The most beautiful Kaya Scodelario looked in "The Gentlemen". And the overall scene is something that can actually be so personal. Him seeking her out. Like ending episode 6 thinking mom and dad (mum and dad) are going to war with each other...and then this...and then still the last two episodes being a roller coaster of whether or not they are going to be the literal death of one another. I have never had so much Good Stress from a ship that was Bad Stress when I was actually going through it. I aged and greyed so much through parts of this show, my poor heart.

To me, they have this low-key Bruce Wayne x Selina Kyle dynamic (sooooo, Bobby Glass would be Carmine Falcone? I can work with that), which, given how BatCat is one of my lifelong OTPs, I am sure subconsciously pulled me in. Like posh boy that can get down and dirty (so his ski mask era would be his Batman era 😅😂 "We're not criminals, Freddy"), however much he sees himself holding a higher moral ground over the underworld he must move through. And working-class girl, street smarts, that can no less look "elegant and stylish" and navigate the upper echelons; but at the end of the day is who she is and matter-of-factly💋💋💋💋a career criminal. (Kaya honestly even works as a face claim for Selina though her eyes may be closer to blue than green. I mean, the Gunnverse has to cast a Catwoman eventually, depending on the age range of their Batman... I will just leave this here for you for free, James.)

And then Princess Roseanne, the Countess of Tournai, would be Talia Al-Ghul especially when Susie lets slip some jealous vibes towards her (made me think of Anne Hathaway's snark about Marion Cotillard in the last Nolanverse film...the characters, not the actresses). Though ultimately I do see Eddie and Princess Roseanne as Just Friends and no conflict in that direction unless further miscommunication. (So much Misunderstanding Drama in this series and between OTP. When a good romantic comedy is not a romantic comedy; or even entirely a comedy.)

But really it comes down to their having such an *easy partnership*, naturally yielding to one another when it comes to it. The way Susie has her way about things -- most notably when she invites herself to meet Stanley Johnston -- and Eddie smoothly submits to her without in any way seeming whipped. Like their actions are always in agreement, even when their words are not. Those two are more married than most married folks I have seen on screen. Should have blacked out in Nevada than on the estate.

(Also, gotta love how she has him saved in her phone as "The Duke". Like forget Bridgerton...I would watch an entire season of TheoKaya going at each other in, Bridgerton ways. As it stands with this though, I could see how the greater artistic choice might be to just make this a stand-alone, but I would be greedy for any subsequent season. This is already technically an expansion on a film -- that I have yet to see -- so Guy Ritchie does not mind a revisit. I could use any more of these 2 families who fully drive the story of this world.)

B, O and Z for the mannerisms ask game and 9,22, 26 and 38 for the otp ask game. Whichever character you prefer but you do know which are my faves... I don't mind though! I love reading whatever you write. ❤️

B. Bold: Does your character mock other people nonverbally? Have they ever gotten in trouble for making a sarcastic facial expression?

Loki: Absolutely, constantly, and starting from the tender age of 'can make facial expressions'. Loki's expression and body language can be so subtle that sometimes only his brother knew what he was saying. A thousand years of refined sarcasm.

Any Riddler: Oh yes, in fact, they are well known for it. No matter how well behaved, all of them have an attitude, and even sweet, darling YJ knows how to roll an eye at the most devastating moment. Swag and Puzzles are even willing to turn it on Family, though often for very different reasons. They all used to get into trouble for it a lot as children. It is a universal constant that all Riddlers fathers were massive pieces of shit.

Helix: She'll read the room first. Mostly she would only do it as a 'joke' that the target could also laugh at.

O. Odd: Does your character tend to make unusual facial expressions, or have unusual speech patterns? Do they do anything that other characters make fun of?

YJ has a noticeable lisp, so you can guess how school went for him. The supervillain scene wasn't much different, but no one in the Family ever brought it up, not even Puzzles. Helix sometimes speaks in the synesthetic impressions that she experiences, and others often find it confusing, nonsensical, or pretentious. Narci's voice is very light and airy, and many people think he's faking it, but he's not. When the demon Lust is hiding inside Nash's body, he will change Nash's eyes to bright blue, and turn his head aside to let others know that he is speaking instead of Nash, which people tend to find extremely disconcerting. Being mostly non-powered costumed villains that are more nerd than brawn, they all have had others make fun of them-the bullying scene among villains is fierce and sometimes deadly. They tend to give what they get though.

