Search Results for: feed

  • Home   /  
  • Search results for "feed"
    • ( Page2 )

Io T Product Development: Complete Guide For Startups

Ninety percent of companies that took part in the 2021 Microsoft IoT Signals survey have already adopted the Internet of Things solutions to reduce operating costs, unlock additional revenue streams, and gain a competitive edge.

Companies that struggle with IoT product development typically cite high scalability costs, technical challenges, and vague ROI perspectives as the key reasons for IoT project failure.

As a startup looking to create an IoT solution, you could avoid most of these challenges by carefully planning your IoT pilot in advance.

Here’s where our guide to IoT solution development comes in useful.

Understanding IoT Product Development

This time, we’ll focus on the Internet of Things definition, architecture, and stages your connected product goes through before hitting the shelves.

What Is an IoT Product Exactly?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects connected to the Internet and/or each other over a wired or wireless network.

The “things” term may apply to both electronic devices, such as fitness trackers, and non-electronic objects enhanced with sensors and lightweight control gadgets (think smart curtains operated via a relay and mobile app).

There are two types of IoT solutions you could create:

  • Sensing devices, which measure information on the surrounding environment and convert it into digital signals
  • Actuating devices, which receive digital signals from the network and act upon them

These devices can talk to the nodes within an IoT ecosystem (i.e., peer-to-peer communication), connect to the network via a gateway, or establish gateway-less connections.

What Does an IoT Solution Architecture Look Like?

To create an IoT device or non-electronic gadget scavenging and acting on environmental data, it is essential to understand how connected solutions function under the hood.

The Internet of Things architecture comprises four levels:

  • Application layer. This layer features embedded software — i.e., firmware or proper operating systems — that runs on sensing and actuating devices. It may also include mobile, web, and desktop applications helping users interpret sensor data and manage gadgets. So if you’re looking to create an IoT app, we’ve got bad news for you: applications are just the tip of the IoT iceberg.
  • Service and application support layer. Essentially, this is the IoT infrastructure layer where data aggregation, storage, and processing operations take place. To save costs and ensure uninterrupted device/service performance, IoT startups often choose to set up this infrastructure in the cloud (as opposed to on-premises servers).
  • Network layer. On the network level, IoT engineers can implement cellular, Wi-Fi, and wired connectivity technologies to interface the components of an IoT ecosystem — i.e., “things,” back-end infrastructure, and user applications.
  • Device layer. We could segment the functionality enabled by the device layer into:
  1. Gateway capabilities. IoT gateways support devices connected through wired and wireless technology, such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-Wave, and LPWANs and perform protocol conversions, enabling devices with different connectivity tech stacks to communicate.
  2. Regular device capabilities. IoT nodes typically collect and share data. But they can also construct networks on the fly to accommodate new nodes or replace an existing malfunctioning device. Also, some IoT devices can display limited data processing functionality (i.e., edge IoT deployments) and switch between sleep and awake modes to save energy.

The Internet of Things architecture also incorporates device management and security components.

The former helps resolve traffic congestion issues, monitor IoT product performance, roll out software updates, and track device activation and deactivation.

The latter ensures privacy protection and data confidentiality and supports application-specific requirements, like facilitating secure mobile payments.

Commonly, this functionality is baked into popular IoT platforms, such as Google Cloud IoT, AWS IoT Core, and ThingWorx.

What Stages Does the IoT Product Development Lifecycle Span?

Prominent IoT infrastructure vendors like Microsoft and Google distinguish four stages of the IoT development process:

  • Learn
  • Trial/proof of concept
  • Purchase
  • Use

Here at Expanice, we prefer a slightly different classification, which, in our humble opinion, better aligns with the IoT product development stages startups go through:

  • IoT product idea validation
  • IoT product discovery
  • Minimum viable product (MVP) development
  • Market launch and MVP scaling

Let’s inspect the activities undertaken during these phases of the IoT product development lifecycle.

IoT Product Idea Validation

By 2025, the Internet of Things could become a $11.1 trillion market with a whopping 41 billion connected devices deployed globally.

To develop a product with strong commercial appeal, your startup should start your IoT product development journey with thorough market research. Its elements include:

  • Assessing the demand for your IoT solution. Besides studying research papers issued by technology consulting companies like Gartner and Accenture, your startup could conduct in-depth interviews with experts and potential customers from your target domain — e.g., healthcare, wellness, manufacturing, retail, etc. Next, ?analyze the macro- and micro-environmental factors affecting your business using marketing frameworks like TEMPLES, VRIO, and Porter’s Five Forces. You should pay special attention to the data privacy and security laws governing IoT adoption in your target geographic locations, as well as industry-specific regulations for IoT devices, such as HIPAA, HL7, and NIST.
  • Getting to know your competition. Being part of the macro-environmental audit, competitive analysis allows you to determine the optimum feature set, pricing, and marketing strategy for your IoT product. Your goal here is to identify an unoccupied niche and offer something — i.e., a piece of functionality, competitive price, superior quality, or five-star customer service — that your competitors are missing.
  • Choosing a suitable IoT business model. Drawing on the insights obtained from the market and competitor research, your company should choose an appropriate business model to monetize your IoT product. Some popular options here include one-time purchases, subscriptions, and the monetization of accompanying services and products, such as sensor data analysis. To better align your service offering with your company’s mission, resources, and marketing mix, you could use the Business Model Canvas template by Alexander Osterwalder.
  • Estimating the efforts required to build an IoT device. In this step, you need to summarize the findings of your market research using the SWOT analysis and determine what resources and capabilities you are lacking to create an IoT device and the applications supporting its logic. Based on your company’s primary focus (hardware, embedded, web, or mobile), you’ll figure out which parts of IoT product development need to be outsourced.

