#as well as the functionality aspect of physical switches being easier to keep track of

[notbigondoors]

How do you generally write your replies to asks or threads or rp stuff? On the Tumblr app or on your computer? I'm thinking about making myself two or three rp tumblr blogs (I'd like one for Stephen King's Carrie, another one for Marvel's Morbius and maybe a third one for Wonder Woman) but I don't have a computer atm and I wonder how comfortable it would be to rp using the phone app only/how good it would look. This is an amazing Vision blog btw!

{out of equations} I actually do a healthy balance of both. At night when I’m relaxing at home and watching TV or whatever, I vastly prefer the computer. I type faster when on the computer and it’s just physically easier. But then when I’m out and about, sitting in a restaurant or a doctor’s office or somewhere where I’m just waiting for a while not doing much, I’ll whip out my phone and work on replies there. As far as the actual writing, aside from it being easier for me to type on a computer vs. a phone, it’s really not better or worse to do either. But as far as the Tumblr site is concerned, there are honestly good and bad aspects to both ways of using it.

The app is really a pain as far as formatting. Now, sure, you can do things like adding colored text a lot easier on the phone and without requiring actual coding, but you can’t use a blog theme or really complex text formatting because it just simplifies everything. There are a lot of bugs on the Tumblr app that make using the phone completely obnoxious to me. For example, if you place a title on your text post on the computer, it will remain at the top no matter how many times the thread is reblogged or the reblogs are deleted from it. But if you so it on the phone, for whatever reason it will downgrade the title to a heading that will then disappear when you inevitably trim the reblogs off the thread. I have no idea if there even is a way to make titles that actually function as titles on the phone, but maybe there is?

Another annoying thing about using the phone (and this is more recent, so maybe it’s an actual bug that’ll be fixed as opposed to just a stupid update) is that when I tell the phone to delete all reblogs from a thread, it will appear to have done that, but the it will leave the first reblog that was there at the top. So this results in the reblog having like... a post you don’t want randomly still up there and then your reblog? Which... makes things really confusing if you’re trying to keep track of the thread’s story? I don’t know how to fix that one either.

Also... when switching from Tumblr app/mobile to the Tumblr site on a computer, I still sometimes am unable to edit or even open my posts because it will say “Oops! This appears to have been edited in the mobile version. Please use the app.” Or something like that. Such a pain.

The other thing is... they appear to have taken away the ability to save an ask answer for later on the Tumblr mobile app? I used to be able to start answering and then just save my response in my drafts if I have to close the app and I’m not done yet. Now there’s no option to do that. I really hate that, it came in handy. You can do it on the computer while holding down Ctrl +Alt while actively in an ask text window and replying to it. If you hold down those keys, the options to either “Safe as Draft” or “Queue” will appear at the bottom right as buttons. So yeah, a definite advantage over mobile.

Also, in the case of “read more” links, those breaks in the post where writers can cut off their super long mega posts with a link to the full version so that people don’t have to scroll through a wall of text on their dash? Yeah, those don’t work on mobile, heh. Well okay, no, they work.... but you don’t have the option of using them on mobile. So if someone has set one up on the computer, it will function in mobile, but people who are mobile only don’t have the option of using “read more” links.

The biggest problem with mobile is that people with complex themes for their blogs or even ones like mine that are Tumblr simple, haha, can have info pages set up as links you can click to go to more information, and those don’t even show up on mobile. Even if people send you the urls, when you click on them they will only go to their main blog and not to the pages. So that means you won’t be able to view any muse or mun info or any rules pages set up that way. That doesn’t mean you can’t ask someone to kindly post or send you the information, but that makes it kinda hard for blogs with passwords or muns that won’t even talk to you until you’ve read their stuff.

However... not everything on the Tumblr app is worse than on the computer. On the computer... there are various forms of gif files that function as gifs on other sites and in graphic editing programs, but will not open on Tumblr. For example, I’ve noticed that gifs saved as text map or .txt files and gifs with urls ending in .gifv instead of .gif will not open on Tumblr. Whether you cut and paste the url or you open it from a file on your computer, they just won’t work. The gif will blip away and an “error loading gif” error message will appear. I’ve gotten around this somewhat but simply editing the file extension back to .gif, but that only works sometimes, and I have not found a way to open gifs saved in text map formats. So this makes it really annoying when trying to add reaction gifs. On the app, though...... I seem to be able to post just about any gif I want. So that is a definite plus.

Also, if you want colored text on the computer, you have to code for it, and honestly, I’ve forgotten how to do any of that, haha. Even if you set it up on your phone and then open the post on a computer, the computer version will wipe out all formatting and coloring that you did. Super annoying.

There are also a lot of bugs on the website that are not present in mobile, such as links not going where they should (how many times have I clicked on my blog’s activity feed only to be sent to my dash, ugh), and random spaces being added in the middle of my text posts that I didn’t place there? o_O

So... I guess I would say that functionally speaking I prefer the computer version, but there is a lot to be said for the portability of the phone and being able to work on stuff whenever you have five minutes. I should also mention that I have the Android version of the Tumblr app, so... I don’t know if maybe the iPhone version is different or better or worse. But I do know people who are 100% on the computer version, 100% on some kind of mobile version, or people like me who switch back and forth, and we all seem to be finding our ways just fine, so I think whatever version you choose, you’ll acclimate to that and adjust your style and habits accordingly.

I hope this was helpful! (^-^)/ (Also thank you so much, I’m glad you like this blog! Vision is such a sweetie, isn’t he? XD)

[identybeautynet]

16 Ways to Hydrate Skin

16 Ways to Hydrate Skin If the only time you experience glowing skin is when there’s a screen facing it, we feel you. When everything is everywhere, it’s easy for aspects of your skincare routine to take a backseat. (After all, who’s got time for hydrating and moisturizing when there’s so much doom-scrolling and revenge bedtime procrastinating to do?) But keeping your skin hydrated is important for many reasons beyond looking healthy and well-rested. “When the skin is properly hydrated, it’s able to carry out its innate function, which is to act as a natural barrier to any external and harsh elements,” says Michele Green, M.D., a New York-based board-certified cosmetic dermatologist. “If the structure and integrity of the skin is impaired, it’s more vulnerable to cracking and breaking, and therefore an easier entry point for environmental stressors and pathogens.” The most common ways skin becomes dehydrated is any way in which water is drawn out of the skin—taking hot showers, eating salty foods, throwing back cocktails, turning up the heat, and not being diligent with the daily moisturizer, to name a few. How to tell if your skin is dehydrated or dry It turns out dehydrated skin and dry skin aren’t the same thing, although at first glance they may appear to be. “Dry skin is characterized by fewer oil-producing glands on the face and body, whereas dehydrated skin is a lack of water, not oil,” says Corey L. Hartman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL. “It’s important to distinguish between the two so the appropriate active ingredients can be selected to address it.” Dehydrated skin might not necessarily be flaky or rough, but rather, could be showing a loss of resiliency. “If you pinch the skin, it will remain tented because of lack of hydration,” says Hadley King, M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. “This is in contrast to what we usually refer to as dry skin, which becomes dull, flaky, and rough.” The two aren’t mutually exclusive, either—your skin can be both dehydrated and dry. “Dry skin lacks oil, which affects the skin barrier function, which can lead to loss of more water through the skin barrier, which can then result in dehydrated skin,” explains Dr. King. (Phew.) How to hydrate your skin (and keep it that way) Anna EfetovaGetty Images Nix hot showers and baths. On the surface, it may seem like taking hot showers and baths would help quash dehydrated skin (after all, you’re soaking your skin with water), but the opposite is true. “Hot showers and baths encourage water to flow out of your skin and evaporate into the shower, therefore dehydrating the skin,” says Dr. Green. The best kinds of showers are short, lukewarm showers, to ensure water stays within the skin. “To really lock in that water content, look for ingredients in body washes that will draw water in and amplify the affect of hydration,” says Dr. Green. “A great ingredient that does this is hyaluronic acid.” - Try: Olay Cleaning & Nourishing Body Wash   Invest in a humidifier. Running a humidifier in your bedroom, or any other rooms you spend a lot of time in, increases the humidity in the air, so less moisture will be lost from your skin, says Dr. King. This is especially crucial during the winter months, when the air in our homes tends to get super-dry from having the heat on full-blast. Steer clear of harsh cleansers. Harsh cleansing agents strip the skin of natural moisturizing factors and oils and allow micro-cuts or cracks in the top layer of skin to take place. This can lead to drying, cracking, redness, and even eczema of the skin. “Look for gentle cleansers and avoid any that contain chemical exfoliants, such as alpha hydroxy, salicylic, or glycolic acid,” says Dr. Green. - Try: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser   Avoid over-cleansing. When you over-cleanse your skin (as in, wash your face more than the recommended once in the morning and once before bed), you’re repeatedly stripping it of both its natural microbiome and moisturizing barrier agents. If you have to cleanse your skin more than twice a day (say, you’re a sucker for intense workouts), Dr. Green recommends applying a light moisturizer post-cleanse to replace any lost hydration. Leave your skin moist after cleansing. Instead of completely drying your skin after cleansing, gently pat-dry so your skin is still slightly damp as you apply your moisturizer. “This helps to ensure the moisturizer you apply will pull that water in so your skin can ‘drink’ it,” says Dr. Green. Seek out hydrating skincare ingredients. There are three types of hydrating ingredients that should be incorporated into your skincare routine: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. “It’s important to look for products that contain all three because they work together to moisturize the skin and each plays a critical role,” says Dr. King. - Humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin) are substances that bind water into the outer layer of the skin, and need to be used along with the other components in order to retain the water content they provide. - Emollients (squalane, ceramides, fatty acids) help with skin barrier function, leading to an overall improvement in skin texture and appearance. - Occlusives (petrolatum, beeswax, mineral oil) are oils and waxes that form an inert layer on the skin and physically block transepidermal water loss (the process in which water evaporates from the skin).   Always, always wear sunscreen. Free radicals from UV rays can damage the skin barrier, which can lead to dry, irritated skin. “Over time, UV rays break down the extracellular matrix (the fibers within your skin) and the skin won’t be able to stay as hydrated,” says Dr. King. Besides being your biggest shield against the sun, applying broad spectrum sunscreen daily helps to lock in moisture by creating a physical barrier, says Dr. Green. When buying sunscreen and beauty products that contain SPF, look for ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which form a physical barrier on top of the skin. Switch to a heavier moisturizer at night. In addition to applying a hydrating moisturizer right after cleansing, it’s recommended the moisturizer used at night be on the heavier side. “Doing so will support the skin barrier and lock moisture in so it won’t evaporate while you sleep,” says Dr. Green. Look for an emollient moisturizer that contains ingredients like ceramides, squalene, and petrolatum. - Try: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream   Exfoliate weekly. By periodically sloughing off dead skin cells, you help to ensure the moisturizers you use absorb better—once or twice a week should suffice. “More frequent mechanical exfoliation can ruin the skin barrier and cause increased dryness and irritation,” says Dr. Hartman. “Exfoliate with a humectant ingredient that reduces the loss of moisture, like glycolic or lactic acid.” - Try: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + Hyaluronic Acid   Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser La Roche-Posay ulta.com$14.99 Lactic Acid 10% + Ha 2% The Ordinary ulta.com$6.80 Moisturizing Cream CeraVe walmart.com$20.50 Vital Hydra Solution Sheet Mask Dr. Jart sephora.com$6.00 Add a hydrating sheet mask to your roster. “Adding a hydrating sheet mask into your skincare routine (ideally, once a week) is a convenient way to increase water content in a concentrated manner,” says Dr. Hartman. For a one-two punch of hydrating and soothing properties, look for sheet masks that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe, green tea, vitamins A, E, and C, and oat extract. - Try: Dr. Jart Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution Sheet Mask   Add a thermal water spray to your regimen. To get your dehydrated skin back on track, consider adding a thermal water spray to your repertoire. “They have mineral-heavy concentrations that have been shown to hydrate, decrease irritation and redness to the skin, and support a healthy skin microbiome,” says Melanie Palm, M.D., a San Diego-based board-certified dermatologist. - Try: Avène Thermal Spring Water   Revamp your makeup routine. You can incorporate key ingredients into your daily makeup routine that can help to restore skin’s hydration. “For dehydrated skin, you should gravitate toward makeup that has moisture-pulling ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane,” says Dr. Green, who also recommends looking for makeup products that have sunscreen built in for added oomph against UV rays. - Try: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50   Drink more water. Many people understandably assume that drinking loads of water will keep skin hydrated, but skin hydration is impacted by many variables. (Translation: Just drinking water to hydrate your skin won’t cut it.) “Your skin is also affected by your diet, lifestyle, environment, and skincare routine,” says Dr. Green. So drink more water, but make sure to alter and improve the other variables to legit rehydrate your skin and keep it that way. Eat more water- and antioxidant-rich foods. Fruits and veggies aren’t just great for your health—they’re excellent for your skin too. “Water- and antioxidant-rich foods increase the total water content of your body, and in conjunction with daily hydrating moisturizers, will make your skin supple and healthy,” says Dr. Green. Some great foods rich in water and antioxidants include beets, spinach, and mushrooms. Avoid dehydrating drinks and foods. Alcohol, excessive coffee, and poor diet—foods and beverages high in sodium and sugars—all contribute to systemic dehydration, which may show up as skin that looks dull, sallow, and non-plump, says Dr. King. Do your best to limit your intake of processed foods, as well as excess amounts of caffeine and alcohol (and when you do indulge, make sure to offset any dietary splurges with hydrating foods and some old-fashioned H20.) Eat more healthy fats. “Healthy fats are the building blocks of skin cells,” says Dr. Palm. “They’re necessary for our skin as an organ to function properly and act as an appropriate barrier from the outside environment.” Omega-3 fatty acids, which can be harder to come buy, can be found in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io beauty tips : 16 Ways to Hydrate Skin Read the full article

[writeramitnagpal]

White Paper - IOT

Abstract

With the digital revolution knocking on our doors, all our lives revolve around easy access to the Internet. With the advent of effective Internet of Things (IoT) systems, people have started living smarter than ever and communication has become seamless. Though this concept has been around for some time now, web users are still unfamiliar with how it works. Communication across various networks around the globe is facilitated by using IP addresses. These are unique numbers that help identify computers on a network using Internet protocols to facilitate data transmission over networks. IPv4 and IPv6, which are Internet Protocol versions, play prominent roles in delivering effective IoT systems. This report aims to give clarity regarding IoT systems, how they work, and what they are made of, the report also explains IPv4 and IPv6 versions and how they facilitate IoT systems.

Internet of Things - An Introduction

Internet of Things (IoT) has taken the digital world by storm since its debut in 1999. However, many are still clueless and guessing what exactly it is and what it does. To sum it up, IoT is a concept wherein everyday gadgets or physical objects (home appliances, sensors etc.) are integrated and connected seamlessly over a network using the Internet or virtual objects. This enables generation, consumption and sharing of data between these objects with minimal human intervention. With technical advancements being made every day, the possibilities and reach of the Internet are beyond one’s imagination. IoT aims to expand the connectivity and smoothen the communication between real world and smart objects. In comparison with the current Internet, IoT works with a more flexible architecture where physical objects with embedded sensors will communicate with a cloud to exchange and assess data using Internet Protocols. In today’s age and time, man has almost everything at his finger tips or in digital terms, we can say, everything is just a click away. With the advent of IoT, a crucial milestone in digital space advancements, our world is all set to become an even smaller place in the coming years.

