wide range of animal data -vocal sounds, behavioral patterns and physiological signals - which will be integrated and analyzed by an AI-drive engine to identify the animal's emotional state. From there, the system would then match the animal's emotions to meanings and turn them into human language, enabling a clearer understanding of what the pet is trying to express. In the document, the company said the system would allow 'deeper emotional communication and understanding between animals and humans, improving the accuracy and efficiency of cross-species communication'. Baidu was one of the first companies in China to make major investments in AI after OpenAI launched ChatGPT back in 2022. Beyond China, several countries around the world have been actively working on translating animal vocalizations, a topic that has fascinated people for years. However, it's only through recent advancements in technology that animal owners can now begin to get excited about potentially beginning to understand what their pets are trying to convey. On social media, videos showing dogs using buttons on hexagonal mats - known as Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) boards - to communicate with their owners often go viral. Whether these dogs are truly communicating remains a topic of debate, with scientists at UC San Diego conducting a study on 2,000 dogs to help settle the question. Last month, scientists revealed that AI may soon enable humans to communicate with dolphins. A new model created by Google may reveal the secrets behind how the animals communicate for the very first time, with hopes that we may be able to 'speak dolphin' in the future. Google DeepMind's DolphinGemma has been programmed with the world's largest collection of dolphin sounds, including clicks, whistles and vocalizations that have been recorded over several years by the Wild Dolphin Project. Dr. Denize Herzing, founder and research director of the Wild Dolphin Project told The Telegraph: 'We do not know if animals have words'. 'Dolphins can recognize themselves in the mirror, they use tools, they're smart but language is still the last barrier so feeding dolphin sounds into an AI model will give us a really good look if there are patterns, subtleties that humans can't pick out,' she said. Last month, scientists revealed that AI may soon enable humans to communicate with dolphins through a new model created by Google, programmed with the world's largest collection of dolphin sounds, including clicks, whistles and vocalizations that have been recorded over several years by the Wild Dolphin Project 'The goal would someday be to "speak dolphin".' The model will search through sounds that have been linked to behavior to try to find sequences that could indicate a language. Dr. Thas Starner, a Google Deep-Mind scientist, said: 'The model can help researchers uncover hidden structures and potential meanings within the dolphins' natural communication, a task previously requiring immense human effort.' 'We're just beginning to understand the patterns within the sounds.'