IoT Product Discovery

In the IoT product development lifecycle, the discovery phase helps verify your IoT product idea against your business needs, evaluate your project scope, and create a preliminary technical vision for your custom IoT solution.

To reach these objectives, enlist the help of a skilled business analyst. The IT specialist will collaborate with your company’s internal and external stakeholders and determine what the IoT solution should do and how it is supposed to function.

These characteristics are known as functional and nonfunctional requirements for IoT product development.

Following the discovery phase, you’ll get definite answers to such questions as:

  • What tasks and processes would your IoT system enhance or automate?
  • What type of data capturing devices are you going to use?
  • Which connectivity technologies will your IoT product rely on?
  • Where will sensor data be stored and analyzed — and how is it going to be presented to end users?
  • How will your custom IoT solution interface with third-party devices and services?
  • What is the approximate size of the user base you’re targeting?

Based on this information, you’ll be able to select a suitable technology stack for your project, lay a foundation for an IoT architecture that would flexibly scale along with your product, and get a realistic IoT cost estimate.

IoT Prototyping

The goal of the prototyping phase of the IoT product development lifecycle is to create a proof-of-concept version of your connected device, identify technology roadblocks, and test the prototype with real users to further refine its functional and nonfunctional requirements.

To build an IoT device prototype, you (or the vendor of your choice!) could leverage off-the-shelf single-board computers and microcontrollers like Arduino Uno and Raspberry Pi.

Such IoT development boards come with a variety of features, including USB support, SIM card slots, multiple digital inputs and outputs, robust connectivity options (BLE, Wi-Fi, cellular), and decent processing capabilities. Additionally, they are compatible with different open-source hardware components and development kits and could be connected to popular cloud IoT platforms — for instance, AWS IoT.

The choice of ready-made IoT prototyping tools is based on initial hardware requirements, such as connectivity, power consumption, RAM and flash memory, system architecture, and the availability of SDKs.

The benefits of prototyping in IoT are mostly cost-related. For example, you could create a working version of your connected solution at a small fraction of what it would cost you to design a custom device. Also, you can start developing firmware, back-end infrastructure, and mobile apps faster — and rule out technology limitations early on.

IoT MVP Development

As we mentioned earlier, the Internet of Things term does not always refer to electronic devices. If you’re working on an asset tracking solution based on BLE beacons, you don’t have to design custom hardware and could focus solely on creating a supporting software infrastructure.

Otherwise, your IoT minimum viable product development project would span three stages:

  • Hardware design (plus certification)
  • Infrastructure setup
  • Application development

Custom IoT Hardware Development

How to create an IoT device? Well, pretty much like the other IoT product development activities, the custom hardware design process involves several steps:

  • Analysis. From concept development to technical requirements specification, the analysis phase largely builds on the insights you’ve gleaned from IoT product discovery.
  • Modeling. You collaborate with hardware engineers and industrial designers to devise printed circuit board (PCB) layout schemes and visualize the gadget’s case in 3D CAD.
  • Prototyping. Do not confuse the IoT prototyping activities we mentioned in the discovery section with custom device prototyping. This time, you won’t be using BeagleBoard, Raspberry Pi, and other off-the-shelf IoT development boards. Instead, you need to contact a hardware manufacturing company and produce up to ten PCBs based on the layout schemes created in the previous step. Your hardware vendor will run extensive tests to validate the PCBs meet your performance requirements, debug them if necessary, and update the technical documentation.
  • Testing. At this stage of the IoT product development lifecycle, engineers will transform successful prototypes into pre-production models while using different materials for the device case. Next, you’ll need to conduct electrical safety, pre-certification, and user tests. Do not be surprised if critical errors surface in the process. This is not at all uncommon, and your custom IoT device could spend anything between six months and two years before you achieve your performance and safety goals.
  • Certification. When doing market research, you have learned about the Internet of Things regulations effective in your target markets. Depending on your gadget’s scope of application, you might need to procure various certificates before selling the IoT solution to end users. These may include the Restriction of Hazardous Substances (ROHS) and Energy Star compliance, the Electrotechnical Commission (EC) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certifications, Bluetooth Sig Qualification clearance, as well as industry- and product specific test certificates for gadgets that collect user data or come in direct contact with the skin.