Impact of IoT in Everyday Life

IoT is the tool that is going to be instrumental in making our dream of a smart world a reality where people live in smart homes, getting work done at the click of a button. Any technology that helps reduce our work and make our life easier, we welcome it and make it a household name. Home appliances operating on their own, being well-coordinated in a system to send and receive data, will make our world less cumbersome and our lives smoother. IoT removes human intervention and puts the real-world objects to task in our day to day activities. It makes security more plausible. With our smartphones, CCTV cameras and other sensors being interconnected over the Internet, it is easier to track one’s whereabouts and to keep an eye on one’s dear ones round the clock. Healthcare services have benefitted from this concept on a massive scale in terms of wearable fitness and health monitoring devices and network enabled medical devices. IoT systems like networked vehicles, intelligent traffic systems, and built-in sensors on roads and bridges result in the rise of smart cities, which help reduce congestion, energy consumption and improve safety. IoT technology can help transform agriculture, industry, and energy production and distribution by making information readily available along the production value chain using networked sensors. From a management perspective, IoT enables the management to move freely from macro to micro levels and work out relevant plans of action as a result of easy access to fine-grained information. This entirely interactive and responsive network yields immense potential for citizens, consumers and businesses for advancements in their specific professional areas.

IoT - Areas of Application

The McKinsey Global Institute, in their report “Unlocking the Potential of the Internet of Things’’, describes the various applications of IoT in terms of settings wherein users can extract maximum value out of it. Starting off with humans, like we discussed earlier, wearable monitoring devices help assess and evaluate health and fitness levels and also measure levels of productivity. At homes, improved security systems and smart appliances make work far easier and more efficient. Highly automated retail environments like banks, restaurants, and stores ensure that work is done on time and is accurate. Offices, factories and worksites benefit from aligning physical objects like inventory and machinery with virtual objects like the Internet and other automated business processes to produce maximum output at minimum cost. Vehicles designed around the idea of IoT systems ensure safety and easy maintenance. Cities are being transformed into smart cities with the advent of smart traffic systems, resource management systems and so on.

Building Blocks of IoT

Advances in Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) technology, digital electronics and wireless communications in the recent past have enabled the development of cost effective, less energy consuming, multifunctional sensor nodes that are small in size and communicate effectively over short distances. Global sensing enabled by Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) technologies is prominently visible in many aspects of modern day living. This offers the ability to measure, analyze and understand environmental indicators, from fragile ecologies and natural resources to our current urban setting. The explosion in numbers of these devices in a communicating–actuating network creates the IoT. Connecting Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) tags in corporate supply chains to the Internet helps to count and track goods without the need for human intervention. A collection of embedded devices and autoID technologies as well as off-the-shelf units can be utilized to address specific purposes.

IoT Framework

Seamlessly integrating physical objects with the virtual space requires layers of communication channels and interconnected networking systems. This calls for a framework consisting of several communication models. Some of these are as follows:

1. Device-to-Device Communication In this model, two or more devices are connected to each other and these interact between themselves without the involvement of an intermediary application server. They make use of several types of networks like IP network or the Internet. Residential IoT devices like light switches, door locks, thermostats etc. that make use of small data packets in communicating with one another fall under this model.

2. Device-to-Cloud Communication In this model, the device transmits data and monitors data traffic by directly connecting to an Internet cloud service such as an application service provider. This communication model uses existing communications mechanisms like Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections extensively to establish a connection between the device and the IP network, which ultimately connects to the cloud service. It is employed by some popular consumer IoT devices like the Nest Labs Learning Thermostat44 and the Samsung Smart TV.

3. Device-to-Gateway Model In this model, there is an application software operating on a local gateway device, which plays

the role of an intermediary between the chosen device and the cloud service and provides security and other functionality such as data or protocol translation. This model is often employed in popular consumer devices like personal fitness trackers.

4. Back-End Data-Sharing Model This model refers to a communication architecture that allows users to exchange and analyze smart object data from a cloud service against data from other sources. A back-end sharing architecture enables the data collected from single IoT device data streams to be combined and analyzed. Requirements of consolidating and analyzing the data produced by IoT devices and Internet enabled utility systems can be met with the use of such a communication model.

IPv4 and IPv6- A detailed study

As we all know, the Internet is evolving and growing in leaps and bounds as we speak. In this process, many software systems and other existing systems become obsolete, and newer, more advanced systems replace them. The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is an example of such a transition that was long overdue. The internet evolution deemed this transition fairly urgent and inevitable. The need to invent IPv6 meant that its predecessor, the IPv4, had some flaws and imperfections that could not be ignored. The move by Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, (IANA) to exhaust the IPv4 address space in the global frontier speeded up the transition process. It would not be wrong to say that there is a sort of competition between the two rival protocols considering the fact that they are not directly compatible and users and network providers are being compelled to decide whether to support one or both protocols. The two protocols play significant roles in delivering effective IoT systems. We will be looking into their roles individually in depth.

Internet Protocol facilitates primary inter network routing with effective error reporting. It also facilitates the fragmentation and reassembly of information units called datagrams for transmission across networks with varying maximum data unit sizes. IP addresses are unique numbers assigned by Network Information Center and these unique numbers enable IP networks across the globe to communicate with each other efficiently. Most of the existing networks use IP version 4 (IPv4). Advanced networks use the updated IP version 6 (IPv6).

IPv4 and its role in delivering effective IoT systems

Over the last few years, the internet boom has created a massive increase in the number of internet users and this sudden explosive surge in web usage has posed a big challenge to the service providers. The Ipv4 internet protocol addressing was considered to be adequate at the time but it soon faced the danger of extinction as the number of web users and devices rose to unmanageable numbers. When you communicate with other users via a public medium, it is imperative that we ensure there is no invasion of privacy and that data security is upheld by encrypting the information. With technological advancements improving internet infrastructure, IPv4 address packets started providing adequate and reliable security measures. IPv4 network allocation was efficient and boasted of a large number of functional routers, hence forming the backbone of the Internet. Flat routing and hierarchical routing forms the base of this infrastructure. In addition to this, connecting multiple devices over a large network became easier and more convenient even without NAT. Therefore, applications that did not need NAT worked easily through firewalls. Due to the rapid growth in the number of internet users which showed no sign of slowing down, data transfer and online browsing became far too slow. This model of communication therefore provided efficient data transfer and quality service. In most cases, these services used Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and User Datagram Protocol (UDP). Despite having limited operational usability, IPv4 addresses were redefined and updated.

With IPv4, routing became more efficient and scalable because addressing was summarized and aggregated more efficiently. IPv4 is considered to be the defined standard today, but its significance is gradually deteriorating and it is being replaced by the more advanced version IPv6 to solve the IP address exhaustion problem that is looming large on the horizon.

IPv6 and its role in delivering effective IoT systems

In the case of IPv4, each IP address is defined using 32 bits, which comes to a figure of roughly four billion addresses. This was a huge number during its inception, but with the Internet evolution, this address pool soon became obsolete. IPv6 uses 128 bits for each address. To put this in perspective, if you take into account the number of known stars in the universe, and square that number, the resulting figure will only be slightly larger than the number of addresses in IPv6. Working with complex algorithms can be difficult for routers that have to decipher each packet and determine its destination. IPv4 is also not the best option when working with mobile networks, where the device can move from one network to another. IPv6 solves these problems because the large number of addresses makes the complexity of the algorithms irrelevant and insignificant. IPv6 has the ability to carry larger payloads than the standard amount allowed in IPv4. This is an optional feature, and IPv6 networks can still remain adaptable to IPv4’s payload size. In spite of the innumerable advantages of IPv6, the incompatibility still hinders its widespread acceptance and usage. Only a meager 1% of the world’s networks have upgraded to IPv6, while the remaining 99% still use IPv4. This will change once IPv4 addresses are totally exhausted, and communication companies are left with no other choice but to use IPv6 addresses. IPv6 delivers additional benefits apart from a larger addressing space, for example, permitting hierarchical address allocation techniques that limit the expansion of routing tables, simplified and expanded multicast addressing and service delivery optimization. Device mobility, security, and configuration aspects have been considered in the design of IPv6.

Both the competing protocols have some undeniable strengths on one hand and some weaknesses that cannot be ignored on the other. With technology and internet infrastructure growing in leaps and bounds every minute of the day, systems will keep becoming obsolete and newer versions will keep enticing web users.

#optimization #ipv6 #iot #iot solutions #tcp #ipv4 #iana #internet of things

[wexpertyst]

How IoT Will Change Our Lives?

The Internet has taken over the world by storm and everyone is connected to each other through it. Apart from staying connected with people, it is essential to have your devices connected to the internet as well. This is what is known as the Internet of Things (IoT). There are billions and trillions of devices such as mobile phones, laptops, computers, wearable devices, hospital devices among others that have to be connected to the internet for data sharing and functioning.

The wireless network has helped a lot of devices all over the world to stay connected and work efficiently. All devices are connected to the internet with the help of micro and mini chips that are pre-installed in them. A network is required to connect the physical objects and there is nothing better than the IoT that brings the best performance of any device.

Understanding IoT

All devices need connectivity to the cloud to function and work efficiently. The IoT enables them in doing so and performs in a certain manner. It allows the users to perform various functions on different devices and obtain access to online data which can be used in several ways. Here are some of the top devices that are connected with the wireless network via IoT:

High-speed wireless internet network

Security systems of smart homes

Appliances that are connected to a house or office building

Smart factory apparatus

Wireless inventory trackers

Farming equipment

Wearable health devices

Biometric cybersecurity scanners

Shipping container tracking

Logistics tracking

In a nutshell Internet of Things bind several things together such as the expansive connection networks, connected devices, and a large amount of data for a stunning experience. We have been looking forward to building smart cities, smart homes, and office spaces, for which we definitely require IoT. This technology has gained great prominence in the recent past and now everyone wants their devices to be connected to the cloud with the help of IoT as the competition has gone high and users don’t want to buy a product that has no connectivity to the wireless network.

Another aspect of IoT is that it requires minimum human resources in conducting any function as it is all done with either the devices, the internet, or both of the collaboratively. We are living in a fast-paced world where we want the devices to understand each other’s language and perform various functions without the intervention of humans, and that is why IoT has been developed.

Further, we are going to lay emphasis on the Impact of IoT, its challenges, and the process followed in connecting several devices with the help of it.

Impact of IoT

The Internet of Things has had a quite positive impact on technology and devices that can connect to wireless networks. There are sensors in almost all products now that let you connected with the item all the time, either through sensors or some other form. From reducing carbon footprints to helping the governments of various countries stress more on the quality of healthcare offering, there is a lot that has been offered to the users through IoT.

Here’s how IoT has impacted the technological landscape:

Cities have gone smarter: There has always been a significant need for smart devices installed in cities for safe water, energy, and other resources. Since more than half the population of the countries reside in cities because of bright job prospects and other things, it has become necessary for the city administration to keep a check over the infrastructure without having to manage it manually. Therefore, most cities have now installed convenient transportation systems, street lighting that is safe, and top it all, there are now buildings that are now energy efficient. Secondly, the government of any country or city has to deal with the growing population, which is on a rise. With the help of sensors installed around the city, they can get a 3D visual representation of the entire city to get an in-depth analysis of the same. It also helps in managing the traffic flow of cities, manages resources, controls the population, and improve the standard of living for the citizens of each city. Take a look at the benefits that smart cities can derive from IoT:

Cities can be installed with sensors that can sense the early warnings of any natural calamity and warn the residents of the city so that proper precautions can be taken in time.

It also helps in reducing traffic as drivers can be intimated about any traffic congestion on a route before in hand. Also, if an accident happens on a road, the residents are communicated about the same with the help of several devices.

An ambulance can switch on the siren to stop other cars on their way and making their way to the nearby hospital. With the help of IoT devices, they can easily get in touch with the near most hospital, who will be readily standing outside waiting for the patient to arrive.

Finding a parking space can be a hassle a lot of times, due to which people end up wasting a lot of time. In this case, IoT has been helpful in a way to intimate the car drivers about the parking lot that has space and the one that is full. This reduces their time of going on looking for a parking space

The lighting in a smart city can help the administration save a lot on the money that is spent on electricity as the lights will only get switched on when someone’s presence in that vicinity.

Apart from this, the IoT has also impacted businesses significantly. Take a look at some of the ways how the technology is being implemented and making changes in the business world:

Managing inventory and tracking: There has always been a growing need for managing the products in the inventory and tracking it with the help of human resources. IoT allows devices and techniques to do all this work, which helps businesses in spending less amount on manual labor on doing all. With the introduction of IoT in the business world, you can control the inventory without having too many people on the floor.

Increasing productivity: There are several operations and work tasks in an organization that have to be done in a day or in a given period of time. With the introduction of IoT devices, all organizational works have been accomplished without any error and give accurate information. The helps in enhancing the work of the organization and increasing the productivity of a business. Since the productivity and quality of the work process plays a vital role in the success of the organization, it is very important to do the work in a well-maintained manner.

Skilled employees: It is a good practice to employ only those who have the required knowledge for using the IoT devices. The basic understanding of the devices used within an organization and knowing about them is always a good idea so that there are no hurdles in between in the future. Since IoT makes technology quite modern and makes things easier for the employees or the workers, it is important for the latter to have the basic skills of using it.

Data collection: Each organization needs to have access to the data of an organization for growth and a bright future perspective. IoT lets you handle the data and keeps a watch over the analytics in a much better way. It can give you access to the devices’ interaction with the consumer and helps you calculate the user success resulting in an enhanced user experience. Data is very necessary to any business as it gives them an insight into how their organization is functioning and get an idea of the user behavior. IoT does not only help in collecting this essential data but also guides you through the analyzing process of the same.

Challenges of IoT

Connecting everything and everyone to the internet with the help of several devices, the Internet of Things (IoT) has one of the most talked-about technologies ever. While it has helped everyone stay updated and reduced the physical work significantly, it has certain loopholes that should not be ignored.

Having become a core technology behind smart cities, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cars, etc. IoT has gained prominence like a wildfire. The ease of use has made it one of the most likable technologies ever.

A statistical report by Gartner has stated that the growth of IoT has grown from 20 billion IoT connected devices in 2016 to 26 billion devices by the end of 2020. So, it is quite prominent how people have been gradually shifting to this technology. However, you must know the drawback of this technology before actually venturing into it. Take a look at some challenges that the technology faces:

Security and data protection challenges: This is one the biggest challenges faced by the technology as the data gets transferred from various personal devices to the web and then the cloud. While going through all these stages, it might get leaked or hacked at any stage. The leak of this information can lead to the breach of information, making the service providers at risk as he has to be answerable to the users. While it is easy to encrypt the safety of the users on websites and apps, it is difficult to keep it secure and safe from hackers. Another challenge it faces is that it is difficult to detect if a device is affected. Therefore, you might even not know if your device is hacked and that someone is using information from that. You could just lose out on all the information from your devices. Monitoring each IoT device can become difficult, therefore, keeping a tab on which one is affected is something that you don’t have control over.

Predicting the attacks: There are hackers out there who are constantly waiting to try some of the other ways to hack into your device and get all the important data out of it. It is because of the loopholes in this system that it becomes difficult for the service providers to see the malware. It has been a long persisting challenge in the case of the Internet of Things. Threat intelligence is used by modern cloud services in predicting issuers pertaining to the security of IoT devices. It is always advised to use these technologies to safeguard your devices against any sort of data threat, however, it is not easy to integrate these technologies into IoT.