Most of the younger and some of the newer Riddlers had bad reactions to Swag, not liking what he represented, and the less socially enlightened (especially Puzzles, initially) had difficulty with Detective's refusal to adhere to gender norms, but they all damn well got over it.

Z. Zest: How much does your character use movement to express their feelings? Do they jump up and down with excitement, or do they keep it to a slight smile?

Loki has great control over his body language, so any movement-or lack of movement-is purposeful. How much or how little depends on what he feels will have the greatest impact on the moment.

Helix is neurodivergent, though she was never able to get diagnosed on her Earth, and doesn't really know. She bounces, sways, dances in place. Her 'standing still' looks like a fighting game characters idle animation. She is nearly always in motion.

Swag gestures like an Italian. Unswag does too, though slightly more reserved.

Detective prefers large, elegant movements. Arkham moves slowly and precisely, like a snake.

Puzzles and Prince gesture aggressively, whether being aggressive or not. Nash makes small movements, but YJ puts his whole body into it.

Narci moves gently and fluidly, but post return he is unnaturally still.

9 What are their thoughts on having children?

There is a conflict brewing in Lasabrjotr. Loki wants children, Reader absolutely does not.

Between Swag, Unswag, and Helix, they have agreed that there will be none. The twins don't believe themselves to be capable parents, and Helix already has a child and a semi-adult ward. That's plenty for her.

Detective really did want children, and so they adopted every Riddler they found that was younger than them. YJ also would like kids one day, but, like Swag, feels like he wouldn't be a capable parent. Unlike Swag, he is wrong. None of the rest of them are really interested, though Arkham has accepted the role of father of the Family. His idea of fatherhood is a very twisted thing.

22 What reminds each of their partner?

It may be a little cliche, but the color green and the scent of cinnamon for Lasa!reader and Loki.

The sight of spirals and any plant brings Helix up to Swag, as well as the scent of vanilla and cloves. For Unswag, the mention of magic, and the feeling of using his special sight. For Helix, question marks of course, but also certain genres of music, the taste of pomegranates mixed with chocolate, and the specific feel of their world.

26 What are their vices?

Loki is really into revenge. Maybe a little too much, he needs to reel it back. Also pride, which I remind you, is not the same as self confidence.

Name a vice, Swag's got it. However, he does go to great lengths to control his anger, so perhaps wrath is the weakest among them. Lust is his most prevalent vice, and not just sexual. Swag likes to indulge in practically anything, a hedonist by philosophy, and an ethical hedonist later on. Unswag is much less extreme, but more given to anger. Helix is softer, but also prone to lust in many of its forms, as well as hubris. Not quite the same as pride, but still dangerous.

Even though Nash is the host and lover to the Anthropomorphic Personification of the Deadly Sin of Lust, he is instead deeply affected by wrath. Nash can become consumed by rage and vengefulness very quickly and holds many grudges.

38 Who is more sexually experimental? Who's more vanilla?

Okay so. Loki is extremely flexible. He could do anything, but also would be happy with vanilla missionary for the rest of time, because what he actually craves is the intimacy and the validation. Lasa!reader has just a touch of a top about her.

Swag is the kinkiest motherfucker you'll ever meet, though even he has limits. He also tailors himself to his partners needs, but likes to take himself to extremes, if allowed. He's encouraging but not pushy. Unswag, while he has memories of Swags experience, doesn't have that experience himself, and doesn't like many of the things Swag does. He's not as submissive as Swag can be, but often lets Swag lead encounters, due to that inexperience, and also due to his fear/hunger for Helix. Helix is somewhere in the middle. Not inexperienced, but just hasn't tried many things. She's curious though, and willing to try some things.

Puzzles and Arkham are pretty into pain. Bruises, burns, bitemarks and blood, but nothing permanent.

Nash is young and inexperienced, and not experimental at all. Lust is very ambiguous in age and, well, he's Lust. He knows how to do everything. He is also a demon, sort of, and dreams of seeing Nash grow into a being akin to himself. It's a little dark perhaps, but that's the situation.

You know I have to

Choose between the cat husbands for me XD

SCAR

Oh yes, the overgrown lap cat

   favorite thing about them.

Just how dramatic and ruthless he is, just the kind of villain I love! Those refined moves and phrases and how he is all “scheme big or go home”.

Even on his introduction you can see that he’s all about the drama and has no interest on anyone besides himself.

 least favorite thing about them

Can’t really point something worth mentioning right now.

 favorite line

“Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share, but when it comes to brute strength... I believe I am at the shallow end of the gene pool...”