IoT Infrastructure Development and Setup

The infrastructure layer of an IoT system includes several components:

  • Embedded software. Firmware, middleware, device drivers, and full-fledged operating systems interface the hardware components of your custom IoT device, allow it to perform its intended sensing and actuating operations, and help integrate the gadget with other devices and components of an IoT infrastructure. Typically, the hardware vendor you’re working with can handle the embedded part, too, although you might need to hire a separate team for that.
  • Connectivity. Again, it’s your embedded team who tackles the networking part. To send sensor data to a gateway or directly to the cloud, your gadget will rely on short-range or long-range wireless connectivity technologies. When selecting a connectivity tech stack, you should consider networking costs beforehand. For instance, if you opt for cellular technologies, you might end up spending $0.04 per every megabyte of data your gadget sends over the network.
  • Cloud infrastructure. Based on the requirements identified during the discovery phase of the IoT product development lifecycle, you’ll need to select a cloud platform supporting your gadget’s business logic. Here’s where sensor data will be aggregated, stored, analyzed, and visualized using dynamic dashboards. Cloud service providers like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft typically charge per the amount of server calls your gadget makes — or the number of devices within an IoT ecosystem. But the cloud providers’ fees are not the only issue to consider here. When designing a blueprint architecture of your IoT solution, you should make the necessary provisions regarding your user base, the amount of data traversing the network, and the overall complexity of your system. For example, if you’re planning to deploy a machine learning model to interpret sensor data at some point in the future, you should be able to do so without a complete infrastructure overhaul. The same goes for device management, over-the-air (OTA) software updates, and ongoing performance optimization through DevOps.
  • Supporting infrastructure. Setting up a data warehouse or data lake solution in the cloud and configuring some analytics capabilities is only half the job. Complex IoT solutions like remote patient monitoring (RPM) or end-to-end home automation systems require a dedicated customer support department — and a plethora of related software tools like mobile, web, and desktop apps enabling end users and admins to operate connected devices.

The Internet of Things App Development

Being part of the IoT product infrastructure, user-facing applications help configure and manage connected devices — and visualize sensor data processed in the cloud.

Depending on your overall IoT product requirements and target audience, you might need to create:

  • Native or cross-platform mobile applications, which? act as a remote control for IoT products
  • Embedded human-machine interfaces (HMIs) that allow users to operate devices without a mobile or web app
  • Web-based or desktop applications that mirror the functionality of their mobile counterparts and allow IoT product admins to manage user accounts

Speaking of IoT MVP development, it normally takes three to six months to create a complete software ecosystem for an IoT device.

The good news is, software development activities can run in parallel with custom hardware design. And if you’re developing IoT devices on a shoestring budget in the hope of getting funded, you can skip the hardware design part altogether and make do with an off-the-shelf board for the time being.

IoT Product Launch and Scaling

Congratulations! You’ve built your first connected device containing enough features to meet user expectations and differentiate your company from the competition. Now it’s time to get your IoT solution to the market, analyze initial user feedback, and tweak your product accordingly.

Technically, going to market is not part of the IoT product development lifecycle — and that’s why it often gets overlooked by IoT companies. Here’s what you can do to avoid getting stuck in the IoT startup limbo:

  • Assemble a beta user group to test your MVP and adjust your product — i.e., the applications and the gadget itself — to better meet user needs
  • Develop a marketing plan covering content production, participation in industry-specific and technology events, and partnerships with influencers
  • Gradually expand your product’s feature set by adding new functionality and use cases once you hit your initial revenue targets
  • Go the extra mile to provide superior customer experience: after all, acquiring new customers costs five times as much as keeping existing ones

Five Ways Your IoT Product Development Project Could Go Awry

Finally, we’d like to draw your attention to common challenges startups face when developing IoT devices:

  • Stumbling upon technology roadblocks late in the IoT product development process. Creating a luxurious gold bracelet with physical activity tracking capabilities might be a good idea, but what if the metal case would interfere with the Bluetooth signal, preventing the gadget from sending sensor data to a mobile app? A surefire way to avoid such scenarios is to kick your project off with a discovery phase and ensure extensive test coverage before sending the device to production.
  • Struggling with multi-vendor IoT project management. Few companies possess the required IoT product development expertise and personnel to build all components of an IoT system under one roof. As an IoT startup owner, you should elevate your project management knowledge and choose appropriate project tracking software to keep your distributed hardware and software development teams on the same page.
  • Incorporating too many features into an IoT product MVP. The results of your market research might indicate that users want a self-learning smart home system with biometric control options, but in reality, you most likely lack the skills and resources to create such a complex IoT device from the ground up (and within a single iteration). Here at Expanice, we recommend that our clients start their IoT product development journey by creating an MVP containing just enough features to ignite user interest and get investors on board.
  • Ignoring IoT scalability and hidden infrastructure costs. To choose the right development tech stack and design an IoT solution architecture that would grow along with your business, you should partner with a skilled business analyst during the product discovery phase, interview stakeholders both within and outside your company, and hire top-notch software architects, no matter the price.
  • Taking IoT security lightly. Despite the global IT community and government efforts, the Internet of Things remains a low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals. From hard-coding device passwords to using open-source software development tools containing documented vulnerabilities, there’s a million ways to overlook security loopholes in your IoT infrastructure — and let your customers down. That’s why “security by design” should be your IoT product development mantra from day one.