Malware: With the increase in IoT devices, there have been numerous cases of cyber attacks. There has been a rapid increase in the kinds of ways cybercriminals are trying to use all personal information from the devices.

Default credentials: There are several companies around the world that have dwelled in this field and are selling IoT devices. They provide a default username and password to each user who purchases these devices. Hackers do not take time to get access to the device and already are aware of the username and the password. This makes their work easy and they can easily get the information they had been looking for.

Outdated software and hardware: Why do you think these devices are so susceptible to cyber-attacks? Since these devices are being produced in abundance, the manufacturers are just paying heed to the number of devices that are being made, not the quality. This is why they are made with old and outdated technology. Similarly, it is essential for these organizations to take care of any updates in the device or bug fixes at the later stage, which is several times overlooked. It is of utmost importance for all the devices connected to the internet to have regular updates so that they can continue working efficiently without any glitch or hassle. Therefore, all IoT devices manufacturing companies should be looking into the technology and make regular updates to them.

How do IoT works?

The Internet of Things (IoT) system is not a complicated process for the transfer and sharing of data. Since it helps connect all devices to the internet with the help of sensors that are fit into it, IoT connects with the cloud through the internet and passes on the information to the cloud. Once this information is received by the software via Cloud, it is then processed and some sort of action is performed on the same. There are several ways of performing any sort of action on the same such as sending out a signal, alarm, etc.

However, in case any changes or amendments are needed for the same alert, it can be done with the help of the user interface. It also allows you to make any sort of adjustments to the message retrieved by the device.

The future of IoT

There have been many developments in the IoT ever since it came into being. The graph of the use of this technology has been going up and there have innumerable smart devices that have made an entrance in our personal and professional lives. Take a look at some future predictions of IoT technology:

There is an increase in the number of IoT devices and in the coming years it has been predicted that there will be a lot more usage of the same. It has been estimated that the number of devices connected with the internet and come under IoT will be more than 21 billion.

More smart cities: Every city’s administration looks up to the cities that have already become smart and equipped with IoT. That is where they derive inspiration from and have also started using some of the other IoT devices. This will help more cities fall under the category of smart cities. Apart from offering a healthy lifestyle to the people living in the city, it also enhances their living conditions and accessibility to technology.

Growth of AI (Artificial Intelligence): Most people have IoT household appliances that they are very dependent on. From simple coffee machines, that understand your preferences, to the lighting system of the house and the washing machines, everything can now be monitored by just giving voice commands, due to their connection with the internet. In the coming years, our dependency on AI is going to increase to a great level.

Easy searching: It should have a search bar, enabling the users to look up something without any issue. One should get options for a keyword in the dropdown of any search bar.

More installation of routers for securing the path: IoT devices are vulnerable to cyber threats and there are chances of hackers to get to your data easily. This is mostly because of the device manufacturers who do not pay much heed to the device from the security point of view. Therefore, people have routers set up at their homes which stops any sort of hacking activities from the entry-level itself.

5G networks to increase growth: Most carriers are on the verge of introducing 5G networks which have given a rise to the IoT devices as more of these can be connected to one single connection.

Smart cars: Well, there are several big brands and countries that have already introduced smart cars, and with the introduction of the 5G network, it is highly likely for the cars to use more IoT devices making cars smart.

Top 10 IoT development trends in 2020

It takes a great deal of effort to develop IoT apps for your business. Take a look at the top trends of IoT development:

Use of IoT in providing customer services.

Evolution of Big data and IoT, which go together in most cases these days.

Machine learning and IoT.

IoT in the field of agriculture.

The use of this technology with proper security in customer appliances.

Edge computing and processing of the data.

Use of IoT devices in the healthcare sector.

Use of Blockchain in the sector for enhancing the security of the entire system.

Implementation of IoT in the manufacturing sector.

Providing a helping hand in managing the workforce.

How to develop an app for the Internet of Things (IoT)?

To get into the competition and give a tough fight, it is essential to keep up with the technology and embracing the latest devices that help you pace up and stand out. This can happen if you get a mobile or web application made for IoT. This simplifies a lot of things for you as everything can be operated from your dashboard and interface.

Below mentioned are some easy steps that can guide you through building an app for the IoT:

With the availability of several platforms, it becomes difficult for you to zero in upon the platform you want to develop the IoT app for. You should have proper knowledge of the technology supported by each device and the amount you will have to spend on each one of them. Also, it is important for you to see if it fits your budget or not?

Make a list of the hardware devices that you will connect to your app. You should know the need of your products and then list down the devices that can support IoT and the application that you are developing for the same.

Expansion is on everyone’s mind, therefore, you should think of the scalability of the IoT app as well. You should be able to reach the masses in less time. The relevance of any device also depends on your scalability.

In the era of growing technology, you must make sure that the app is light and fast to load as people would not want to wait for it to load, rather they would switch to some other app that serves their purpose.

The most important aspect that should be covered well in an IoT app is the security of the data. Since most IoT devices lack security as they are highly susceptible to cybercrimes, more emphasis should be laid on how to protect the data again cyber theft.

Conclusion

Internet of Things (IoT) has been doing wonders in creating smart cities, smart appliances among other things, but there are certain loopholes that have to be taken care of. Businesses much fix this issue by creating tight security to the data of their devices. Also, the practice of getting an application made for IoT for your business can help you get all possible benefits. Hiring an app development company that has prior experience in the same can help you reach the masses and developing a competitive app.

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New Post has been published on https://fitnesshealthyoga.com/yoga-sequence-for-the-core-without-a-single-crunch/

Yoga Sequence for the Core (Without a Single Crunch)

Learn how these yoga poses help build core strength.

Emilie Bers

I was nine years old the first time I took diet pills. For years, when I stood naked in front of the mirror, I would cry out of frustration. By the time I graduated college, I was put into treatment for anorexia nervosa with bulimia subtype. I was almost 50 pounds underweight. As recently as my late 20s, I continued to count calories and measure my food. Even at my most unhealthy, I could never truly see what I looked like, especially when it came to my stomach.

Looking at pictures of those little girls now, I wish I could transport myself to them. I wish I could hold them tight and tell them how beautiful they are. I may not be able to take a time-machine back there, but our young selves still exist inside of us, and as adults, we can learn to love ourselves—every single part.

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See also 5 Ways You Can Use Your Yoga Practice to Improve Your Body Image

Many people tend to be self-conscious about their stomachs. It took me nearly until now to feel comfortable in a bikini. I didn’t start wearing sports bras in photos until my mid-30s! Even now, when I am under great amounts of stress, I feel like I’ve gained weight in my gut, even when the scale (which my husband has to keep hidden) says otherwise.

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There is no denying it. We are a core-obsessed world. Stick “core” in the title of any fitness class, and you’ll have a full room. Physically, the core comprises our entire trunk, not just our stomach. Like the core of an apple, this includes our shoulders, torso, and hips. If the core is weak, it can lead to lower back issues, poor posture, and compromised breathing and digestion. People who are self-conscious of their stomachs tend to hunch over or wrap their arms around themselves, weakening the back body and constricting the front side, which contracts our whole being.

What I’ve learned over the years through my yoga practice is that we can strengthen our core without having to do a single sit-up. You see, it is what lies beneath the coveted washboard abs that we want to access and fortify. To do this, we must be willing to dig deep—to dissect the belly’s many layers: physical, energetic, and emotional. Because a strong core is so much more than our abdominals. It is our power center, our sense of self.

See also 16 Poses for a Strong + Stable Core

From an energetic viewpoint, the stomach houses our sense of self and acts as a second brain. Anxiety or alarm bells signal butterflies. Intuition gives way to “gut reactions.” The third chakra, manipura, lives here, as well. Some translate it to mean “city of jewels” or the “jewel within,” conveying the luminosity possible when we can access our truest self. Located between the naval (belly button) and the solar plexus (bottom of sternum), manipura is represented by the element of transformation: fire.

To have a strong core means knowing oneself intimately. It means having healthy boundaries and defined beliefs and values. It means being connected to your truth and responding from that place. When we live from our center (both literally and allegorically) we are more powerful in every way. Think of a great tennis player swinging their racket from their entire body, or a football player gracefully averting an oncoming player. Even the simple, everyday action of bending down to pick up something heavy is made easier by moving from your middle. Similarly, when you make decisions and choices from your center, they are more powerful.

See also 12-Minute Core Strength Sequence (for Real People)

We do not need six-pack abs to feel comfortable in our own skin. We simply need to live from our center, because no one looks or feels better than when they know who they are.

This five-pose sequence will help you build your core strength without requiring a single crunch:

1. Virabhadrasana II variation (Warrior Pose II with hands on belly)

It takes great courage to be willing to look within and change old patterns. Many of us prefer to live in habit rather than to riskbeing uncomfortable. But by its nature, change is uncomfortable. When we switch course, carving a new path, it takes commitment. Holding Warrior Pose II can be a powerful real-time lesson on perseverance. Staying in a pose longer than we think we can is an excellent way to learn the practice of accepting discomfort as a necessary aspect of transformation. Putting one hand on your belly begins the process of accessing your core, while placing your other hand on your heart reminds you why you’re doing this in the first place. When we know who we are, we are better able to live from the heart.

See also 10 Yoga Sequences for Strong Feet and Better Balance

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Remembering The Time When Michael Jordan 23 Shirt

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Hobbies and interests can certainly help you in your life. Hobbies can overcome out feeling of boredom, provide you with a innovative electric outlet to make it easier to obtain fun. Continue reading through for several useful information regarding hobbies and interests.

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Laziness Does Not Exist – Devon Price – Medium

I’ve been a psychology professor since 2012. In the past six years, I’ve witnessed students of all ages procrastinate on papers, skip presentation days, miss assignments, and let due dates fly by. I’ve seen promising prospective grad students fail to get applications in on time; I’ve watched PhD candidates take months or years revising a single dissertation draft; I once had a student who enrolled in the same class of mine two semesters in a row, and never turned in anything either time.

I don’t think laziness was ever at fault.

Ever.

In fact, I don’t believe that laziness exists.

…

I’m a social psychologist, so I’m interested primarily in the situational and contextual factors that drive human behavior. When you’re seeking to predict or explain a person’s actions, looking at the social norms, and the person’s context is usually a pretty safe bet. Situational constraints typically predict behavior far better than personality, intelligence, or other individual-level traits.

So when I see a student failing to complete assignments, missing deadlines, or not delivering results in other aspects of their life, I’m moved to ask: what are the situational factors holding this student back? What needs are currently not being met? And, when it comes to behavioral “laziness”, I’m especially moved to ask: what are the barriers to action that I can’t see?

There are always barriers. Recognizing those barriers— and viewing them as legitimate — is often the first step to breaking “lazy” behavior patterns.

…

It’s really helpful to respond to a person’s ineffective behavior with curiosity rather than judgment. I learned this from a friend of mine, the writer and activist Kimberly Longhofer (who publishes under Mik Everett). Kim is passionate about the acceptance and accommodation of disabled people and homeless people. Their writing about both subjects is some of the most illuminating, bias-busting work I’ve ever encountered. Part of that is because Kim is brilliant, but it’s also because, at various points in their life, Kim has been both disabled and homeless.

Kim is the person who taught me that judging a homeless person for wanting to buy alcohol or cigarettes is utter folly. When you’re homeless, the nights are cold, the world is unfriendly, and everything is painfully uncomfortable. Whether you’re sleeping under a bridge, in a tent, or at a shelter, it’s hard to rest easy. You are likely to have injuries or chronic conditions that bother you persistently, and little access to medical care to deal with it. You probably don’t have much healthy food.

In that chronically uncomfortable, over-stimulating context, needing a drink or some cigarettes makes fucking sense. As Kim explained to me if you’re laying out in the freezing cold, drinking some alcohol may be the only way to warm up and get to sleep. If you’re under-nourished, a few clouds of smoke may be the only thing that kills the hunger pangs. And if you’re dealing with all this while also fighting an addiction, then yes, sometimes you just need to score whatever will make the withdrawal symptoms go away, so you can survive.

Kim’s incredible book about their experiences being homeless while running a bookstore.

Few people who haven’t been homeless think this way. They want to moralize the decisions of poor people, perhaps to comfort themselves about the injustices of the world. For many, it’s easier to think homeless people are, in part, responsible for their suffering than it is to acknowledge the situational factors.

And when you don’t fully understand a person’s context — what it feels like to be them every day, all the small annoyances and major traumas that define their life — it’s easy to impose abstract, rigid expectations on a person’s behavior. All homeless people should put down the bottle and get to work. Never mind that most of them have mental health symptoms and physical ailments, and are fighting constantly to be recognized as human. Never mind that they are unable to get a good night’s rest or a nourishing meal for weeks or months on end. Never mind that even in my comfortable, easy life, I can’t go a few days without craving a drink or making an irresponsible purchase. They have to do better.

But they’re already doing the best they can. I’ve known homeless people who worked full-time jobs, and who devoted themselves to the care of other people in their communities. A lot of homeless people have to navigate bureaucracies constantly, interfacing with social workers, caseworkers, police officers, shelter staff, Medicaid staff, and a slew of charities both well-meaning and condescending. It’s a lot of fucking work to be homeless. And when a homeless or poor person runs out of steam and makes a “bad decision”, there’s a damn good reason for it.

If a person’s behavior doesn’t make sense to you, it is because you are missing a part of their context. It’s that simple. I’m so grateful to Kim and their writing for making me aware of this fact. No psychology class, at any level, taught me that. But now that it is a lens that I have, I find myself applying it to all kinds of behaviors that are mistaken for signs of moral failure — and I’ve yet to find one that can’t be explained and empathized with.

…

Let’s look at a sign of academic “laziness” that I believe is anything but procrastination.

People love to blame procrastinators for their behavior. Putting off work sure looks lazy, to an untrained eye. Even the people who are actively doing the procrastinating can mistake their behavior for laziness. You’re supposed to be doing something, and you’re not doing it — that’s a moral failure, right? That means you’re weak-willed, unmotivated, and lazy, doesn’t it?

When you’re paralyzed with fear of failure, or you don’t even know how to begin a massive, complicated undertaking, it’s damn hard to get shit done. It has nothing to do with desire, motivation, or moral upstandingness. Procrastinators can themselves to work for hours; they can sit in front of a blank word document, doing nothing else, and torture themselves; they can pile on the guilt again and again — none of it makes initiating the task any easier. In fact, their desire to get the damn thing done may worsen their stress and make starting the task harder.

The solution, instead, is to look for what is holding the procrastinator back. If anxiety is the major barrier, the procrastinator actually needs to walk away from the computer/book/word document and engage in a relaxing activity. Being branded “lazy” by other people is likely to lead to the exact opposite behavior.

Often, though, the barrier is that procrastinators have executive functioning challenges — they struggle to divide a large responsibility into a series of discrete, specific, and ordered tasks. Here’s an example of executive functioning in action: I completed my dissertation (from proposal to data collection to final defense) in a little over a year. I was able to write my dissertation pretty easily and quickly because I knew that I had to a) compile research on the topic, b) outline the paper, c) schedule regular writing periods, and d) chip away at the paper, section by section, day by day, according to a schedule I had pre-determined.