This quote is, in my opinion, the perfect just a summary of Scar’s character.  The pun, the passive aggressiveness and the high image he has of himself combined with the self-pity he hold onto.

 brOTP

A certain anon (you know who you are)  gave me the idea of him being friends with Maleficent so now that headcanon lives in my head rent free.

I also like the idea of Scar and Ratigan being friends. I imagine a scene where Scar attempted to eat Ratigan and gave him the whole “life’s not fair” monologue until the rat started talking, and what started as a murder attempt quickly became a conversation about their shared ambition to become rulers.

 OTP

Shere Khan x Scar is by far one of my favorites ships thanks to a certain mutual.

I’m a sucker for the whole “badass old marriage” dynamic where they are both fed up with the world but still love each other deeply and would kick ass together.

Also Scar x Zira will never get old for me cuz like, they are an evil power couple and I’m weak for that shiz

 nOTP

If I have to be completely honest it would be Nala x Scar, specially after that certain interview in which it was revealed that she may or may not be Scar or Mufasa’s child. I know they are animals and that incest is not that weird among them, but still leaves me a bit uneasy.

  random headcanon

Imma steal this one from @disneybutmakeitgayadults and say that he’s blind of his left eye and has problems with perception, which puts him in even more of a disadvantage when hunting or fighting.