Stay tuned for more — and follow Expanice on social media to not miss our next article about IoT-enabling technologies!

P.S. The story was originally published here.

How To Boost Your Business With A Virtual Phone Number?

In-depth analytics: The virtual number solution will give detailed analytics that will provide a comprehensive view of your business that will let you make the best decisions in your company’s interest. The solution gives you call and campaign reports, caller location, and analytics. The data helps analyze the traffic generated and helps in optimum use and resource allocation to improve the same.

Smart Call Routing: Virtual numbers give you the flexibility and ease of intelligent routing and enable the most appropriate agent to take the calls and provide the best feedback and satisfactory responses to the callers. The virtual number solution automatically redirects customer calls to the available agents based on parameters such as caller history and location. The calls are directed to regional agents to offer a personalized experience to the customers.

Multiple call handling: The virtual number solution allows a business to handle up to 50 calls simultaneously. It helps companies to increase the pick-up rate by 80%! Also, it helps to manage the peak hour call load effortlessly and efficiently. So, an organization does not miss even a single call and quickly addresses its customers’ concerns.

Universal CRM Integration- Yes, the virtual phone numbers are equipped with capabilities to integrate with leading CRM software. A business can create a customizable dashboard to synchronize customer information from different sources and use the same to make better decisions.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJh9KssNLuc[/youtube]

Tap both the local and international markets: Virtual numbers allow your business to be global and reach out to prospective clients in any part of the world. A business organization can get virtual numbers to engage with clients in domestic and international markets, ensuring that it grows by leaps and bounds by increasing its domestic market and creating a global footprint.

VOIP and PSTN support- Virtual phone numbers support the traditional PSTN calling across the globe and facilitates VOIP calling in International markets. So, it meets your diverse requirements and assists you in reaching out to your clients efficiently.

Hosted Services: A hefty upfront investment can drain a business- the SMEs and mid-size business in particular. But with the virtual numbers, there’s no investment required in infrastructure. The virtual phone number solution customizes IVR flow and allows quick universal CRM integrations. It provides APIs to address the clients’ business requirements efficiently.

Increase productivity: The Virtual number solution is equipped with several capabilities that offer a streamlined business operation. With advanced features such as auto keyword spotting, IVR automation, and AI-driven sentiment analysis, the solution is certainly more than a phone number. It’s a complete solution that an organization can use to leverage its business.

Round-the-clock support: The virtual number solution allows a business to receive support 24×7 throughout the year to function without any glitches. With 24×7 availability, it gives a business a professional image.

With so many advantages, it is easy to recognize the several benefits a virtual phone number offers to a business. Therefore, it makes complete sense to get the solution. It will ensure the business’s growth and provide maximum satisfaction to its customers and retain them.

Iran’s morality police crack down on un-Islamic dress

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The Iranian police forces have faced criticism from Ayatollah Hashemi Shahrudi, the head of the judiciary who was appointed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for their re-invigorated campaign to do away with un-Islamic dress.

Ayatollah Shahroudi proclaimed, “Tough measures on social problems will backfire and have counter-productive effects.” Others have, of course, made it clear that un-Islamic dress can lead to moral corruption, engender innumerable vices, and hurt the Islamic character of the nation.

Some believe that no one had any issue with the creation of an Islamic atmosphere. The core of the matter revolves around the implementation of the Islamic dress code; additionally, heavy-handed measures should be shunned. For instance, Mehdi Ahmadi, information head of Tehran’s police, told Al Jazeera: “Some citizens may complain about the way the law is being enforced but they all agree with the plan itself.”

According to one student, “You simply can’t tell people what to wear. They don’t understand that use of force only brings hatred towards them, not love.” Nevertheless, Hojatoll-Islam Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, Iran’s interior minister who is in charge of policing, prognosticated positive feedback from the populace when he said, “People are unhappy with the social and moral status of the society. They expect that the fight against social insecurity be properly implemented.” Thus, Hujjat al-Islam Pour-Mohammadi re-iterated the necessity of proper implementation and methodology towards the restoration of morality in the Islamic Republic. Islamic officials and religious people affirm that this is indispensable to promote righteousness, curb sin, and bring open sinners to justice.

Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, hijab became mandatory in Iran for every woman including foreigners after over 98% of citizens voted for an Islamic government. Women may face caning up to 74 strokes for failing to observe hijab. In this recent crackdown, the authorities have arrested many citizens throughout the country. Not only have women been taken into custody for their hair being uncovered on their foreheads and tight clothes that show body shapes, For men they need to cover from knee to their waist as according to Sharia. Even a foreign journalist was detained because the photograph on her press card was indecent.