Nobody had to teach me to slice up tasks like that. And nobody had to force me to adhere to my schedule. Accomplishing tasks like this is consistent with how my analytical, hyper-focused, Autistic little brain works. Most people don’t have that ease. They need an external structure to keep them writing — regular writing group meetings with friends, for example — and deadlines set by someone else. When faced with a major, massive project, most people want advice for how to divide it into smaller tasks, and a timeline for completion. In order to track progress, most people require organizational tools, such as a to-do list, calendar, datebook, or syllabus.

Needing or benefiting from such things doesn’t make a person lazy. It just means they have needs. The more we embrace that, the more we can help people thrive.

…

I had a student who was skipping class. Sometimes I’d see her lingering near the building, right before class was about to start, looking tired. The class would start, and she wouldn’t show up. When she was present in class, she was a bit withdrawn; she sat in the back of the room, eyes down, energy low. She contributed during small group work but never talked during larger class discussions.

A lot of my colleagues would look at this student and think she was lazy, disorganized, or apathetic. I know this because I’ve heard how they talk about under-performing students. There’s often rage and resentment in their words and tone — why won’t this student take my class seriously? Why won’t they make me feel important, interesting, smart?

But my class had a unit on mental health stigma. It’s a passion of mine because I’m a neuroatypical psychologist. I know how unfair my field is to people like me. The class & I talked about the unfair judgments people levy against those with mental illness; how depression is interpreted as laziness, how mood swings are framed as manipulative, how people with “severe” mental illnesses are assumed incompetent or dangerous.

The quiet, occasionally-class-skipping student watched this discussion with keen interest. After class, as people filtered out of the room, she hung back and asked to talk to me. And then she disclosed that she had a mental illness and was actively working to treat it. She was busy with therapy and switching medications, and all the side effects that entails. Sometimes, she was not able to leave the house or sit still in a classroom for hours. She didn’t dare tell her other professors that this was why she was missing classes and late, sometimes, on assignments; they’d think she was using her illness as an excuse. But she trusted me to understand.

And I did. And I was so, so angry that this student was made to feel responsible for her symptoms. She was balancing a full course load, a part-time job, and ongoing, serious mental health treatment. And she was capable of intuiting her needs and communicating them with others. She was a fucking badass, not a lazy fuck. I told her so.

She took many more classes with me after that, and I saw her slowly come out of her shell. By her Junior and Senior years, she was an active, frank contributor to class — she even decided to talk openly with her peers about her mental illness. During class discussions, she challenged me and asked excellent, probing questions. She shared tons of media and current-events examples of psychological phenomena with us. When she was having a bad day, she told me, and I let her miss class. Other professors — including ones in the psychology department — remained judgmental towards her, but in an environment where her barriers were recognized and legitimized, she thrived.

…

Over the years, at that same school, I encountered countless other students who were under-estimated because the barriers in their lives were not seen as legitimate. There was the young man with OCD who always came to class late because his compulsions sometimes left him stuck in place for a few moments. There was the survivor of an abusive relationship, who was processing her trauma in therapy appointments right before my class each week. There was the young woman who had been assaulted by a peer — and who had to continue attending classes with that peer, while the school was investigating the case.

These students all came to me willingly and shared what was bothering them. Because I discussed mental illness, trauma, and stigma in my class, they knew I would be understanding. And with some accommodations, they blossomed academically. They gained confidence, made attempts at assignments that intimidated them, raised their grades, started considering graduate school and internships. I always found myself admiring them. When I was a college student, I was nowhere near as self-aware. I hadn’t even begun my lifelong project of learning to ask for help.

…

Students with barriers were not always treated with such kindness by my fellow psychology professors. One colleague, in particular, was infamous for providing no make-up exams and allowing no late arrivals. No matter a student’s situation, she was unflinchingly rigid in her requirements. No barrier was insurmountable, in her mind; no limitation was acceptable. People floundered in her class. They felt shame about their sexual assault histories, their anxiety symptoms, their depressive episodes. When a student who did poorly in her classes performed well in mine, she was suspicious.

It’s morally repugnant to me that any educator would be so hostile to the people they are supposed to serve. It’s especially infuriating, that the person enacting this terror was a psychologist. The injustice and ignorance of it leave me teary every time I discuss it. It’s a common attitude in many educational circles, but no student deserves to encounter it.

…

I know, of course, that educators are not taught to reflect on what their students’ unseen barriers are. Some universities pride themselves on refusing to accommodate disabled or mentally ill students — they mistake cruelty for intellectual rigor. And, since most professors are people who succeeded academically with ease, they have trouble taking the perspective of someone with executive functioning struggles, sensory overloads, depression, self-harm histories, addictions, or eating disorders. I can see the external factors that lead to these problems. Just as I know that “lazy” behavior is not an active choice, I know that judgmental, elitist attitudes are typically borne out of situational ignorance.

And that’s why I’m writing this piece. I’m hoping to awaken my fellow educators — of all levels — to the fact that if a student is struggling, they probably aren’t choosing to. They probably want to do well. They probably are trying. More broadly, I want all people to take a curious and empathic approach to individuals whom they initially want to judge as “lazy” or irresponsible.

If a person can’t get out of bed, something is making them exhausted. If a student isn’t writing papers, there’s some aspect of the assignment that they can’t do without help. If an employee misses deadlines constantly, something is making organization and deadline-meeting difficult. Even if a person is actively choosing to self-sabotage, there’s a reason for it — some fear they’re working through, some need not being met, a lack of self-esteem being expressed.

People do not choose to fail or disappoint. No one wants to feel incapable, apathetic, or ineffective. If you look at a person’s action (or inaction) and see only laziness, you are missing key details. There is always an explanation. There are always barriers. Just because you can’t see them, or don’t view them as legitimate, doesn’t mean they’re not there. Look harder.

Maybe you weren’t always able to look at human behavior this way. That’s okay. Now you are. Give it a try.

Get over that wall!

…

If you found this essay illuminating at all, please consider buying Kim Longhofer / Mik Everett’s book, Self-Published Kindling: Memoirs of a Homeless Bookstore Owner. The ebook is $3; the paperback is $15.

[mikeyd1986]

MIKEY’S PERSONAL BLOG 130, November 2018

Last Saturday afternoon, Mum and I visited Narre Gate Medical Center. Over the last few days, the symptoms and side effects of my medication transition has gotten progressively worse and I made the decision to take a couple of days off work as I didn’t feel fit enough to be there. My regular GP wasn’t working and so I had to take a chance and hope that Dr. Rina Dela Cruz Sangalang would take my mental health and medication issues seriously. http://www.narregatemedicalcentre.com.au/

It wasn’t surprising that we had to wait nearly an hour and a half to see her but the receptionist’s attitude towards this fact really wasn’t helping matters. Still I feel like it’s a waste of time and energy to complain. Instead I just caught up on reading my book and occasionally pulled my phone out to scroll through Facebook posts. Having my Mum there for support definitely helped as my brain was still pretty foggy and I have confidence issues when it comes to seeing a doctor that I’ve never met before. Thankfully, Dr. Rina was worth the wait. https://www.healthshare.com.au/profile/professional/178711-dr-rina-dela-cruz-sangalang/

After explaining my situation, she advised that I may have signs of Serotonin Syndrome (though in my opinion, I feel that’s highly unlikely) and recommended that I stop taking the Sertraline (Zoloft) tablets completely and continue taking the Escitalopram (Lexapro) at 5mg for the next few days. She took my blood pressure and the results were normal. She also wrote me up a referral to Casey Hospital should my symptoms get worse as well as a medical certificate for work. Whilst all that may sound pretty extreme, I do believe that she had good intentions behind it. https://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/serotonin-syndrome-causes-symptoms-treatments#1

I feel relieved that she at least took my concerns seriously and didn’t palm me off to my psychiatrist or worse not believe me. I’m hoping that this solution will work and eventually the side effects will gradually reduce in severity. Like anything, I just have to be patient and take things one day at a time. Withdrawals from a previous prescription medication are quite common and my body is still in the process of adjusting to the new one. https://www.healthline.com/health/mdd/switching-antidepressants

On Monday morning, I caught up with my mental health support worker Seb at Jamaica Blue Cranbourne. Three sessions in, I feel like it’s getting a lot easier to be comfortable and open with my support worker. I decided to try a different approach, asking Seb about how experiences with mental health issues to essentially form a foundation. He mentioned that he’s had depression and anxiety in the past as well as agoraphobia, which is the fear of leaving your own house. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/agoraphobia

He also told me that his mother worked as a psychiatric nurse and many of his friends have engaged in counselling and mental health services. And from that information, I feel much more at ease and reassured knowing that he’s got a firm basis in mental health problems. Discussing my own personal issues from recent medication transition and side effects to anxiety triggers and work-related stress, environmental pressures and sleep problems. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ServicesAndSupport/types-of-mental-health-issues-and-illnesses

In that regard, he is very supportive, understanding and sympathetic. It’s still socially awkward at times but it is getting easier and sitting next to the window inside the cafe provides a nice visual buffer. It’s also nice to talk about casual things like television shows, movies, shopping and the weather outside as well as having a laugh which is always important to do. https://www.gaiam.com/blogs/discover/7-health-benefits-of-laughter

On Monday night, I attended a HIIT Power small group training session with Cinamon Guerin at CinFull Fitness. After spending the last couple of days in recovery mode, I was determined to get back into some physical exercise again as I haven’t been for a few weeks. Whilst the usual barriers were there (profuse sweating, fatigue, racing heartbeat, getting easily breathless), they didn’t stop me though I was also being mindful of my limitations. Of course I made a joke about how much I sweat and will most likely need a beach towel during summer when I’m working out.

It’s frustrating when you have so much potential but physiologically things stop you and force your body to rest. Still overall I did really well tonight. We were doing 5 rounds of one minute duration movements including: skipping, med ball slams, weighted squats, overhead press, plank holds, push ups, sit ups, alternating lunges, step jumps, alternating step lunges, kettle bell swings. Certainly a full range of movement right there and it was tough but I was determined not to give up. The Energizer Bunny is back!

On Tuesday morning, Mum and I attended the Morning Melodies social function at Balla Balla Community Centre in Cranbourne East. There was the usual attendance of regular seniors, aged care residents, people with disabilities and palliative care nurses as well as entertainer and singer Vicki Lee. The songs she chooses to cover never fail to fill me with joy and positivity such as Johnny O’ Keefe’s Sing Sing Sing, Roy Orbison’s Penny Arcade and Meatloaf’s Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.  

But things took a turn for the worse when Mum took me out to McDonalds Clyde North as my depression seemed to cloud over. It was most likely a result of having poor quality of sleep, feeling fatigued and irritable, adjusting to my new medication and the humid windy weather outside. I’m learning to be kind and gentle toward myself during these rough mental states but it is so far from being easy to deal with.

At the time, I just wanted to cry and have a mental breakdown in front of Mum because it feels like everything is going out of control in my life. So many aspects of my life just feel like unknowns: my job, my friends, my mental health and physical fitness, my goals and my plans for the future. But it was more I was just having a shit day and I just needed to go home and rest up in bed. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/coping-with-depression.htm

On Tuesday night, I went to a Body Combat class with Cinamon Guerin at YMCA Casey ARC in Narre Warren. A weird thing seemed to come over me tonight in that I was fully engaged and even confident during tonight’s class. It’s weird because I haven’t been to a Combat class in weeks and yet all the movements and combos just flooded back into my body like a memory. https://www.siphilp.com/les-mills-bodycombat-77-music-track-listing.aspx

It’s one of the reasons why dragging myself to the gym is worth it because most of the time I walk away from the workout feeling lighter, more clear headed, more positive and very very sweaty! Considering how depressed and sleep deprived I’ve been feeling lately, these are the kinds of benefits that I need on a regular basis. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-benefits-of-exercise

Of course there were still a couple of tracks where I found myself being rusty and uncoordinated, particularly the one involving Zumba-like dance movements and a long sequence of squat and lunge pulses which burned like hell. But I pulled through it and my “never say die” attitude remained in tact. https://www.lesmills.com.au/bodycombat

It was also really humbling to see a few past members in the class actually remember me and acknowledge me. I guess it’s one of those anxiety-driven worries that you assume you’ll be forgotten if you haven’t been to a group fitness class in weeks but the opposite is true and it’s always a big esteem booster for me. As always, Cinamon continues to make these Combat classes heaps of fun and not too serious whilst making sure everyone is putting in 110% effort.

On Thursday morning, I decided to do a workout at the YMCA Casey RACE Health Club gym. I was feeling tired, irritable, restless and unmotivated so it really shouldn’t have come as a surprise that getting myself to Casey Race took a tremendous effort. On arrive, my body was desperately craving for a coffee. The cafe at the entrance was moderately packed with people but they didn’t look especially busy. My mistake!

When I walked up to the counter, I had to wait for a few minutes as there was a line of coffee orders to get done. That was perfectly fine by me and yet the wait felt excruciatingly uncomfortable for some reason. Still I tried hard to be my normal patient self. I ordered myself the usual regular latte with one sugar and full cream milk. No issues there. I decided to take a seat and wait to get called up.

The crowd began to thin and so I was about to keep an eye out for when my coffee would be ready. Fifteen minutes later, everyone else’s coffees were done and it clicked that they had forgotten my order. I really didn’t have the energy, assertiveness or desire to go back up to the counter again and so I left the cafe without my coffee. The good news is that at least I decided to still workout for a while, jumping on the upright bike and treadmill.

Whilst this reads like a “poor me” story, this was enough to trigger my depression and put me in a really bad mood. And the worse thing is that it’s so irrational to feel like this. Look back, I’m sure that they didn’t deliberately forget to make my coffee but unfortunately my brain was in such a fog and clouded with thoughts like “I guess it’s just not my day today”. I’m learning to not let one bad experience ruin my entire today but having mental illness, it’s like asking me to “just get over it”. It’s not that simple and never will be.

On Friday afternoon, I attended the The Melbourne Disability Expo held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC). Being my first at this convention, I really didn’t have any expectations at all and just gave it a casual approach. I brought my Mum along for support which meant that we were both clock-watching as she had to get back before 3pm for work. But that was fine. Honestly I get myself easily restless and drained at these types of events so I can only handle 1.5-2 hours at the most.

We listened to an NDIS National Disability Insurance Scheme presentation on the main stage which sadly wasn’t really relevant to my case but it was still very informative. Then I began targeting specific services that I thought would hopefully fit my needs and goals on the NDIS plan. My first stop was Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), which makes sense considering I have a diagnosis of High Functioning Autism. I am considering applying for the Aspect Employment mentoring program which could be a positive thing for me.

Next we looked into Everyday Independence who specialise in Speech Pathology, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy. I was pretty hesitant approaching the two ladies at the booth but I decided to give them my contact details anyway. JobCo Employment Services & NDIS is an NDIS provider which specialises in mental health issues and can provide counselling services and employment opportunities. Finally, Afford are a disability services support agency which can offer me shared accommodation and independent living.

I think the most difficult part of attending any expo, convention or festival is that high anxiety factor from dealing with other people. I’m very much confronting that salesperson phobia head-on with many reps turning their attention towards me as I’m walking past their booths. It’s extremely nerve-wracking and intimidating for me especially when I don’t have the social confidence to know exactly what to say and what questions to ask these people.

