Latest news with #Nordics
Globe and Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
PopStream Launches Desktop AR Broadcasting Platform for Windows Users Worldwide
PopStream, a Finnish-based technology company, has officially launched its augmented reality broadcasting platform for Windows users globally. The software enables content creators, educators, and professionals to integrate augmented reality elements directly into their video feeds without the need for post-production or additional hardware PopStream installs as a virtual camera on any Windows computer and is compatible with all major video platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, YouTube Live, OBS, and Twitch. By leveraging AR marker technology and playlist scheduling, the software allows users to display banners, animations, or sponsored content directly onto real-world environments using just a standard webcam. The demand for real-time content personalization and brand monetization has rapidly increased with the rise of livestreaming, virtual meetings, and the global creator economy. PopStream's platform provides a seamless solution that works out of the box, removing technical barriers that have traditionally limited AR broadcasting to enterprise studios or post-production workflows. The software includes features such as marker-based ad triggering, playlist-based content rotation, and full resolution output support. PopStream's real-time functionality gives users full control over their on-screen experience while maintaining compatibility with their preferred streaming tools. PopStream was developed by a team of engineers and AR specialists in Finland. The company's leadership includes Founder & CEO Piruz Chaman Afruz (Bruce Afruz) and Managing Partner Talat Erden. The technology was built with a focus on performance, simplicity, and the growing need for creators to monetize their content through visual experiences. The release marks a milestone for the company as it expands its product offerings for the creator economy and digital communications sector. With its headquarters in Helsinki, PopStream aims to support content professionals across industries by delivering intuitive, professional-grade AR tools that integrate into existing workflows. The PopStream desktop application is now available for free download on Windows via the company's website. The macOS version is expected to follow in the near future. For more information about PopStream and its features, visit below. Media Contact Company Name: PopStream Contact Person: Piruz Chaman Afruz (Bruce Afruz) Email: Send Email Country: Finland Website:
Mint
a day ago
- General
- Mint
Lessons from the happiest countries in the world
To read more of The Economist's data journalism visit our Graphic detail page. FOR A COUNTRY known for long winters and high taxes, Finland appears remarkably chipper. On March 20th it came top of the World Happiness Report, an annual UN-backed study, notching its eighth consecutive win ahead of 146 other countries. Not far behind it were Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. What makes the Nordics so happy? The World Happiness Report is more a study of life satisfaction than smiles and laughter. It is based on a survey by Gallup, a pollster, where participants are asked to rate their lives out of ten. Finns are not known to gloat (or, for that matter, smile much). But in the latest survey they said their lives were a solid 7.7 on average—well above the global country average of 5.6. At the very bottom of the ranking, people in war-torn Afghanistan rated their lives just 1.4 out of ten. Various other organisations have found the Nordics to be some of the most stable, progressive and safe countries in the world. They dominate the high positions in The Economist's glass-ceiling index, which measures the role and influence of women in the workforce. Deaths of despair, including suicides and unintentional overdoses, are quickly decreasing in the region, albeit from a historically high baseline (life-evaluation scores alone do not capture all of the factors that can lead to deaths of despair). The Nordics are also some of the wealthiest countries in the world per person, which typically has a significant effect on life satisfaction (see chart 2). On this measure countries in Latin America also stand out, reporting happier lives than their incomes would otherwise suggest. These countries have also outperformed the Nordics in other studies of happiness, such as how often people laugh or feel a sense of enjoyment. The researchers offer a possible explanation. They found that eating with people, compared with eating alone, was a surprisingly strong indicator of subjective wellbeing—as statistically significant as income and employment status. That holds true even when accounting for other factors, such as age and education. Latin America is a 'global leader" in meal-sharing, say the authors. People across the region reportedly eat around nine meals per week with friends or family. (In South Asia it is fewer than half of that.) This might mean they are better connected and less lonely than their peers elsewhere. Indeed, across the world the study found that measures of social support are more closely linked to how people rate their lives than GDP per person. This might also explain why happiness in America and some other rich countries is falling (see chart 3). Americans increasingly eat alone, live alone and—when given the choice—work alone. In one survey 18% of young adults in America reported that they did not have anyone that they felt close to (although there are signs that the relentless increase in mental-health problems among young Americans has stalled or even gone into reverse). In many other countries, too, an erosion of meaningful connections is leaving people feeling lonely and glum. But in Finland, alone time is actually cherished. Finns retreat to their mökki (country cottages) for deliberate solitude—often in a sauna.
