The AR BOOM

Source: hopetutors.com

The AR (Augmented Reality) boom is coming. Here are 3 categories where we will look at the changes that will come (some are already there but still need fine tuning).

Travel & Tourism

With traveling getting cheaper and an increase in demand for unique experiences. AR will be there to help smudge out those navigating issues, language barriers, crowded tours and restaurant/hotel booking.

While functioning with interactive maps, AR can direct you with arrows to your destination. During that time you may see signs that the camera will be translating for you. Also you may pass by landmarks that the camera picks up and/or geolocations picks up that will feed you information about this historical landmark. Maybe something in a store catches your eye and the AR device will translate what you are saying into the designated language and translate back for you. When looking for a hotel or choosing a restaurant you can have 360 degree view of the meals or hotel rooms.

Workplace

Companies are always looking for ways to improve productivity and profit. AR will be a huge help to that end with training, creativity, retail and technical support.

Training cost a lot. AR can help train on the job and also offer simulations that will increase confidence and help prevent accidents. The way AR affects creativity is through, being able to visualize a 3D design from a 2d concept. In retail shoppers will be able to see a 3d model of the item they are interested in and help them on decide on buying it. Real-time technical support with video conference and being able to share information on the job will greatly improve the latency between task.

Socializing

When it comes to socializing on the internet. AR is changing a lot. From animojis to filters.

Being able to send an emoji that gets configured by your facial expressions (that’s an animoji), to a filter that changes how you or your surrounding looks. Like the tech support you could real-time your mom and share information on what to buy at the grocery store from what is missing in the fridge.

Links with more info down below. Where else do you see AR improving or failing?

4 ways to make social media more accessible

keyboard with handicap sign on it. Source: shutterstock

Social media is important to a lot of people, its a method of gathering information on things that people care about. That includes people with visual impairments. Making things accessible is becoming a legal obligation too. A 2010 WHO (World Health Organization) report states that there were 285 million people in the world who were visually impaired. [1] Now that is a lot of people who are potentially missing out on your content. Some social media platforms have got you covered but when you don’t know its better to be safe than sorry. Here are four ways to improve your content by making it more accessible.

1. Use alternative text for content (images, video captioning)
   Describe your content as if you were describing a photo to someone.
   Use Youtube captioning services for videos on platforms that offer it (Facebook).
   Have text that adds more context to the photo below.
   
2. Avoid Acronyms
   Yes acronyms make sense on twitter due to the space limit but it can be confusing for a text-reader
   
3. Color contrast
   How you see color is not the same way that others may see it. Using color and pattern can help someone differentiate content.
   
   Use these two rules :
   • Never use color alone to show emphasis
   • Make sure your colors have strong contrasts between them
     
4. Use camel case
   This is especially important on twitter with hashtags camel case is capitalizing the first letter of each word #MakeSocialMediaAccessible

Now this is a good start but there is a lot more to learn. If you want to read more you can go to the bottom for more info.

Try using WAVE (Web accessibility evaluation tool) on your favorite social media site and expand on the results and how the social media platform can improve? (It has issues working on chrome but it works fine on firefox)

Blog 2 : Social Media highs and highs

Source : childmags

Everyone is living life to the fullest on social media and rarely do we ever see the reality.

This leaves some people feeling as though their own life is lacking or even isolated. That person must not feel the same anxieties and fears that I do. But we only see the highlights, never the roots. Like eating too many cookies, bingeing on other peoples success could do more harm than good.

There are good habits that can help reverse that harm. Like eating less cookies and more vegetables. I know vegetables are yucky and who cares about the consequences. But just give it a try.

Next time you are somewhere with family or friends put down the phone and connect to your environment. Before bed put the phone on silence or airplane mode and try to get adequate sleep. Just being mindful of your own consumption and taking care of yourself will go a long way for your mental health.

I know myself I am not perfect and I do practice these habits but not to a tee. So where do you find yourself lacking when managing your social media consumption?

Blog #1 – COM0011 : 3 ways to distinguish fake news

Have you heard of a little thing called ‘fake news‘. If you’ve been listening to the media in recent years you must have heard it. ‘Fake news‘ is sensationalized information masked as news reporting. But we have seen how credible information is being labeled as ‘fake news‘. Even some news organizations have fallen to ‘fake news‘. After reading this post you will be able to discern fake from real.

#1: Google

What ever you read make sure to look for a second source. Google or any search engine is your friend. Would you trust a Facebook post by a never heard of before news source?

#2: HTTPS

This does not apply to every site but most well established news sources will use HTTPS for encrypted communication over a computer network.

#3: Why?

Ask yourself how does this information make you feel, does it influence my assumptions? Could I be wrong? Who would benefit from it? Does the information seem sensationalized?

+ New Skill Acquired!

Now hopefully you are ready to get on Facebook/Instagram or whatever is your source of information. You are a living breathing ‘fake news‘-detector.

Post a ‘fake news’ article that you found today!