And yet I still went ahead, got out of my comfort zone and did it. I’ve collected a whole bunch of information brochures, flyers, pens and business cards to look back on. Hopefully I’ll be able to use more of my NDIS funding and engage with these services over the next 8 months into 2019 and have a clearer understanding of exactly what I want out of my life. https://www.melbournedisabilityexpo.com.au/

[ulyssessklein]

Genesis Revisited with Steve Hackett and Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham

By: Robert Cavuoto

Steve Hackett – photo credit: Christophe Pauly

In 2017, legendary Genesis guitarist, Steve Hackett, embarked on his Genesis Revisited & Classic Hackett Tour.

During a stop at Birmingham Symphony Hall in London of that year, Steve and his band filmed a concert for and released the CD/DVD  entitled, Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham.

This tour marked the 40th anniversary of Genesis’s Wind & Wuthering album. It was his last performance on a Genesis album.

To celebrate, Steve performed five of the best-loved tracks from this iconic album: “Eleventh Earl of Mar”, “One for the Vine”, “Blood on the Rooftops”,”…In That Quiet Earth”, and “Afterglow.” The CD/DVD also includes many songs from Steve’s 2017 solo album, The Night Siren.

I had the immense pleasure of sitting down with Steve in New York to discuss the making of Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham CD/DVD, his experiences and challenges honing his craft as a guitarist, and the status of a potential Genesis reunion.

******

Robert Cavuoto: It’s the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering, your last album with Genesis; does it feel that long to you?

Steve Hackett: Not really, it seems like yesterday, but there have been massive changes in me and the world. I’m now able to go back and look at that material with a fresh set of eyes. I can do what I should have done with it at the time.

I now have carte blanche to reinterpret it. Giving it alternative or extra guitar parts is a nice thing. It’s not that it’s easier to play. I think Wind & Wuthering was an excellent album.

A lot of people ask what does “wuthering” mean? It means blustery and windy. It’s not even a word in common British use. But, it’s from the book, Wuthering Heights, by Emily Brontë. It also spawned a movie. Genesis and Kate Bush used it as inspiration, and it was our first hit single.

Robert Cavuoto: I recall reading an interview where you said you are most at home while on stage. Is that still the case 40 years later?

Steve Hackett: I think home is with my wife. Wherever we are, we consider it to be home, because we are very close.

There are two ways to look at being on stage. If you are fearful it can be a very lonely place, if you enjoy it, it can be a very welcoming place. You have to get over that nervousness, as it can get in the way. You wouldn’t be

Steve and Jo Hackett in Santa Monica, CA – photo credit: Lee Millward

human if you didn’t walk up on stage with some sense of, “Will this go right?”

I think the difference now and when I was a younger player is the degree in wanting to do this. I know there is an audience for it, the songs have proved themselves, and it’s a very different relationship with the same material and hoping people were going to like it.

Robert Cavuoto: What do you remember special about filming your new DVD, Wuthering Nights: Live in Birmingham?

Steve Hackett: I remember it was a good evening; I played the Symphony Hall in Birmingham quite a few times and each time was an extraordinarily tremendous experience.

I think as soon as the cameras are on and people know they are being filmed there is a perceptible feeling particularly with the audience that “Oh, I better be on my best behavior.” [Laughing]. They made a lot of noise during the night, but even the audience can get a little bit nervous during filming.

Robert Cavuoto: With such an immense musical catalog to chose from, do you find it difficult to pick the set list, whether it’s for this DVD or for your upcoming tour?

Steve Hackett: The DVD is a show we did last year. It moves on now from the 40th anniversary of Wind & Wuthering to the 40th anniversary of Please Don’t Touch, the first solo album I did after I left Genesis.

We changed the set list, as we have slightly different personnel with the band this time.

People have asked for songs like “Supper’s Ready”, which is very long, and from Genesis’s Foxtrot album in 1972. From the Nursery Crymes album, we are doing “The Musical Box” and “The Fountain of Salmacis” Its forte’ has always been to perform live, there is just something about the grand sweep of the romantic track. With its orchestral keyboards, I think it’s some of the best writing the band came up with at that time. The guitar makes cameo appearances in it, but essentially it has a symphonic temper to it.

  Steve Hackett – photo credit: Icon Photo

Robert Cavuoto: Is “The Fountain of Salmacis” one of the songs that still makes the hair on your arms stand up when performing?

Steve Hackett: Yes, there is that, but I want to get it right. It’s one that you have to be on your mettle because you are riding the volume pedal the entire time and plenty of changes. No matter how familiar you are with it, you have to be very precise to do all the moves in the right places.

It’s this big romantic thing with a mythological and mystical aspect to it. It also has a theatrical aspect which was never enacted with Peter Gabriel; it was prior to him becoming and living the song. That actually happened one album later.

By Foxtrot he was depicting the actions of the songs much more. Maybe it’s all for the better, the idea of trying to impersonate some of the action would be less than believable. It’s better to have an image in the mind of the listener that isn’t too defined. It has a very strong visual element implied in the music, but I don’t think it necessarily has to be accompanied by physical and visual images.

A lot of songs from that time and prior to it, like The Beatles doing “Sergeant Pepper”, it was pre-visual music conjuring images and characters. I’m very glad there wasn’t a collection of videos that accompany that song. It didn’t need that.

Robert Cavuoto: I feel that you are one of the most technically proficient guitarists of our time. How do you feel about that title?

Steve Hackett: Well, I have to be humble about this. No matter what you can do on the guitar; I always feel that more can be achieved. Even when you can occasionally pull off the dazzling fast stuff, you always want to be able to do something more.

It’s almost like cyclic breathing where you have to keep up that level of energy and play fast for about an hour with no trip-ups. How is that possible?

You have to vary techniques tremendously to do that. You couldn’t keep up the same technique, so you would have to start switching to bits of tapping and sweep picking. You would have to pull out every trick in the book. I suspect it’s the same way to play really proficient Flamenco technique works; very full on.

Robert Cavuoto: At what point in your career did you realize that your style was truly unique?

Steve Hackett: I guess that’s for others to say. I suspect that I look for authenticity rather than originality. I have arrived at the point where I realized that nothing I do will be completely unique, because all the people that have come before me, and all the people who came after me, as well as all the characters that are around now.

I love the work of a lot of my contemporaries. Many who have been in similar bands and marvel at what they have been able to do. What I try to do is assimilate things into a style that involve very separate schools of thought; the Paganini approach of how would Andrea Segovia interpret a melody or how if Jimi Hendrix played it?

Other people like Carl Perkins, Django Reinhardt, and Pat Metheny, all have these varied schools of approach. There are so many ways to approach musical proficiently. Not to underestimate the effect of legato playing, very slow like a violinist or cellist might play a line and let the melody linger. The legato aspect of that kind of romantic 19th-century style of playing where you hold onto a note, like a lingering caress.

It’s not all about proficiency, but bringing life and love you have for it. It’s not all about shaving nanoseconds off a blister runs; though we all want to do that and practice it. Its only part of what we are in love with.

If you stick together all these different gears, there is this pantheon of possibilities you find that the guitar can function firstly, as a percussion instrument but beyond that, it gives a close run to the human voice.

Robert Cavuoto: What I was marveling at while watching the DVD was your guitar tone. It was so impressive; powerful yet smooth and not overly distorted. Tell me about your Fernandez guitar and chasing that perfect tone.

Steve Hackett: The Fernandez guitar has a sustainer pick-up. It means that you can get sustain feedback induced from the guitar itself. It functions like the e-bow held over the string. An electrical charge from a battery is going from positive to negative, and that produces a vibration with the string.

The on-board version of that, that’s with the Fernandez guitars is pretty astounding, because the notes go further and I play in a different way. Perhaps not the lingering caress, but you can turn something into a cry, a dive bomb, or however you perceive it. It is possible to get the effect of the backward guitar by hitting the string very lightly. There is always the danger that if you hit it too lightly, it won’t engage, but using the sustainer pick-up, I’ll hammer on it and let the note build.

I do that during the solo of “Firth of Fifth”. I let the guitar do a lot of the work, particularly at the beginning. I’m not tearing into it, letting it float, and the guitar meets me more than half way. I just give it a little kick and seems to want to meet me somewhere and its one of the most satisfying moments when it’s doing that.

Initially, I thought it was something the sound mixer was doing. I wasn’t aware I was doing it until rehearsals. It’s actually coming from the fingers and how that pick-up works. It has been a real godsend, that level of technology transcends into the way I play. Live I add some effects like repeats, echo, and the front of the house sound mixer is adding reverbs and repeats, as well. It floats and inhabits that space on its own.

Robert Cavuoto: There has been a lot of chatter on the Internet about a possible Genesis reunion. I can’t help but see a pattern where bands start to vet it out in the press to get promoters excited and interested. Do you see this chatter as being the first step to a potential reunion, and what is the likelihood of it materializing?

Steve Hackett: It seems to be the big question that I’m asked during all interviews. All I can say is that I would love to be involved with the original guys. I doubt that it is possible.

There are no plans and suspect the other guys have other priorities than playing Genesis music. Whereas I after doing tons of solo albums, I felt it was time to assimilate my younger self [Laughing] and perform these songs that I fought so hard to get them done right back in the day. To redo them live or re-record them just to enlarge upon their original blueprint. To also add an orchestra in parts where it is relevant, or change the team of players. You won’t get the original team playing it.

I suspect that everyone in Genesis has their own idea about what the real Genesis is. I can only guess that Tony Banks, Mike Rutherford, and Phil Collins think the real Genesis was the era with the most commercial success.

The other side of it is with Peter Gabriel and the short period when we were a four-piece. All of the band’s incantations have been interesting!

I wish I could hold out more hope for people. My relationship to Genesis is now to own the early work and prove there is a hugely devoted following for it.

Robert Cavuoto: Are you all still friends with all the guys from Genesis?

Steve Hackett: Oh, yes! I’m still friends with them. In fact, we all went to a book launch by Richard Macphail. He wrote a book (My Book of Genesis) about Genesis because he was the original manager, roadie, and did so many things for the band.

He was held in high esteem. In fact, he could have been the band’s original singer, but he always set his ego to one side and did great things for the band. So, the four out of five of us showed up for that event. It was nice to see them.

******

Here’s one more video for the road, recommended to Guitar International by Genesis/Steve Hackett enthusiast, Mr. Joe Lamond, president, NAMM – Enjoy!

[identybeautynet]

16 Ways to Hydrate Skin

16 Ways to Hydrate Skin If the only time you experience glowing skin is when there’s a screen facing it, we feel you. When everything is everywhere, it’s easy for aspects of your skincare routine to take a backseat. (After all, who’s got time for hydrating and moisturizing when there’s so much doom-scrolling and revenge bedtime procrastinating to do?) But keeping your skin hydrated is important for many reasons beyond looking healthy and well-rested. “When the skin is properly hydrated, it’s able to carry out its innate function, which is to act as a natural barrier to any external and harsh elements,” says Michele Green, M.D., a New York-based board-certified cosmetic dermatologist. “If the structure and integrity of the skin is impaired, it’s more vulnerable to cracking and breaking, and therefore an easier entry point for environmental stressors and pathogens.” The most common ways skin becomes dehydrated is any way in which water is drawn out of the skin—taking hot showers, eating salty foods, throwing back cocktails, turning up the heat, and not being diligent with the daily moisturizer, to name a few. How to tell if your skin is dehydrated or dry It turns out dehydrated skin and dry skin aren’t the same thing, although at first glance they may appear to be. “Dry skin is characterized by fewer oil-producing glands on the face and body, whereas dehydrated skin is a lack of water, not oil,” says Corey L. Hartman, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Skin Wellness Dermatology in Birmingham, AL. “It’s important to distinguish between the two so the appropriate active ingredients can be selected to address it.” Dehydrated skin might not necessarily be flaky or rough, but rather, could be showing a loss of resiliency. “If you pinch the skin, it will remain tented because of lack of hydration,” says Hadley King, M.D., a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist. “This is in contrast to what we usually refer to as dry skin, which becomes dull, flaky, and rough.” The two aren’t mutually exclusive, either—your skin can be both dehydrated and dry. “Dry skin lacks oil, which affects the skin barrier function, which can lead to loss of more water through the skin barrier, which can then result in dehydrated skin,” explains Dr. King. (Phew.) How to hydrate your skin (and keep it that way) Anna EfetovaGetty Images Nix hot showers and baths. On the surface, it may seem like taking hot showers and baths would help quash dehydrated skin (after all, you’re soaking your skin with water), but the opposite is true. “Hot showers and baths encourage water to flow out of your skin and evaporate into the shower, therefore dehydrating the skin,” says Dr. Green. The best kinds of showers are short, lukewarm showers, to ensure water stays within the skin. “To really lock in that water content, look for ingredients in body washes that will draw water in and amplify the affect of hydration,” says Dr. Green. “A great ingredient that does this is hyaluronic acid.” - Try: Olay Cleaning & Nourishing Body Wash   Invest in a humidifier. Running a humidifier in your bedroom, or any other rooms you spend a lot of time in, increases the humidity in the air, so less moisture will be lost from your skin, says Dr. King. This is especially crucial during the winter months, when the air in our homes tends to get super-dry from having the heat on full-blast. Steer clear of harsh cleansers. Harsh cleansing agents strip the skin of natural moisturizing factors and oils and allow micro-cuts or cracks in the top layer of skin to take place. This can lead to drying, cracking, redness, and even eczema of the skin. “Look for gentle cleansers and avoid any that contain chemical exfoliants, such as alpha hydroxy, salicylic, or glycolic acid,” says Dr. Green. - Try: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser   Avoid over-cleansing. When you over-cleanse your skin (as in, wash your face more than the recommended once in the morning and once before bed), you’re repeatedly stripping it of both its natural microbiome and moisturizing barrier agents. If you have to cleanse your skin more than twice a day (say, you’re a sucker for intense workouts), Dr. Green recommends applying a light moisturizer post-cleanse to replace any lost hydration. Leave your skin moist after cleansing. Instead of completely drying your skin after cleansing, gently pat-dry so your skin is still slightly damp as you apply your moisturizer. “This helps to ensure the moisturizer you apply will pull that water in so your skin can ‘drink’ it,” says Dr. Green. Seek out hydrating skincare ingredients. There are three types of hydrating ingredients that should be incorporated into your skincare routine: humectants, emollients, and occlusives. “It’s important to look for products that contain all three because they work together to moisturize the skin and each plays a critical role,” says Dr. King. - Humectants (hyaluronic acid, glycerin) are substances that bind water into the outer layer of the skin, and need to be used along with the other components in order to retain the water content they provide. - Emollients (squalane, ceramides, fatty acids) help with skin barrier function, leading to an overall improvement in skin texture and appearance. - Occlusives (petrolatum, beeswax, mineral oil) are oils and waxes that form an inert layer on the skin and physically block transepidermal water loss (the process in which water evaporates from the skin).   Always, always wear sunscreen. Free radicals from UV rays can damage the skin barrier, which can lead to dry, irritated skin. “Over time, UV rays break down the extracellular matrix (the fibers within your skin) and the skin won’t be able to stay as hydrated,” says Dr. King. Besides being your biggest shield against the sun, applying broad spectrum sunscreen daily helps to lock in moisture by creating a physical barrier, says Dr. Green. When buying sunscreen and beauty products that contain SPF, look for ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, which form a physical barrier on top of the skin. Switch to a heavier moisturizer at night. In addition to applying a hydrating moisturizer right after cleansing, it’s recommended the moisturizer used at night be on the heavier side. “Doing so will support the skin barrier and lock moisture in so it won’t evaporate while you sleep,” says Dr. Green. Look for an emollient moisturizer that contains ingredients like ceramides, squalene, and petrolatum. - Try: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream   Exfoliate weekly. By periodically sloughing off dead skin cells, you help to ensure the moisturizers you use absorb better—once or twice a week should suffice. “More frequent mechanical exfoliation can ruin the skin barrier and cause increased dryness and irritation,” says Dr. Hartman. “Exfoliate with a humectant ingredient that reduces the loss of moisture, like glycolic or lactic acid.” - Try: The Ordinary Lactic Acid 10% + Hyaluronic Acid   Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser La Roche-Posay ulta.com$14.99 Lactic Acid 10% + Ha 2% The Ordinary ulta.com$6.80 Moisturizing Cream CeraVe walmart.com$20.50 Vital Hydra Solution Sheet Mask Dr. Jart sephora.com$6.00 Add a hydrating sheet mask to your roster. “Adding a hydrating sheet mask into your skincare routine (ideally, once a week) is a convenient way to increase water content in a concentrated manner,” says Dr. Hartman. For a one-two punch of hydrating and soothing properties, look for sheet masks that contain ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, aloe, green tea, vitamins A, E, and C, and oat extract. - Try: Dr. Jart Dermask Water Jet Vital Hydra Solution Sheet Mask   Add a thermal water spray to your regimen. To get your dehydrated skin back on track, consider adding a thermal water spray to your repertoire. “They have mineral-heavy concentrations that have been shown to hydrate, decrease irritation and redness to the skin, and support a healthy skin microbiome,” says Melanie Palm, M.D., a San Diego-based board-certified dermatologist. - Try: Avène Thermal Spring Water   Revamp your makeup routine. You can incorporate key ingredients into your daily makeup routine that can help to restore skin’s hydration. “For dehydrated skin, you should gravitate toward makeup that has moisture-pulling ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and squalane,” says Dr. Green, who also recommends looking for makeup products that have sunscreen built in for added oomph against UV rays. - Try: IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream SPF 50   Drink more water. Many people understandably assume that drinking loads of water will keep skin hydrated, but skin hydration is impacted by many variables. (Translation: Just drinking water to hydrate your skin won’t cut it.) “Your skin is also affected by your diet, lifestyle, environment, and skincare routine,” says Dr. Green. So drink more water, but make sure to alter and improve the other variables to legit rehydrate your skin and keep it that way. Eat more water- and antioxidant-rich foods. Fruits and veggies aren’t just great for your health—they’re excellent for your skin too. “Water- and antioxidant-rich foods increase the total water content of your body, and in conjunction with daily hydrating moisturizers, will make your skin supple and healthy,” says Dr. Green. Some great foods rich in water and antioxidants include beets, spinach, and mushrooms. Avoid dehydrating drinks and foods. Alcohol, excessive coffee, and poor diet—foods and beverages high in sodium and sugars—all contribute to systemic dehydration, which may show up as skin that looks dull, sallow, and non-plump, says Dr. King. Do your best to limit your intake of processed foods, as well as excess amounts of caffeine and alcohol (and when you do indulge, make sure to offset any dietary splurges with hydrating foods and some old-fashioned H20.) Eat more healthy fats. “Healthy fats are the building blocks of skin cells,” says Dr. Palm. “They’re necessary for our skin as an organ to function properly and act as an appropriate barrier from the outside environment.” Omega-3 fatty acids, which can be harder to come buy, can be found in fatty fish like salmon and mackerel, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io beauty tips : 16 Ways to Hydrate Skin Read the full article