It has not been clear whence the directive for the re-newed clampdown emanated. Some have blamed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while Gholam Hossein Elham, the government spokesman, stated to reporters, “The police work as agents of the judiciary to confront crimes. The government as an executive body does not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary.” The following pre-election speech seems to corroborate this latter statement:

“ In reality, is the problem of our people the shape of the hair of our children? Let our children arrange their hair any way they wish. It doesn’t concern me and you. Let you and me overhaul the basic problems of the nation. The government should fix the economy of the nation and improve its atmosphere…[It should] better psychological security and support the people. People have variegated tastes. As if now the arch obstacle of our nation is the arrangement of our kids’ hair and the government disallowing them <He chuckles>. Is this the government’s responsibility? Is this the people’s merit? In actuality, this is the denigration of our people. Why do you underestimate and belittle the people? It is the real issue of our nation that one of our daughters donned a certain dress? Is this the issue of our nation and the problem of our nation? ”
Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Iran%27s_morality_police_crack_down_on_un-Islamic_dress&oldid=4558895”

No survivors in Cambodian air crash

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

No survivors were found today when searchers reached the crash site of PMTair Flight U4 241 in Cambodia, a government minister said.

“All have died. It is confirmed,” Information Minister Khieu Kanharith told reporters.

The wreckage of the PMTair Antonov An-24 was spotted by a helicopter crew early this morning, two days after the plane went missing from radar screens while on a flight from Angkor International Airport in Siem Reap to the beach-resort town of Sihanoukville.

The crash site is located in the Dâmrei Mountains, or Elephant Mountains, northeast of Bokor Hill Station in Kampot Province, about 150 kilometers south of Phnom Penh, the capital.

Rescue helicopter pilot Tep Sitha, speaking to Reuters by mobile telephone, described the crash site as “high on the mountain.”

A search operation involving around 1,000 people had scoured the mountainous jungle territory since the plane crashed on Monday. Monsoon rains, thick jungle and rugged terrain had hampered the search.

The 44-seat plane had 22 people aboard – 16 passengers, plus a flight crew of six – a Russian pilot, two Cambodian co-pilots, a Cambodian flight engineer and two Cambodian flight attendants. Among the passengers, 13 were from South Korea and three were from the Czech Republic.

Around a dozen Korean family members arrived in Phnom Penh yesterday from Seoul, and the Cambodian government said it would pay for their accommodations.

The cause of the crash is yet to be determined by an examination of the flight data recorder, but officials had earlier speculated that weather may have played a part.

The airline, PMTair, is a small Cambodian carrier that listed its fleet at five planes, including two Antonov An-24s, which it used for domestic flights. The type of Soviet-built plane, introduced in 1963, is common in Cambodia’s civil and military aviation fleet.

Sar Sareth, director of PMTair, told the Associated Press yesterday that he did not know what year the crashed plane was built. He said it was in “good condition” before taking off, and “was always in compliance with flight technical and safety procedures.”

The airline had begun regularly scheduled Siem Reap-Sihanoukville flights in January, providing a direct link between the two popular tourist towns.

In addition to domestic service, PMTair has international routes, including direct flights from Seoul to Siem Reap, feeding a large influx of tourists from South Korea in the past few years. Last year, around 250,000 South Koreans visited the country.

Yesterday, a South Korean government agency said it was putting PMTair on a list of carriers it was checking for safety. “As PMT also does business at Incheon International Airport, a special safety inspection for the airline will be carried out until July 6,” Chung Sang-ho, head of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, was quoted as saying by Yonhap News Agency.

One other Cambodian carrier, Royal Khmer Airlines, was also on the South Korean list, as was Garuda Indonesia, and three Russian carriers, SAT Airlines, Vladivostok Air and Dalavia.

Before Monday’s crash, the worst incident for PMTair was a hard landing in 2005, when a piece of landing gear snapped off an An-24 on landing at Banlung, Ratanakiri, overcrowded with 59 passengers aboard. There were no injuries, but the airline was temporarily grounded after the incident. In another incident, a plane had to return to the airport after takeoff because of engine failure.

The crash is Cambodia’s first major aviation accident in nearly 10 years. In September 1997, a Vietnam Airlines Tupolev Tu-134 crashed while trying to land in heavy rain at Phnom Penh International Airport, killing 65 people and one person, a toddler, surviving.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=No_survivors_in_Cambodian_air_crash&oldid=3130987”

UN report: climate change and food shortage major problems for Earth’s future

Thursday, October 25, 2007

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has released a comprehensive report on the current state of the global environment. Climate change, food and water shortage and a decline in biodiversity threaten humanity’s survival, so urgent action is necessary, the report warns.

UNEP’s Global Environment Outlook: environment for development (GEO-4) report involved the work of about 390 experts in various fields from around the world.

Selected key figures and facts from the reportClimate changeThe global average temperature has risen 0.7 °C since 1906 and will rise a further 1.8 °C at best by the end of this century.Some scientists believe a 2°C temperature rise would cause major and irreversible damage.Meanwhile, average temperatures in the Arctic are rising twice as fast as elsewhere.Rising sealevels threaten the 60 percent of the population living within 100 kilometres of coastal lines.Water and foodIncreasing irrigation demands will eventually cause 1 of every 10 major rivers to dry up.Population growth, over-consumption and a continued shift from cereals to meat will raise food demand to a level 2.5 – 3.5 times higher than at present.The slackening expansion of cropland stands in contrast with the fact that by 2030, developing countries will need 120 million extra hectares to feed themselves.BiodiversitySpecies are becoming extinct a hundred times faster than the rate shown in the fossil record.