 unpopular opinion

Don’t have one, I think…

 song i associate with them

Panic! At the Disco – Emperor’s New Clothes

 favorite picture of them

Me pretending to be asleep so my little cousin leaves me alone-

The Buying Middle That Is a Know-how Testing Middle

http://tinyurl.com/yyyzfuyn A shopping mall on the fringes of Ljubljana, Slovenia resembles these in just about any European metropolis. However it’s completely different in a single important approach: BTC Metropolis, as the event is known as, is a part of an experiment geared toward altering how we dwell.  The 117-acre agglomeration of retailers, eating places, workplace buildings, a movie show, and waterpark, homes an enormous community of sensors and video cameras. The purpose is for the 18-month previous growth to function a testing floor for emerging technology.  AV Residing Lab, the identify for the digital ecosystem, has managed 30 assessments inside the purchasing heart for firms comparable to Google and Toyota which might be hoping to create cutting-edge expertise. However to take action, they need to perceive how actual individuals go about their day by day lives.  Every time guests use the parking zone, purchase a sandwich at a meals cart, or hit the fitness center, an in depth digital monitoring system collects the info and crunches it so that companies can check and refine their expertise.   The broad city experiment, owned by the Slovenian actual property conglomerate BTC Group, attracts companies from sectors together with vitality, retail, and banking. It fees firms cash for entry to its digital infrastructure and real-time viewers.  Despite the fact that the AV Residing Lab follows the European Union’s stringent privacy regulations, most guests aren’t conscious they’re serving as lab rats for a large-scale experiment. For app-based expertise, prospects should opt-in earlier than the lab collects private information. Knowledge on visitors patterns and pedestrian density, for instance, is anonymized on the supply.  “Up to now, analysis and growth might have taken place behind closed doorways,” stated AV Residing Lab chief expertise officer Radovan Sernec, “whereas in the present day, it’s clear that options have to be examined in a dwelling setting as quickly as potential.”  The AV Residing Lab in Ljubljana, Slovenia The thought of a contained digital infrastructure inside metropolis limits shouldn’t be distinctive to Slovenia. London’s Good Mobility Residing Lab and Barcelona Good Metropolis have incubated transportation and IoT expertise for a number of years.  In the meantime, Sidewalk Labs, owned by Google’s mum or dad firm Alphabet, is constructing a 12-acre, sensor-laden smart neighborhood on Toronto’s waterfront. The mission will deal with transportation, housing, and different challenges going through rising cities.   In fact, among the initiatives have prompted backlash as firms lengthen their affect offline. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is suing three ranges of presidency over Sidewalk Labs’ plans, arguing that the info could possibly be used to focus on promoting and affect votes. With regards to privateness in sensible cities, “there may be none,” stated Anthony Townsend, a New York-based city planner. “Persons are guinea pigs getting used to judge the marketplace for new applied sciences.” The European Union carried out sweeping privateness reforms final 12 months to regulate how residents’ private data can be utilized. Firms are required to acquire permission from customers earlier than gathering information, a transfer that will “make the EU a greater place for privateness safety however will increase the price of testing,” Townsend stated. At Ljubljana’s AV Residing Lab, the method is “rigorously managed on a case-per-case foundation,” stated Daniel Avdagič, the mission’s chief government. Getting approval on-line when customers obtain an app is simple. But when an organization needs to make use of CCTV footage, “they would want to cease everybody within the space and ask for permission,” he stated, acknowledging that it will take a great deal of manpower to safe permission from each pedestrian within the related footage. “It hasn’t occurred but, however that course of could be painful, pricey, and time-consuming.” For now, most firms establishing store at AV Residing Lab use cell apps and sensors to check their expertise shortly. The realm’s monitored options embrace 8,500 parking areas, 22 electrical vehicle-charging stations, a free shuttle bus, and stations for car-sharing and bicycle leases.  Practically 54,000 individuals go to the purchasing heart day by day. Every day, about 38,000 automobiles drive its 6.Eight miles of roads and greater than a dozen roundabouts, a visitors system essential to testing autonomous autos.  That’s sufficient to persuade one of many world’s largest automakers, Toyota, to conduct a rideshare experiment to place to make use of among the 90% of autos that stay parked in the course of the work day. The knowledge collected on how staff and purchasing heart goers use the automobiles will make clear how you can value rideshares and right-size fleets.  “We have now buildings, roads, and folks,” stated Avdagič. “We have now all the pieces a metropolis has.” The event advantages from its location in Central Europe, too. The four-season local weather permits firms to check their expertise and observe client conduct throughout a variety of difficult climate situations like fog and snow, which might wreak havoc on sensors’ potential to learn infrastructure.  One 12 months into the mission, BTC is aggressively recruiting firms worldwide, touting time and value financial savings. For instance, Avdagič stated a fundamental experiment can begin at $25,000 and run for a month. The AV Residing Lab is nimble sufficient to implement pilots inside days however massive sufficient to draw 20 million guests yearly together with worldwide tenants together with Microsoft and Novo Nordisk. “We’re like a Disneyland for proofs of idea, and engineers like it,” Avdagič stated. “They’re from a number of industries and firms, to allow them to study from one another and accomplice.” In the meantime, the dwelling lab format requires companies to sacrifice privateness, too. Lengthy used to guarding their proprietary expertise, firms should now collaborate to realize a foothold within the “passenger” economic system, which Intel initiatives to be value $7 trillion by 2050. The time period includes the multitude of mobility providers, from rideshare to leisure, arising from the driverless future. A number of of the area’s check instances are joint ventures. Budapest-based OTP Financial institution and Liberbank in Madrid partnered to launch the “Pay with a Smile” mission. The fintech pilot makes use of facial recognition for BTC Metropolis guests who need to purchase an ice cream on the waterpark or bottled water on the tennis complicated however left their wallets behind within the locker room. Customers register by means of an app that hyperlinks their faces with their financial institution accounts. A tool on the register then scans their faces and transfers funds from their financial institution to the store. Moreover, the Japanese authorities joined forces with Hitachi on Slovenian soil to seek out methods to handle vitality storage to energy electrical autos and the purchasing heart itself. The vitality collected from the grid is saved in batteries to be put in within the ecosystem.  However some firms proceed to work alone. Daimler is creating a product that lets customers earn factors for visiting the fitness center and redeem them for ride- and bike-share providers. BTC developed its personal pilot to redistribute scorching air generated from a close-by manufacturing facility to warmth the waterpark.   The outcomes additionally let firms know when they should return to the drafting board. Navya, a French autonomous car firm, piloted its self-driving automobiles inside BTC Metropolis earlier than discovering that the expertise isn’t prepared for real-world situations. Within the meantime, it would use the expertise for airport and resort shuttles.  Automotive provider Hella is having extra success, testing the sound and lightweight alerts that finest permit autonomous autos to broadcast their intent to pedestrians within the crosswalk. Their facial expressions are captured utilizing a digicam embedded within the automobile and analyzed to show driverless automobiles how you can talk.  Mentioned Avdagič, “Whenever you put plenty of sensible individuals in a small nation, magic occurs.” Source link

The Shopping Center That Is a Technology Testing Center

A shopping center on the fringes of Ljubljana, Slovenia resembles those in virtually any European city. But it’s different in one significant way: BTC City, as the development is called, is part of an experiment aimed at changing how we live. 

The 117-acre agglomeration of shops, restaurants, office buildings, a movie theater, and waterpark, houses a huge network of sensors and video cameras. The point is for the 18-month old development to serve as a testing ground for emerging technology. 

AV Living Lab, the name for the digital ecosystem, has managed 30 tests within the shopping center for companies such as Google and Toyota that are hoping to create cutting-edge technology. But to do so, they must understand how real people go about their daily lives. 