[luxus4me]

The Verge http://j.mp/2kbG4ho

Here’s a question to ponder: when buying noise-cancelling (NC) headphones, should you choose the pair that sounds best or the one that’s best at neutralizing noise? The answer used to be obvious in the pre-2016 era of Bose domination: you just bought the latest QuietComfort pair, knowing that its noise cancelling was unmatched, and accepted whatever mediocre sound it gave you. But then Sony changed everything with its 1000X last year, giving you both the quiet and the comfort of Bose plus a kicking bassline.

The past year has turned noise-cancelling headphones from purely functional tools to help you survive a long flight or a tiring shift at the office into truly enjoyable music stations. Among my favorites have been the on-ear AKG N60 NC and the over-ear Bowers & Wilkins PX, both of which have elevated sound quality expectations from the wireless NC category. So now Sony’s second iteration of the 1000X, the $299.99 1000XM2, have to outdo not only Bose and Sony’s awesome first try but also a number of sweet-sounding alternatives from a suddenly highly competitive field.

When presented with a pair of the 1000XM2s, you’d struggle to identify the physical differences from the original 1000Xs. Sony really nailed the essential design with its first generation of these wireless cans, and so the reprise is almost total. The exceedingly comfortable pads and headband are back, and the whole thing still folds down into a compact shape and into a semi-rigid case. As far as long-wearing comfort and portability were concerned, there was nothing for Sony to fix here, and so it’s no surprise that the company is keeping what works.

One structural complaint that has arisen since my review of the 1000X — and has given rise to an 8-page thread on Sony’s support forums — is the headband of these headphones cracking easily. Since the design appears unchanged, it’s reasonable to extend that worry about durability to the present 1000XM2s as well, however it appears that Sony has narrowed down the problematic headbands to a particular batch of 1000X units. In all my testing with both models of 1000X cans, I’ve never come close to even hearing a creak from them, let alone finding a crack. I’m willing to trust in Sony’s engineers and warranty process here, and I don’t consider this potential issue a big risk to take.

The 1000XM2s are simply sumptuous to wear

Maybe if I hadn’t spent as much time as I have with the 1000X and their successors, I’d be less certain in my trust, but both pairs of these headphones have proven indispensable in my daily life. Got a meeting to commute to? I grab the Sonys on my way out. Need to keep warm while waiting for the bus in winter? I don’t have earmuffs, so Sonys it is. Unlike the Bowers & Wilkins PX, whose sound I am in deep and passionate love with, these Sony headphones never cause me any discomfort. Set aside the convenience of them being wireless or the utterly excellent noise cancelling, the 1000XM2s are simply sumptuous to wear.

On a recent trip to Madrid, I went a full five hours before I even had to adjust the M2s on my head. That’s all the way from my front door, through the London underground, past the security check at Heathrow (where I had to remove them briefly), up in the air and down again, and out into the Spanish sunlight. Any pair of headphones that effortless and unnoticeable to wear for that long is worth its weight in gold.

A big part of what’s supposed to distinguish the 1000XM2s from their predecessor is the audio self-adjustment that Sony has built into the new cans. This now includes “atmospheric pressure optimizing” that apparently adjusts to your altitude. Did I feel anything particularly special or noteworthy with this setting turned on during my flight? Nope. If you use Sony’s companion app, you can also activate Adaptive Sound Control, which is supposed to detect whether you’re walking, sitting, or traveling and tweak the NC accordingly. I found it a fiddly and inconsistent system, and since it reduces NC while you walk, which I don’t actually want, I left it off. It’s worth reiterating here that Sony’s noise cancelling tech is only rivaled by that of Bose: it really is a category leader, and many people consider both Sony and Bose’s NC to sometimes be too much. I’d just prefer to be able to toggle that manually rather than relying on an imperfect system.

My feeling about the automated tweaks that Sony is introducing with the M2s is similar to how I feel about the B&W PX and the way they automatically stop playing music when I take the headphones off. Both are good ideas in abstract, and would be desirable if they worked with reliable consistency, but both annoy me more than they help because of the false positives when they do something I don’t want them to.

The touch controls on the right ear cup are still unnecessarily fiddly

Sony’s touch controls on the right ear cup of the 1000XM2s are unchanged from the 1000X — which means my dissatisfaction with them remains as it was. I can make them work, but it requires more labor and precision than it should. A swipe up or down adjusts the volume, a swipe forward or back switches between tracks, and a double tap in the middle toggles playback.

More than once, my double taps weren’t registered and the M2s kept playing when I wanted them to stop. What’s wrong with having a real, physical button that lets me control that? Sony already has buttons on the left cup for power and noise cancelling, and a hard “play” button wouldn’t have broken any part of the design. It’s equally annoying when I find myself getting into a song and trying to turn it up, only to have the headphones register my swipe as forward rather than up and thus skipping ahead.

Last year, I celebrated the 1000X for being that rare pair of Bluetooth NC headphones that sounded great. This year, I think the 1000XM2s might sound just a tiny bit better, but I can’t be as forgiving in my judgment of their sound. Not after the Bowers & Wilkins PX swept through my life. So how do I feel about Sony’s M2 sound? In a word: conflicted. I don’t mean confused, I mean conflicted.

The M2s are heavily genre-dependent. Put on something rich on low notes and distortion, such as deadmau5’s W:/2016ALBUM/ and you’ll be rocking out to the deep, murderous, satisfying bass. But here’s the thing about deadmau5: his music doesn’t sound bad on any audio equipment, it welcomes and positively embraces distortion and imprecision. Blurryface by Twenty One Pilots is another album that pops and throbs in a satisfying fashion through the 1000XM2s, and I admit I enjoy the extra quantity of bass that these headphones deliver. But once I tread to more refined musical genres like classical or jazz, the muddy nature of the M2s’ low end is revealed and it’s not pretty.

Female vocals are an especially disappointing aspect of the M2s’ sound. I’ve recently gotten into listening to more from the likes of Kelela, Banks, Halsey, Willow, and Lorde, and the subtle emotive power of their voices is all but wiped out by the 1000XM2s. Where the Bowers & Wilkins PX would make me want to dance in the streets with its perfectly balanced highs and lows, Sony leans too heavily toward the low end, deadening the exact frequencies that make the PX feel alive and exciting.

Battery life is once again great, though the MicroUSB charging port should have been upgraded by now

Where Sony trumps Bowers & Wilkins, other than the more comfy design, is in having NFC-based pairing, which is simpler and easier than the usual Bluetooth malarkey. Both companies tout battery life numbers beyond 20 hours when the headphones are used wirelessly and with NC on. In my experience, the Sonys seemed to last a little bit longer, but it’s not enough for me to identify it as a meaningful advantage. Both the M2 and the PX last through a week of regular listening for me, which is plenty. I’d have liked to see Sony match B&W in having a USB-C charging port, but the M2s have to make do with the old MicroUSB connection — fine for most, but terrible for my “USB-C all the things” personal philosophy.

By now, you should be able to understand why I feel so torn. The 1000XM2s are some of the most comfortable headphones I’ve tested (and I’ve tested hundreds); they last a long time; they deliver solid wireless performance; and they outperform almost everything else out on the market. But I’ve heard the B&W PX, and I no longer love Sony’s sound the way I did when I reviewed the original 1000X. Hell, I don’t even find there’s much difference between the M2 and the first-gen headphones.

The key difference maker for me is the $299.99 price of the 1000XM2s. That’s at least $30 south of the Bose QuietComfort 35s — and I’m confident both 1000X models from Sony offer superior sound and performance than Bose — and a full $100 cheaper than the Bowers & Wilkins PX. If you’re budget-constrained or just can’t find a good fit with the PX, I’d immediately point you to Sony’s 1000X range. But which one of the two? The original 1000X is now $229.99 direct from Sony, and on the evidence of my review of the 1000XM2, I can’t say you’ll be missing out on much going for the older one. In any case, it’s safe to say that, for most people, either one of Sony’s 1000X variants is still the best set of wireless NC headphones available.

8.5 Verge Score

Good Stuff

Exceedingly comfortable

Noise cancelling doesn't get any better

Long battery life

Bad Stuff

Fiddly touch controls

Sound quality has been surpassed by better rivals

MicroUSB charging is so very 2016

http://j.mp/2ipwgjq via The Verge URL : http://j.mp/2r68aKz

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[wexpertyst]

What is the IoT? Everything you need to know about the Internet of Things right now

The Internet has taken over the world by storm and everyone is connected to each other through it. Apart from staying connected with people, it is essential to have your devices connected to the internet as well. This is what is known as the Internet of Things (IoT). There are billions and trillions of devices such as mobile phones, laptops, computers, wearable devices, hospital devices among others that have to be connected to the internet for data sharing and functioning.

The wireless network has helped a lot of devices all over the world to stay connected and work efficiently. All devices are connected to the internet with the help of micro and mini chips that are pre-installed in them. A network is required to connect the physical objects and there is nothing better than the IoT that brings the best performance of any device.

Understanding IoT

All devices need connectivity to the cloud to function and work efficiently. The IoT enables them in doing so and performs in a certain manner. It allows the users to perform various functions on different devices and obtain access to online data which can be used in several ways. Here are some of the top devices that are connected with the wireless network via IoT:

High-speed wireless internet network

Security systems of smart homes

Appliances that are connected to a house or office building

Smart factory apparatus

Wireless inventory trackers

Farming equipment

Wearable health devices

Biometric cybersecurity scanners

Shipping container tracking

Logistics tracking

In a nutshell Internet of Things bind several things together such as the expansive connection networks, connected devices, and a large amount of data for a stunning experience. We have been looking forward to building smart cities, smart homes, and office spaces, for which we definitely require IoT. This technology has gained great prominence in the recent past and now everyone wants their devices to be connected to the cloud with the help of IoT as the competition has gone high and users don’t want to buy a product that has no connectivity to the wireless network.

Another aspect of IoT is that it requires minimum human resources in conducting any function as it is all done with either the devices, the internet, or both of the collaboratively. We are living in a fast-paced world where we want the devices to understand each other’s language and perform various functions without the intervention of humans, and that is why IoT has been developed.

Further, we are going to lay emphasis on the Impact of IoT, its challenges, and the process followed in connecting several devices with the help of it.

Impact of IoT

The Internet of Things has had a quite positive impact on technology and devices that can connect to wireless networks. There are sensors in almost all products now that let you connected with the item all the time, either through sensors or some other form. From reducing carbon footprints to helping the governments of various countries stress more on the quality of healthcare offering, there is a lot that has been offered to the users through IoT.

Here’s how IoT has impacted the technological landscape:

Cities have gone smarter: There has always been a significant need for smart devices installed in cities for safe water, energy, and other resources. Since more than half the population of the countries reside in cities because of bright job prospects and other things, it has become necessary for the city administration to keep a check over the infrastructure without having to manage it manually. Therefore, most cities have now installed convenient transportation systems, street lighting that is safe, and top it all, there are now buildings that are now energy efficient. Secondly, the government of any country or city has to deal with the growing population, which is on a rise. With the help of sensors installed around the city, they can get a 3D visual representation of the entire city to get an in-depth analysis of the same. It also helps in managing the traffic flow of cities, manages resources, controls the population, and improve the standard of living for the citizens of each city. Take a look at the benefits that the smart cities can derive from IoT:

Cities can be installed with sensors that can sense the early warnings of any natural calamity and warn the residents of the city so that proper precautions can be taken in time.

It also helps in reducing traffic as drivers can be intimated about any traffic congestion on a route before in hand. Also, if an accident happens on a road, the residents are communicated about the same with the help of several devices.

An ambulance can switch on the siren to stop other cars on their way and making their way to the nearby hospital. With the help of IoT devices, they can easily get in touch with the near most hospital, who will be readily standing outside waiting for the patient to arrive.