While the GEO-4 report salutes some improvements, for example the increased public awareness of environmental issues and political interest, it also warns that “There are no major issues… for which the foreseeable trends are favourable.” Although the report sets out a gloomy scenario, its main aim is to call for action.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=UN_report:_climate_change_and_food_shortage_major_problems_for_Earth%27s_future&oldid=4583427”

Should You Dress In A Vivid White Bridal Dress?

Submitted by: Santiago Demery

Getting married can be a significant event in any lady’s life and what better way to mark it than with a wonderful party and a gorgeous white-colored gown? While strictly speaking not a single shade because it reflects all shades, white is striking nevertheless. Therefore it is not really surprising then that the majority of modern-day brides elect to dress in white wedding dresses.

However, the donning of a white dress by a bride has not always been the strong tradition which it is today. Queen Victoria is credited with having started the trend when she wore a white-colored bridal gown to wed Prince Albert in the course of her rule in the 19th century. However, prior to that time women of all ages wore wedding dresses in an assortment of shades.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9Sen1HTu5o[/youtube]

What is more, in certain regions of the world such as The Far East, for instance, customary wedding apparel is often dominated by the color red because it’s considered to be a lucky and auspicious hue. In the country of India, too, brides have customarily donned red saris although a variety of hues have since become popular. Ethnic traditions aside, though, white is without a doubt the most well-liked hue for bridal gowns in many parts of the globe at present. That being said, not all modern brides-to-be choose to dress in white on their big day.

The capacity to perceive coloration is among the joys of human existence and there’s something quite magical about witnessing a rainbow in the skies when the sun comes out following a rainstorm. Scientifically speaking a rainbow is the result of a system of reflection and refraction of sunshine off raindrops however this does not make it any less of a remarkable phenomenon to many folks. Hence if you are among those women who truly adores color then you may wish to dress in a wedding dress in your favorite hue.

Several famous people have worn colored wedding gowns in recent times so you’ll be in great company if your do choose to be different and dress in a shade that is not cream or white. The beautiful pink and white ombre dress designed by John Galliano which Gwen Stefani wore to wed Gavin Rossdale in ’02 is possibly among the most renowned colorful celebrity wedding dresses to date. However, Sarah Jessica Parker had already broken with custom by getting married in a black gown in 1997 long before she came to play the part of the off-beat fashionista Carrie Bradshaw.

What is more, the level of popularity of hued bridal dresses amongst celebs appears to be increasing. In recent years, celebrity brides have worn purple (Dita Von Teese), yellow (Amber Tamblyn), pink (Reese Witherspoon, Jessica Biel, Anne Hathaway), and green (Kelis, Cynthia Nixon), to mention just a few. The well-known fashion houses have picked up on the craze of pink for bridal gowns in particular with Versace, Chanel and Elie Saab all featuring pink bridal gowns in their 2012 ranges.

If, in spite of this, you are having trouble tracking down a ready-made bridal gown in the color of your choice you might want to take a look at evening dresses because there are plenty of styles out there and you may well come across a gown like this that will be appropriate to get wedded in.

About the Author: I’m a fan of many things remarkable about jobs training. Have a look at the subsequent link to get more information on the subject of

dealsfornow.com/http:/dealsfornow.com/tag/evening-dresses/feed

Source:

isnare.com

Permanent Link:

isnare.com/?aid=1811086&ca=Marriage

Important Information About The Benefits Massage Can Offer

Important Information About The Benefits Massage Can Offer

by

Steve Rees

How much do you know about massage therapy? Do you know the best techniques or where to find a professional? It is always nice to surprise your partner with a high-quality massage right in your own home. Read the below article to learn some tips on how you can do this.

A massage can help your entire body feel better. If you deal with back pain constantly or are under a lot of stress, a massage should be part of your life regularly. Find a professional masseuse or a trusted friend who can help with ongoing massages.

Make sure you make adjustments to what your client likes, because no two people that you massage have identical needs. Pay attention to the cues your client gives you, and you will know in which areas to concentrate your massage. Be mindful about your subjects\’ feedback during the massage.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RAWB8ms4XYU[/youtube]

Massage in an environment without loud noises. When traffic is roaring by outside, who can relax? A massage will be a lot more enjoyable if the patient is able to fully relax. If you have to, pick a quieter room or different time when the noise isn\’t so loud. Everybody will benefit from the lessened noise levels.

Before you begin a massage, put a drop of the oil you are planning to use on the client and let it sit for a moment to avoid allergic reactions. A body\’s reaction to the oils is an individual thing, so it is important that you make sure to locate the best oil for the job. Oils play an important roll in massage because it enables the hands to slide over the body without causing too much friction.

The relaxing benefits of neck massages should not be underestimated. The neck is a prime area for storing tension. Massaging your neck is very easy and you efficiently relieve the tension with some very simple techniques. Apply lotion to your hands, and work the neck and shoulder muscles.

Trigger point therapy, or neuromuscular therapy works best when the concentrated pressure is put on certain trigger points. The trigger points are the muscular areas that feel lumpy. These parts of the body can cause a lot of pain in not only that particular place but all over the body. The pressure put on these areas relaxes the muscles which relieves the pain.