Business Wire
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Wire
If P&C Insurance Goes Live on Socotra With Embedded Car-Sharing Product
SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Socotra, the leading provider of insurance core technology, announced today that If P&C Insurance (If), the largest property and casualty insurer in the Nordic region, has successfully launched a car-sharing insurance product on Socotra's cloud-native platform in only five months. By leveraging Socotra's flexible core and open APIs, If has rapidly expanded into new geographies and customer segments. As the largest P&C insurer in the Nordics with $7 billion in gross written premiums (GWP), If has established a reputation for innovation and agility in the insurance industry. With its innovative new car-sharing insurance product, If further strengthens its position within the sharing economy. The fully embedded and API-first solution enables a seamless digital journey for end users, providing peace of mind through customizable features such as on-demand coverage, usage-based pricing, and deductible reduction. This ensures tailored protection precisely when needed, specifically benefiting car-sharing platforms and their users. "Choosing Socotra was a strategic decision that allowed If to go live quickly while maintaining autonomy," said Erik Granmar, CEO of Insrt AB, a subsidiary of If P&C. "Socotra's powerful and flexible policy core empowered our team to easily self-implement an embedded insurance product and connect it to an ecosystem of technology. By partnering with Socotra, If can deliver new products faster and more efficiently, positioning us for greater success in the Nordic and Baltic markets." The partnership began with a 5-month proof of concept, in which If self-implemented the product on Socotra and fully integrated it with their existing infrastructure for payments, claims, accounting, and reporting. Going forward, If will leverage Socotra's open APIs and well-defined and reusable configuration to independently update products and integrations, increasing their agility and reducing costs. 'I applaud the tech-savvy team at If for launching an embedded car sharing product in only five months,' said Dan Woods, CEO of Socotra. 'I'm proud that Socotra's powerful and flexible core platform has enabled If's rapid deployment and innovative solution, and I look forward to accelerating their growth into new markets.' About Socotra Socotra is the most powerful policy and billing technology in the insurance industry. Over 40 insurers worldwide trust Socotra to deliver the fastest product launches and updates, unrivaled data access and control, and the best support for insurance at massive scale–all for the lowest total cost of ownership. With true cloud and open APIs, Socotra is the most mature insurance core platform on the market. Learn more at About If P&C Insurance If is the leading property and casualty insurer in the Nordic region, with over 3.7 million customers in the Nordic and Baltic countries. If offers a full range of P&C insurance solutions and services to a broad customer base, from private individuals to large corporate customers. If operates on a pan-Nordic basis leveraging both scale and capabilities across all areas in If. If's key success factor is continuous improvement of its operations.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
If P&C Insurance Goes Live on Socotra With Embedded Car-Sharing Product
Socotra's Flexible Core and Open APIs Enabled If P&C Insurance to Self-Implement Product in Only Five Months SAN FRANCISCO, May 28, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Socotra, the leading provider of insurance core technology, announced today that If P&C Insurance (If), the largest property and casualty insurer in the Nordic region, has successfully launched a car-sharing insurance product on Socotra's cloud-native platform in only five months. By leveraging Socotra's flexible core and open APIs, If has rapidly expanded into new geographies and customer segments. As the largest P&C insurer in the Nordics with $7 billion in gross written premiums (GWP), If has established a reputation for innovation and agility in the insurance industry. With its innovative new car-sharing insurance product, If further strengthens its position within the sharing economy. The fully embedded and API-first solution enables a seamless digital journey for end users, providing peace of mind through customizable features such as on-demand coverage, usage-based pricing, and deductible reduction. This ensures tailored protection precisely when needed, specifically benefiting car-sharing platforms and their users. "Choosing Socotra was a strategic decision that allowed If to go live quickly while maintaining autonomy," said Erik Granmar, CEO of Insrt AB, a subsidiary of If P&C. "Socotra's powerful and flexible policy core empowered our team to easily self-implement an embedded insurance product and connect it to an ecosystem of technology. By partnering with Socotra, If can deliver new products faster and more efficiently, positioning us for greater success in the Nordic and Baltic markets." The partnership began with a 5-month proof of concept, in which If self-implemented the product on Socotra and fully integrated it with their existing infrastructure for payments, claims, accounting, and reporting. Going forward, If will leverage Socotra's open APIs and well-defined and reusable configuration to independently update products and integrations, increasing their agility and reducing costs. "I applaud the tech-savvy team at If for launching an embedded car sharing product in only five months," said Dan Woods, CEO of Socotra. "I'm proud that Socotra's powerful and flexible core platform has enabled If's rapid deployment and innovative solution, and I look forward to accelerating their growth into new markets." About Socotra Socotra is the most powerful policy and billing technology in the insurance industry. Over 40 insurers worldwide trust Socotra to deliver the fastest product launches and updates, unrivaled data access and control, and the best support for insurance at massive scale–all for the lowest total cost of ownership. With true cloud and open APIs, Socotra is the most mature insurance core platform on the market. Learn more at About If P&C Insurance If is the leading property and casualty insurer in the Nordic region, with over 3.7 million customers in the Nordic and Baltic countries. If offers a full range of P&C insurance solutions and services to a broad customer base, from private individuals to large corporate customers. If operates on a pan-Nordic basis leveraging both scale and capabilities across all areas in If. If's key success factor is continuous improvement of its operations. View source version on Contacts Paige Comishpcomish@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
NHK
2 days ago
- General
- NHK
Iceland President on the most gender-equal society
Interview with Iceland's President Halla Tomasdottir on the power of women and the value of advancing gender equality.