Finding a parking space can be a hassle a lot of times, due to which people end up wasting a lot of time. In this case, IoT has been helpful in a way to intimate the car drivers about the parking lot that has space and the one that is full. This reduces their time of going on looking for a parking space

The lighting in a smart city can help the administration save a lot on the money that is spent on electricity as the lights will only get switched on when someone’s presence in that vicinity.

Apart from this, the IoT has also impacted businesses significantly. Take a look at some of the ways how technology is being implemented and making changes in the business world:

Managing inventory and tracking: There has always been a growing need of managing the products in the inventory and tracking it with the help of human resources. IoT allows devices and techniques to do all this work, which helps businesses in spending less amount on manual labor on doing all. With the introduction of IoT in the business world, you can control the inventory without having too many people on the floor.

Increasing productivity: There are several operations and work tasks in an organization that have to be done in a day or in a given period of time. With the introduction of IoT devices, all organizational works have been accomplished without any error and give accurate information. The helps in enhancing the work of the organization and increasing the productivity of a business. Since the productivity and quality of the work process plays a vital role in the success of the organization, it is very important to do the work in a well-maintained manner.

Skilled employees: It is a good practice to employ only those who have the required knowledge for using IoT devices. The basic understanding of the devices used within an organization and knowing about them is always a good idea so that there are no hurdles in between in the future. Since IoT makes technology quite modern and makes things easier for the employees or the workers, it is important for the latter to have the basic skills of using it.

Data collection: Each organization needs to have access to the data of an organization for growth and bright future perspective. IoT lets you handle the data and keeps a watch over the analytics in a much better way. It can give you access to the devices’ interaction with the consumer and helps you calculate the user success resulting in an enhanced user experience. Data is very necessary to any business as it gives them an insight into how their organization is functioning and gets an idea of user behavior. IoT does not only help in collecting this essential data but also guides you through the analyzing process of the same.

Challenges of IoT

Connecting everything and everyone to the internet with the help of several devices, the Internet of Things (IoT) has one of the most talked-about technologies ever. While it has helped everyone stay updated and reduced physical work significantly, it has certain loopholes that should not be ignored.

Having become a core technology behind smart cities, smart homes, smart buildings, smart cars, etc. IoT has gained prominence like a wildfire. The ease of use has made it one of the most likable technologies ever.

A statistical report by Gartner has stated that the growth of IoT has grown from 20 billion IoT connected devices in 2016 to 26 billion devices by the end of 2020. So, it is quite prominent how people have been gradually shifting to this technology. However, you must know the drawback of this technology before actually venturing into it. Take a look at some challenges that the technology faces:

Security and data protection challenges: This is one of the biggest challenges faced by technology as the data gets transferred from various personal devices to the web and then the cloud. While going through all these stages, it might get leaked or hacked at any stage. The leak of this information can lead to the breach of information, making the service providers at risk as he has to be answerable to the users. While it is easy to encrypt the safety of the users on websites and apps, it is difficult to keep it secure and safe from hackers. Another challenge it faces is that it is difficult to detect if a device is affected. Therefore, you might even not know if your device is hacked and that someone is using information from that. You could just lose out on all the information from your devices. Monitoring each IoT device can become difficult, therefore, keeping a tab on which one is affected is something that you don’t have control over.

Predicting the attacks: There are hackers out there who are constantly waiting to try some of the other ways to hack into your device and get all the important data out of it. It is because of the loopholes in this system that it becomes difficult for the service providers to see the malware. It has been a long persisting challenge in the case of the Internet of Things. Threat intelligence is used by modern cloud services in predicting issuers pertaining to the security of IoT devices. It is always advised to use these technologies to safeguard your devices against any sort of data threat, however, it is not easy to integrate these technologies into IoT.

Malware: With the increase in IoT devices, there have been numerous cases of cyber attacks. There has been a rapid increase in the kinds of ways cybercriminals are trying to use all personal information from the devices.

Default credentials: There are several companies around the world who have dwelled in this field and are selling IoT devices. They provide a default username and password to each user who purchases these devices. Hackers do not take time to get access to the device and already are aware of the username and the password. This makes their work easy and they can easily get the information they had been looking for.

Outdated software and hardware: Why do you think these devices are so susceptible to cyber-attacks? Since these devices are being produced in abundance, the manufacturers are just paying heed to the number of devices that are being made, not the quality. This is why they are made with old and outdated technology. Similarly, it is essential for these organizations to take care of any updates in the device or bug fixes at the later stage, which is several times overlooked. It is of utmost importance for all the devices connected to the internet to have regular updates so that they can continue working efficiently without any glitch or hassle. Therefore, all IoT devices manufacturing companies should be looking into the technology and make regular updates to them.

How does IoT works?

The Internet of Things (IoT) system is not a complicated process for the transfer and sharing of data. Since it helps connect all devices to the internet with the help of sensors that are fit into it, IoT connects with the cloud through internet and pass on the information to the cloud. Once this information is received by the software via Cloud, it is then processed and some sort of action is performed on the same. There are several ways of performing any sort of action on the same such as sending out a signal, alarm, etc.

However, in case any changes or amendments that are needed for the same alert, it can be done with the help of the user interface. It also allows you to make any sort of adjustments to the message retrieved by the device.

The future of IoT

There have been many developments in the IoT ever since it came into being. The graph of the use of this technology has been going up and there have innumerable smart devices that have made an entrance in our personal and professional lives. Take a look at some future predictions of IoT technology:

There is an increase in the number of IoT devices and in the coming years it has been predicted that there will be a lot more usage of the same. It has been estimated that the number of devices connected with the internet and come under IoT will be more than 21 billion.

More smart cities: Every city’s administration looks up to the cities that have already become smart and equipped with IoT. That is where they derive inspiration from and have also started using some or the other IoT devices. This will help more cities fall under the category of smart cities. Apart from offering a healthy lifestyle to the people living in the city, it also enhances their living conditions and accessibility to technology.

Growth of AI (Artificial Intelligence): Most of the people have IoT household appliances that they are very dependent on. From simple coffee machines, that understand your preferences, to the lighting system of the house and the washing machines, everything can now be monitored by just giving voice commands, due to their connection with the internet. In the coming years, our dependency on AI is going to increase to a great level.

Easy searching: It should have a search bar, enabling the users to look up for something without any issue. One should get options for a keyword in the dropdown of any search bar.

More installation of routers for securing the path: IoT devices are vulnerable to cyber threats and there are chances of hackers to get to your data easily. This is mostly because of the device manufacturers who do not pay much heed to the device from the security point of view. Therefore, people have routers set up at their homes which stop any sort of hacking activities from the entry level itself.

5G networks to increase growth:Most carriers are on the verge of introducing 5G networks which have given a rise to the IoT devices as more of these can be connected to one single connection.

Smart cars: Well, there are several big brands and countries that have already introduced smart cars, and with the introduction of 5G network, it is highly likely for the cars to use more IoT devices making cars smart.

Top 10 IoT development trends in 2020

It takes a great deal of effort to develop IoT apps for your business. Take a look at the top trends of IoT development:

Use of IoT in providing customer services.

Evolution of Big data and IoT, which go together in most cases these days.

Machine learning and IoT.

IoT in the field of agriculture.

The use of this technology with proper security in customer appliances.

Edge computing and processing of the data.

Use of IoT devices in the healthcare sector.

Use of Blockchain in the sector for enhancing the security of the entire system.

Implementation of IoT in the manufacturing sector.

Providing a helping hand in managing the workforce.

How to develop app for the Internet of Things (IoT)?

To get into the competition and give a tough fight, it is essential to keep up with the technology and embracing the latest devices that help you pace up and stand out. This can happen if you get a mobile or web application made for IoT. This simplifies a great deal of things for you as everything can be operated from your dashboard and interface.

Below mentioned are some easy steps that can guide you through building an app for the IoT:

With the availability of several platforms, it becomes difficult for you to zero in upon the platform you want to develop the IoT app for. You should have proper knowledge of the technology supported by each device and the amount you will have to spend on each one of them. Also, it is important for you to see if it fits your budget or not?

Make a list of the hardware devices that you will connect to your app. You should know the need of your products and then list down the devices that can support IoT and the application that you are developing for the same.

Expansion is on everyone’s mind, therefore, you should think of the scalability of the IoT app as well. You should be able to reach the masses in less time. The relevance of any device is also depends on your scalability.

In the era of growing technology, you must make sure that the app is light and fast to load as people would not want to wait for it to load, rather they would switch to some other app which serves their purpose.

The most important aspect that should be covered well in an IoT app is the security of the data. Since most of the IoT devices lack security as they are highly susceptible to cyber crimes, more emphasis should be laid on how to protect the data again cyber theft.

Conclusion

Internet of Things (IoT) has been doing wonders in creating smart cities, smart appliances among other things, but there are certain loopholes that have to be taken care of. Businesses much fix this issue by creating tight security to the data of their devices. Also, the practice of getting an application made for IoT for your business can help you get all possible benefits. Hiring an app development company that has prior experience in the same can help you reach masses and developing a competitive app.

[varunahir-blog]

Design of Everyday Things Capter III - Knowledge in the head and in the world

Its a fairly long chapter to be honest but, its was really interesting topic that it covered in it. It speaks about how we humans, with limited knowledge,a re still able to perform accurately with the machines. Ans so far we have a good track record of doing so. It speaks about how we use internal memory information stored and combine it with the knowledge available outside to perform our regular and other unique tasks without any hiccups.

This is true, that the best way to work with any machine or system is to combine our own knowledge that we derive from past experiences and understanding of how things work in the real world with, what is in front of us and what task we intend to get out of it. 

As a human being grows from a little child they go through many experiences, their ever absorbing minds in that initial stage can observe, feel, analyse, understand, derive conclusions and finally make a record of it forever in such a pure and unbiased way, its absolutely stunning how kids learn and understand their world so fast. Hence in order to work and perform with larger and more complicated machines/systems, they need to get exposed to the physics of the stuff around a lot many times. Imagine a person who knows the basics can perform the task well enough but, a person with more deeper internal knowledge can perform it in a much better efficient way and can one day lead to even more better ideas and solutions for the  very same machines/systems. 

We then move on to the topic of Short Term Memory or STM. Its about how we break large chunks of info into small groups so that it becomes easier to memorize it temporarily to do some task or take an action. its important for designers to keep this psychological aspect in mind especially when an important piece of info is required for subsequent steps and, its gone before the user can store it in their STM. Such incidences can result in a lot of frustration and anger and can further lead to loss of business too.

Long Term Memory on the other hand, works on the concept of rehersal which helps transfer of information from STM to an LTM. There are many research papers published which further investigates into this statement. For situations where internal or external knowledge is not sufficient enough to perform a particular task, one must rely on their own memory. It is important to distinguish between the above two types. LTM is when a person must remember something for extended periods of time. Long term memory usually takes more effort to store information and takes far more effort to recall the memory as well. On the other hand, short term memory is best used to store a 5-7 digit numbers, or a short sentences or a witty phrase, for a very short period of time. Usually, STM is lasts as much as the person’s attention is not directed or distracted somewhere else, so it is important to not get distracted altogether.

As we read on more, Don explains about the three structures of memory: "Memory for Arbitrary Things," "Memory for Meaningful Relationships," and "Memory Through Explanations." Memory of Arbitrary Things is all about memorizing something without being able to relate it to some relationship to an existing piece of knowledge, or without logical or physical constraints. The second type is a way of memorizing something based on relating it to something else that is either internal or external knowledge. For example, remembering that the left light switch controls the left light and vice versa for the right light. This is easy to remember because we relate it to a well known, easily related piece of knowledge. Finally, the third type stores information by figuring out logical or physical constraints that will help shape our understanding of the object or idea in question.

Any machine or a system that has a well designed mental mapping allows the information related to its own use or functionalities to get stored in the environment much easily. This means that the user will not have to worry about learning its ways to interact. However, it is important to know the importance of knowledge in the world compared to the knowledge in the head. External knowledge in the world needs no learning, but it is available only in a certain contexts and scenarios whereas, internal knowledge requires learning & is independent of the context or scenario. 

A few weeks back, I had purchased an old used microwave online. although I rarely used the one back home in India as although it was anew model with a ton of features built, the small few buttons and the method of using them in combination kept me away from using it. But when I saw the interface of this 5 year old microwave, I quickly figured out which settings to use it to carry out my daily tasks of preparing my breakfast oats. The layout and its signifies were so easy to understand that I purchased it immediately without negotiating it much and I am very happy and proud of that decision!

[gryphon1911]

Image © Olympus America

Background

I love camera gear.  No shame in that, as there has always been a love affair with technology.  Today, lets explore the world of the Olympus PEN-F and see what makes it special, where it is deficient, and my general thoughts about it.

Handling/Weight/Size

The PEN-F is a rangefinder styled camera.   The OMD series is more like the SLR style.  One of the physical characteristics that sets this camera apart from the other PEN cameras is the built in electronic viewfinder.  It is not in the middle, but off to the left top side.

Image © Olympus America

As you can see from the image above, there is a fully articulated screen here.  I'm not going to get into the specifics of that in this review, as it seems to be a very polarizing issue.  After using an articulating screen for some time now, I can say that I do appreciate the ability to move the rear LCD for different camera angles. While we are viewing the back of the camera, you'll notice the right hand side is home to a few function buttons.  After a while of use, I am happy to report that the bottom right hand buttons have never been accidentally pressed by me during use. There is a rear wheel as well for controlling camera functions. We'll get into more detail about the dials in a minute when we look at the top of the camera. You'll notice that there are quite a few functions marked on the d-pad.  I immediately remapped those and the d-pad is now exclusively used for selecting AF points. The other functions marked on the d-pad I access via the Super Control panel, which is accessed by pressing the "OK" button when in shooting mode.  I've mapped the Fn1 button (see top right of the image above) to the "AF home" button. I find that the controls and layout feel very natural.

Image © Olympus America

The top gives us a look at the other controls.  One the mode dial you get the aperture/shutter/manual/program modes, iAuto and movie mode.  What is different from other Olympus cameras up until the PEN-F is the inclusion of custom mode slots for 4 different setups.  The mode dial also has a clickable lock/unlock button on it to prevent accidental shifting. The shutter release button is surrounded by the front control dial and that black dot you see is for a threaded cable release. Next to that is the movie record button.  It is also surrounded by a hard ridge to prevent accidentally activating the movie mode. A dedicated exposure compensation dial is also featured to the far right.   The detents on it are very rigid, so you will not be bumping this around accidentally. The power switch is set to the left and looks much like a dial.   Very quick to go from off to on and back with the left hand. The PEN-F does not have a grip on the front and a very small indentation on the back.  Some people don't like that, so there are Olympus and third party add on grip options to give your front fingers something to grip on to. I don't mind it, but I do throw on a small wrist strap just for a little added security. The PEN-F takes to adapted and manual focus lenses quite well.  I've used it with many Nikon F-mount lenses to native mount manual lenses.  Focus peaking works great.  I set peaking to yellow color with low intensity.  I then map the peaking function to the front "DOF preview" button.