Whenever performing a message, try to use slower movements for a soother and calming affect. As you increase pressure through the thumb or fingers, support them through the use of your other fingers to prevent them from tiring. Using your weight can help you from becoming tired.

Training to become a massage therapist takes time. Start small, practicing on people you know. Once you get better, move on to others.

Do not neglect the hands and feet when you massage someone. These often forgotten areas are essential to total relaxation. When you are massaging these areas, try to be as firm as possible to loosen up the muscles.

When you are using creams for your massage, incorporate some that have a minty scent. Mint is something that can smooth out and soothe skin while providing a relaxing smell which is what you want when giving a massage. Whenever possible, buy high quality products that keep the skin moisturized always.

Anyone will agree that a massage is beneficial. It is necessary to thoroughly understand the process of massage in order to make the most of its health benefits. Hopefully, you\’re now ready to get started.

All the many specifics to keep in mind that come with porn videos might be enough to cause a serious headache. The fastest way to have great results, similar to all goals you set in your life, is to produce a formidable determination that you are about to successfully reach the results you would like. Your route next is going to be less of a challenge as you advance and crush your responsibilities one by one as you travel towards your primary objective. Isn\’t it quick to comprehend that this is

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Iran’s morality police crack down on un-Islamic dress

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The Iranian police forces have faced criticism from Ayatollah Hashemi Shahrudi, the head of the judiciary who was appointed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for their re-invigorated campaign to do away with un-Islamic dress.

Ayatollah Shahroudi proclaimed, “Tough measures on social problems will backfire and have counter-productive effects.” Others have, of course, made it clear that un-Islamic dress can lead to moral corruption, engender innumerable vices, and hurt the Islamic character of the nation.

Some believe that no one had any issue with the creation of an Islamic atmosphere. The core of the matter revolves around the implementation of the Islamic dress code; additionally, heavy-handed measures should be shunned. For instance, Mehdi Ahmadi, information head of Tehran’s police, told Al Jazeera: “Some citizens may complain about the way the law is being enforced but they all agree with the plan itself.”

According to one student, “You simply can’t tell people what to wear. They don’t understand that use of force only brings hatred towards them, not love.” Nevertheless, Hojatoll-Islam Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, Iran’s interior minister who is in charge of policing, prognosticated positive feedback from the populace when he said, “People are unhappy with the social and moral status of the society. They expect that the fight against social insecurity be properly implemented.” Thus, Hujjat al-Islam Pour-Mohammadi re-iterated the necessity of proper implementation and methodology towards the restoration of morality in the Islamic Republic. Islamic officials and religious people affirm that this is indispensable to promote righteousness, curb sin, and bring open sinners to justice.

Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, hijab became mandatory in Iran for every woman including foreigners after over 98% of citizens voted for an Islamic government. Women may face caning up to 74 strokes for failing to observe hijab. In this recent crackdown, the authorities have arrested many citizens throughout the country. Not only have women been taken into custody for their hair being uncovered on their foreheads and tight clothes that show body shapes, For men they need to cover from knee to their waist as according to Sharia. Even a foreign journalist was detained because the photograph on her press card was indecent.

It has not been clear whence the directive for the re-newed clampdown emanated. Some have blamed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while Gholam Hossein Elham, the government spokesman, stated to reporters, “The police work as agents of the judiciary to confront crimes. The government as an executive body does not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary.” The following pre-election speech seems to corroborate this latter statement:

“ In reality, is the problem of our people the shape of the hair of our children? Let our children arrange their hair any way they wish. It doesn’t concern me and you. Let you and me overhaul the basic problems of the nation. The government should fix the economy of the nation and improve its atmosphere…[It should] better psychological security and support the people. People have variegated tastes. As if now the arch obstacle of our nation is the arrangement of our kids’ hair and the government disallowing them <He chuckles>. Is this the government’s responsibility? Is this the people’s merit? In actuality, this is the denigration of our people. Why do you underestimate and belittle the people? It is the real issue of our nation that one of our daughters donned a certain dress? Is this the issue of our nation and the problem of our nation? ”
Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Iran%27s_morality_police_crack_down_on_un-Islamic_dress&oldid=4558895”

Iran’s morality police crack down on un-Islamic dress

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The Iranian police forces have faced criticism from Ayatollah Hashemi Shahrudi, the head of the judiciary who was appointed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for their re-invigorated campaign to do away with un-Islamic dress.

Ayatollah Shahroudi proclaimed, “Tough measures on social problems will backfire and have counter-productive effects.” Others have, of course, made it clear that un-Islamic dress can lead to moral corruption, engender innumerable vices, and hurt the Islamic character of the nation.

Some believe that no one had any issue with the creation of an Islamic atmosphere. The core of the matter revolves around the implementation of the Islamic dress code; additionally, heavy-handed measures should be shunned. For instance, Mehdi Ahmadi, information head of Tehran’s police, told Al Jazeera: “Some citizens may complain about the way the law is being enforced but they all agree with the plan itself.”