1/2500, f/3.2, ISO 200 Olympus 75mm f/1.8

Below, I'll share with you the setup I shoot with on an everyday basis The everyday mode for single point AF stuff. Sharpness -1 Contrast +1 S-AF i-Natural picture profile Single Servo 4:3 aspect ratio Large SuperFine JPG The settings I use for the MONO section on the front dial: mono profile 1 monochrome color = none film grain effect = off Sharpness -1 Contrast +1 S-AF Single Servo 1:1 aspect ratio color filter = none highlight curve -4 shadow curve -3 midtone curve -3 vignette = 0 Large SuperFine JPG + RAW(so I have the ability to get a color version if I so desire) Much easier to access than going into a menu and picking a MySet or remapping existing dial options. While we are on the subject of MySets - those are technically gone.  Instead, you map the C1 through C3 dials; menu options for setting and retrieving are a lot less confusing.  The menu names have been renamed, so you know when you are saving the settings or retrieving them.  You still cannot name the presets, but that is less of an issue since they have their own dedicated place on the dial.

1/125, f/4, ISO 1000 - Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI Fotodiox adapter

Special PEN-F Feature - The Front Dial

This is the one stand out feature on the PEN-F that has a lot of people talking.  The front dial gives you access to some special features for how you want your JPG images to look. MONO - black and white mode, with some presets and a customizable slot for you to setup the output how you like.   And when I say customizable, I mean it!  You can control all points of the tone curve, add a color filter to change the B&W conversion characteristics, the level of vignetting as well as the amount of grain that gets applied to the file.  The exposure features are accessed via a switch on the rear of the camera that sits under the mode dial.  The other functions are accessed via the SCP. COLOR - this mode is similar to the MONO mode, but deals in how the color response is handled.  Again, just about anything can be customized.  You can control the overall color saturation response or isolate it to a specific channel of colors.  The tone curve is customizable here as well. ART - your art modes that were historically found on the mode dial.  Same here as you'd find on other Olympus cameras. CRT - is the color creator mode that can be found on older Olympus cameras

Some people have mentioned that the front dial digs into their fingers and is uncomfortable.  The metal dial does have some texture to it, so I can see where that might be an issue.  However, I have large hands and I've never had an issue with rubbing my hand on the dial.  I believe this is an issue with how the camera is being held more than anything.

I ran into this issue when I first bough the Nikon Df.  Because of the body style and the grip (or lack there of on the PEN-F), you need to hold the camera differently.  My thinking is that this different grip style is why I don't have issues with the front dial.

I love having this feature and use the MONO mode with a custom setup quite a bit.  When I do, I have the camera setup to shoot SuperFineJPG+RAW, so I get the best of all world.

1/2500, f/4, ISO 200 - Mitakon Speedmaster 25mm f/0.95

Image Quality

The sensor is of the 20mp Sony variety.  There is no anti aliasing filter.  I'm getting excellent image quality out of this camera.  The previous sensors were 16mp, so not much of a boost.  However, if you look at what you are getting, which is more mp with a boost in IQ, low light performance and dynamic range - you are getting something better. I've honestly had very little issues with the IQ I got from the older Panasonic/Sony 16mp sensors - so I'm happy.  So long as we keep moving forward, no matter how little and not backward.

1/1600, f/2.8, ISO 200 - Olympus 25mm f/1.8

1/400, f/9, ISO 200 - Panasonic 12-32mm f/3.5-5.6

Auto Focus

Point to point single AF is where this camera is most powerful.  It is quick and fast, everything that you've come to expect and appreciate from the Olympus brand m43 cameras. You get large and small single points as well as some group points.  I'm shooting with single point small AF. Continuous AF.  Yeah....if you've done any homework and looked at the Olympus C-AF, you'll already be aware that the contrast detect only cameras are not very well regarded.  If you need tracking, you'll want to get an EM1 Mark I or Mark II that have sensors with PDAF.

My Dog Ren 1/40, f/2.5, ISO 6400 - Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI  Fotodiox adapter

Battery Life

What you'd expect from the BLN-1 battery.  You can find the standards, which I think list it around 350 shots per charge.  In real life use, you will get more than that if you exercise good mirrorless camera power management. Keep the camera off until you need it. Don't chimp unless you need to. Have the EVF power off after a few seconds. Those kinds of things will help tremendously.

1/320, f/4, ISO 200 - Nikon 105mm f/2.5 AI  Fotodiox adapter

Video

Nothing really special here.  An adequate 1080p offering from Olympus.  Having the IBIS is nice, but to be honest, the video is here for the spec sheet as I'm guessing that most who want the PEN-F are not getting it for the video features.  There is also no audio input for external microphones, so if that is something you need, use an eternal recorder and sync in post. Good for grabbing the occasional family videos, but if you want to do something more serious in the m43 ecosystem in video, look to the Olympus OMD EM5.2 or EM1.2 for that.   On the Panasonic side, look to the GH4/GH5.

1/100, f/3.5, ISO 250 - Nikon 55mm f/3.5 Micro  Fotodiox adapter

Other Misc. Items of Note

Shutter Sound: The shutter sound is quite, plus you get the all electronic shutter modes.  Quite is good. Size Comparison: The camera is very thin, candy bar shaped.  If you throw a pancake prime or zoom on there you have something that can fit in a jacket pocket.  Very portable.  I've had people mistake it for a film camera quite a bit, just like the Nikon Df. High Res Mode: Also available here, slightly larger with the newer sensor.  50mp RAW files.  You still need to use a tripod with a still subject, but if you have a use case for it, quite a nice feature to have at your disposal.

1/125, f/4, ISO 200 - Mitakon Creator 85mm f/2

Firmware: The big thing with the newer camera technologies is being able to enhance and upgrade the bodies and lenses via firmware updates.  While I can see the benefits of this, it can also be a curse.  Upgrading from version 1.0 to 1.1 proved to be an uneventful affair.  However, upgrading from version 1.1 to 2.0 has proved to be problematic.  The camera presents issues with the EVF/LCD going black and the camera locking up. The only way of  resolving this is to pull the battery and reinsert.  Olympus acknowledged this and issued another firmware some weeks later, but even version 2.1 did not fully resolve the issue. While the frequency of the lockups was reduced, and when it does lock up, the power switch will reset the condition....there is still an issue there. Once this issue is fully resolved, I will update this post with that information at that time. Bottom Line: While this may not be the camera for everyone and the price tag might be off putting - one cannot deny that Olympus has provided a very capable camera body. In many ways this is the mirrorless equivalent to the Nikon Df for me.  It just feels right, makes me want to get out and shoot pictures with it.  If I did not shoot professionally, I could see me living happily with the Nikon Df and the Olympus PEN-F as my everyday shooters and companions.

1/200, f/8, ISO 200 - Olympus 9-18mm f/4-5.6 - hi-res mode

There is just something very bonding about a camera with actual dials and performance that lets you shoot and think about subject and composition versus technical details. This is how I felt about the Fuji X system when I had it years ago. I'm just glad to see that the camera companies are listening and providing cameras like this.  I understand that this is not the direction they want to go, but there is a market out there for this kind of camera.

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[technojourneyblog]

Best Android and Iphone Spy Apps in 2017

Have you ever wished that you could just see your partner’s web preferences or call logs  without them knowing? Or maybe keep track of your children’s activities online?

What if I told you there is an app which can perform all of these tasks for you? And that there’s a lot more where that came from.

Top 5 Cell Phone Spy Apps are just a few scrolls away. Don’t be shy and feel free to navigate the page. You may want to try more than one of these apps, but this article will certainly make your choice a lot easier.

Highster Mobile

We’ll start with Highster Mobile. This mobile spy and monitoring software enables you to keep track of the activities of your loved ones, children or employees without anyone knowing. It can be used on all Android devices  2.1 and higher, both rooted and unrooted. It also works fine on all versions of non-jailbreak systems and on iOS 6–8.4 for jailbreak devices.

Highster mobile spy app has made tracking any cellular device a child’s play. It will enable you to monitor SMS, MMS messages as well as phone call or calls made with independent apps.  Highster Mobile is famous for its exquisite and practical control panel which allows you to monitor the target phone, develop time triggers and much more.

What you get with this app is complete control of another device, including the target device’s camera, albums and both browser and email history. Keep in mind that you’ll have to gain physical access to the target device for a couple of minutes in order to download and install the app.

Positives

Budget Friendly

Optimized and user-friendly control panel

Numerous features

Invisible after installation

Negatives

Not supported by Blackberry OS

Continuous subscription service

mSpy

The next one in our list is the Mspy app. This cellphone spy software works both with and without  JailBreak on Apple devices. It can be used on all Android phones and tablets of versions 4 and newer. Furthermore, spying instant messaging can only be done after rooting the device. However, this tracking app makes up for this by being able to monitor Windows and Mac computers.

Mspy stands out among its competition because of its extremely useful and diverse features. There is both a basic and a premium version of this app available. The basic version covers many things, such as automatic software updates, monitoring of SMS and MMS, calls, emails and browsing history. However, if you want the full experience, you should go with the premium version.

MSpy premium offers additional options including Keylogger, remote device locking or wiping and blocking incoming calls. The main feature of mSpy premium is certainly the social media spying. Acessing your child’s WhatsApp, Viber or Facebook has never been easier.

Positives

Remote control features

Device compatibility

Unlimited device change

Long list of features

Free chat and email support

Negatives

Pricy phone support

Hard to get a refund

FlexiSpy

When it comes to spying apps, it doesn’t get much better than FlexiSpy. This cell phone spy app is available for all devices. It is the most practical app considering compatibility but it requires a jailbreak for iOS or rooting for Android phones in order to function at full capacity.

FlexiSpy has the whole package for monitoring anything someone does on or with their cellphone or tablet.  It is a high tech software which enables you to view target phone’s location, messages, obtain passwords and much more. The best thing about this is that this app works incognito which means its activity will be hidden and undetectable.

However, there is a downside of this app. It takes too long to install. You will need up to 10 minutes and some additional time for Jailbraking or rooting the device. Nevertheless, after doing this, your traces will vanish like you were never there.

Positives

All possible features

Transferring license to any device

Choice between different subscriptions

Supports most of the devices

Discounts for longer subscriptions

Hides all activity

Negatives

Extended installation time

Jailbreaking and/or rooting needed

PhoneSheriff

Being considered on of the best softwares for tracking cell phone activity, Phone Sheriff offers a possibility to track an array of different activities. The product is available for use Android OS smartphones and tablets using versions 4.0 and newer. It is also possible to install this tracking app on all iOS and Blackberry devices.

The product is mainly focused on parents’ desire to monitor their kids. This explains the fact that it can’t be hidden on the target phone. Your kids will know you’re following them and they will for sure approach their activities with more caution. If offers all the options a tracking app should have. Monitoring, call management, gps tracking etc.

However, it adds a practical option which should be emphasized. It has a “Panic mode button” which warns the user that the person using the monitored device is in danger. This app has its flaws but it does what it’s supposed to do. It enables you to monitor your children’s activities and it keeps them safe.

Positives

Panic mode

Remote controlling

Demo version or year long subscription

Easy use and installation

Fully functioning features

Negatives

Detectable app

May experience some issues for non-jailbroken and non-rooted devices

iKeyMonitor

Last, but not least, we introduce you iKeyMonitor. It is a spying application which will enable you to monitor and protect your children from harm while on their mobile phones and tablets. It works on all Android OS from 2.3 to 6.x, with necessary rooting for full feature access.. iKeyMonitor works on all iOS non-jailbroken devices. The downside for jailbroken devices is that it cannot be installed remotely.

As far as the iKeyMonitor features are concerned, they are numerous and easily accessible. Downloading and installing this app doesn’t force you to become a technician. One of the best features this tracking app has is that you can use it for 3 days for free. Just sign up on their site and you’ll have a three day access.

You will have features which include monitoring, keylogging, remote access to the target phone and complete stealth. After that, you can choose between a one, three, six or a twelve month subscription. This app may prove to be the perfect way to monitor your children without them knowing.

Positives

Remote access

Demo period of 3 days

Array of features

24/7 live tech staff

Undetectable app

Negatives

Rooting/jailbreaking needed for some devices

Frequently Asked Questions

What is rooting and jailbreaking?

Jailbreaking means removing some of the restraints Apple has on a device which runs on iOS. A custom kernel is used to enable root access to the device. Jailbroken devices are able to download applications which aren’t in the Apple store and use themes and extensions which aren’t supported by Apple.

As for the Android devices, by rooting your phone, you will get full control of your device, removing the restrictions provided by carriers for example put on your device. Rooting can enable you to completely remove the operating system of the device, but that’s not advisable.

How can I tell if a spying application is on my phone?

Spy tracking apps aren’t a virus and must be installed directly. It will not work autonomously and without human intervention. However, most of these spying apps don’t show in the app menu and it doesn’t have any visible folders or icons. We advise you to be careful who you give your phone to.

Is it possible to install a tracking app without physical access?

It’s not really possible to remotely install the app on someone else’s phone unless you have their Apple ID or password and their iCloud sync and backup are switched on.

Before You Make Your Choice - Buying Guide

Purchasing any item can be mind-numbing if you haven’t done your homework. That’s also the case with going to the market for mobile spy apps. You must take many things into consideration and this review will help you with that in several very simple steps:

Define your needs – Make sure to clearly define your requirements. It’s hard to get a refund once you use these tracking applications which means you must choose wisely.

Define your budget – There are different options depending on the money you’re willing to spend. You must coordinate your wishes with your budget.

Read expert roundups – Learn form professionals in this field and hear their opinion about these apps.

Make a choice – As good as it is, this review can’t generate the right option for you. It can only help you choose the right product based on the first two steps.

Most important features

Compatibility

Make sure that the app you are willing to purchase is compatible with your cell phone and that it can access the target device. This shouldn’t be an actual problem because the apps in this review are carefully analyzed, but you can never be too careful.

App options

You must ask yourself, what is this app good for? Does it suit my needs? All apps should have some basic capabilities to block sites and potentially dangerous apps. Furthermore, a tracking app must have all monitoring options and the power to report logging in every application.  The application’s ability to track the target phone through GPS is a desirable asset to have. Whichever app you choose, you should expect it to have effectiveness in sending correct login information and reports.

Level of remote control

It is important that you can control the target device no matter where you are. The higher control you get over the target phone, the higher the app is ranked in the market.

Price-quality correlation

Probably the most important aspect when you have already assessed you needs. No one likes to waste money and you should thoroughly analyze your purchase before making one.

Product guarantee

You should take your time and carefully read the refund policy because it’s different for different apps.

Tech support

Ensure that your purchased app has a support center. It is likely that some errors will occur during the usage of spy software. It is important to have someone to help you solve those problems. 24/7 support is preferable.

Beware of scams

If the advert seems too good to be true it probably is. There are many scams in the market for spy tracking apps and you should only purchase reviewed products.

Additional information – Nota bene

You must take note at all time that you have to have physical access to the target device. Also, you will need a small amount of time to install the app and root/jailbreak it if needed. Finally, tracking a phone needs target’s device to have an internet connection. If not constantly, then occasionally.

Summary

After reviewing and taking a good look at all of these apps, it is safe to say that you should consider mSpy as the most complete and the product with best price-quality-ratio. You can also consider purchasing FlexiSpy if your budget is compatible with your higher needs. That doesn’t mean you should discard the other products. People are different and consequently, have different needs. Parents will argue that PhoneSheriff or iKeyMonitor is the most useful tool among these five. Finally, if your budget is tight and you need a respectable solution, similar to the higher priced ones, the right choice would be Highster Mobile.

To conclude, it doesn’t matter what you need the app for, one of these 5 products will prove to be very useful. Any of these 5 can either meet or exceed your expectations. These 5 mobile spying apps are currently the best in the market and you choose taking your needs and budget into consideration.

The post Best Android and Iphone Spy Apps in 2017 appeared first on Techno Journey.

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