According to one student, “You simply can’t tell people what to wear. They don’t understand that use of force only brings hatred towards them, not love.” Nevertheless, Hojatoll-Islam Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, Iran’s interior minister who is in charge of policing, prognosticated positive feedback from the populace when he said, “People are unhappy with the social and moral status of the society. They expect that the fight against social insecurity be properly implemented.” Thus, Hujjat al-Islam Pour-Mohammadi re-iterated the necessity of proper implementation and methodology towards the restoration of morality in the Islamic Republic. Islamic officials and religious people affirm that this is indispensable to promote righteousness, curb sin, and bring open sinners to justice.

Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, hijab became mandatory in Iran for every woman including foreigners after over 98% of citizens voted for an Islamic government. Women may face caning up to 74 strokes for failing to observe hijab. In this recent crackdown, the authorities have arrested many citizens throughout the country. Not only have women been taken into custody for their hair being uncovered on their foreheads and tight clothes that show body shapes, For men they need to cover from knee to their waist as according to Sharia. Even a foreign journalist was detained because the photograph on her press card was indecent.

It has not been clear whence the directive for the re-newed clampdown emanated. Some have blamed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while Gholam Hossein Elham, the government spokesman, stated to reporters, “The police work as agents of the judiciary to confront crimes. The government as an executive body does not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary.” The following pre-election speech seems to corroborate this latter statement:

“ In reality, is the problem of our people the shape of the hair of our children? Let our children arrange their hair any way they wish. It doesn’t concern me and you. Let you and me overhaul the basic problems of the nation. The government should fix the economy of the nation and improve its atmosphere…[It should] better psychological security and support the people. People have variegated tastes. As if now the arch obstacle of our nation is the arrangement of our kids’ hair and the government disallowing them <He chuckles>. Is this the government’s responsibility? Is this the people’s merit? In actuality, this is the denigration of our people. Why do you underestimate and belittle the people? It is the real issue of our nation that one of our daughters donned a certain dress? Is this the issue of our nation and the problem of our nation? ”
Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Iran%27s_morality_police_crack_down_on_un-Islamic_dress&oldid=4558895”

Iran’s morality police crack down on un-Islamic dress

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

The Iranian police forces have faced criticism from Ayatollah Hashemi Shahrudi, the head of the judiciary who was appointed by Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, for their re-invigorated campaign to do away with un-Islamic dress.

Ayatollah Shahroudi proclaimed, “Tough measures on social problems will backfire and have counter-productive effects.” Others have, of course, made it clear that un-Islamic dress can lead to moral corruption, engender innumerable vices, and hurt the Islamic character of the nation.

Some believe that no one had any issue with the creation of an Islamic atmosphere. The core of the matter revolves around the implementation of the Islamic dress code; additionally, heavy-handed measures should be shunned. For instance, Mehdi Ahmadi, information head of Tehran’s police, told Al Jazeera: “Some citizens may complain about the way the law is being enforced but they all agree with the plan itself.”

According to one student, “You simply can’t tell people what to wear. They don’t understand that use of force only brings hatred towards them, not love.” Nevertheless, Hojatoll-Islam Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, Iran’s interior minister who is in charge of policing, prognosticated positive feedback from the populace when he said, “People are unhappy with the social and moral status of the society. They expect that the fight against social insecurity be properly implemented.” Thus, Hujjat al-Islam Pour-Mohammadi re-iterated the necessity of proper implementation and methodology towards the restoration of morality in the Islamic Republic. Islamic officials and religious people affirm that this is indispensable to promote righteousness, curb sin, and bring open sinners to justice.

Following the Islamic Revolution in 1979, hijab became mandatory in Iran for every woman including foreigners after over 98% of citizens voted for an Islamic government. Women may face caning up to 74 strokes for failing to observe hijab. In this recent crackdown, the authorities have arrested many citizens throughout the country. Not only have women been taken into custody for their hair being uncovered on their foreheads and tight clothes that show body shapes, For men they need to cover from knee to their waist as according to Sharia. Even a foreign journalist was detained because the photograph on her press card was indecent.

It has not been clear whence the directive for the re-newed clampdown emanated. Some have blamed Mahmoud Ahmadinejad while Gholam Hossein Elham, the government spokesman, stated to reporters, “The police work as agents of the judiciary to confront crimes. The government as an executive body does not interfere in the affairs of the judiciary.” The following pre-election speech seems to corroborate this latter statement:

“ In reality, is the problem of our people the shape of the hair of our children? Let our children arrange their hair any way they wish. It doesn’t concern me and you. Let you and me overhaul the basic problems of the nation. The government should fix the economy of the nation and improve its atmosphere…[It should] better psychological security and support the people. People have variegated tastes. As if now the arch obstacle of our nation is the arrangement of our kids’ hair and the government disallowing them <He chuckles>. Is this the government’s responsibility? Is this the people’s merit? In actuality, this is the denigration of our people. Why do you underestimate and belittle the people? It is the real issue of our nation that one of our daughters donned a certain dress? Is this the issue of our nation and the problem of our nation? ”
Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Iran%27s_morality_police_crack_down_on_un-Islamic_dress&oldid=4558895”