Each time visitors use the parking lot, buy a sandwich at a food cart, or hit the gym, an extensive digital monitoring system collects the data and crunches it so that businesses can test and refine their technology.  

The broad urban experiment, owned by the Slovenian real estate conglomerate BTC Group, attracts businesses from sectors including energy, retail, and banking. It charges companies money for access to its digital infrastructure and real-time audience. 

Even though the AV Living Lab follows the European Union’s stringent privacy regulations, most visitors aren’t aware they’re serving as lab rats for a large-scale experiment. For app-based technology, customers must opt-in before the lab collects personal data. Data on traffic patterns and pedestrian density, for example, is anonymized at the source. 

“In the past, research and development may have taken place behind closed doors,” said AV Living Lab chief technology officer Radovan Sernec, “whereas today, it is clear that solutions must be tested in a living environment as soon as possible.” 

The AV Living Lab in Ljubljana, Slovenia

The idea of a contained digital infrastructure within city limits is not unique to Slovenia. London’s Smart Mobility Living Lab and Barcelona Smart City have incubated transportation and IoT technology for several years. 

Meanwhile, Sidewalk Labs, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, is building a 12-acre, sensor-laden smart neighborhood on Toronto’s waterfront. The project will tackle transportation, housing, and other challenges facing growing cities.

Of course, some of the projects have prompted backlash as companies extend their influence offline. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is suing three levels of government over Sidewalk Labs’ plans, arguing that the data could be used to target advertising and influence votes.

When it comes to privacy in smart cities, “there is none,” said Anthony Townsend, a New York-based urban planner. “People are guinea pigs being used to evaluate the market for new technologies.”

The European Union implemented sweeping privacy reforms last year to control how residents’ personal information can be used. Companies are required to obtain permission from users before collecting data, a move that will “make the EU a better place for privacy protection but will raise the cost of testing,” Townsend said.

At Ljubljana’s AV Living Lab, the process is “carefully managed on a case-per-case basis,” said Daniel Avdagič, the project’s chief executive. Getting approval online when users download an app is straightforward. But if a company wants to use CCTV footage, “they would need to stop everyone in the area and ask for permission,” he said, acknowledging that it would take a good deal of manpower to secure permission from every pedestrian in the relevant footage. “It hasn’t happened yet, but that process would be painful, costly, and time-consuming.”

For now, most companies setting up shop at AV Living Lab use mobile apps and sensors to test their technology quickly. The area’s monitored features include 8,500 parking spaces, 22 electric vehicle-charging stations, a free shuttle bus, and stations for car-sharing and bicycle rentals. 

Nearly 54,000 people visit the shopping center daily. Each day, about 38,000 cars drive its 6.8 miles of roads and more than a dozen roundabouts, a traffic device crucial to testing autonomous vehicles. 

That’s enough to convince one of the world’s largest automakers, Toyota, to conduct a rideshare experiment to put to use some of the 90% of vehicles that remain parked during the work day. The information collected on how workers and shopping center goers use the cars will shed light on how to price rideshares and right-size fleets. 

“We have buildings, roads, and people,” said Avdagič. “We have everything a city has.”

The development benefits from its location in Central Europe, too. The four-season climate allows companies to test their technology and observe consumer behavior across a range of challenging weather conditions like fog and snow, which can wreak havoc on sensors’ ability to read infrastructure. 

One year into the project, BTC is aggressively recruiting companies worldwide, touting time and cost savings. For example, Avdagič said a basic experiment can start at $25,000 and run for a month. The AV Living Lab is nimble enough to implement pilots within days but large enough to attract 20 million visitors annually along with international tenants including Microsoft and Novo Nordisk.

“We are like a Disneyland for proofs of concept, and engineers love it,” Avdagič said. “They are from multiple industries and companies, so they can learn from each other and partner.”

Meanwhile, the living lab format requires corporations to sacrifice privacy, too. Long used to guarding their proprietary technology, companies must now collaborate to gain a foothold in the “passenger” economy, which Intel projects to be worth $7 trillion by 2050. The term comprises the multitude of mobility services, from rideshare to entertainment, arising from the driverless future.

Several of the region’s test cases are joint ventures. Budapest-based OTP Bank and Liberbank in Madrid partnered to launch the “Pay with a Smile” project. The fintech pilot uses facial recognition for BTC City visitors who want to buy an ice cream at the waterpark or bottled water at the tennis complex but left their wallets behind in the locker room. Users register through an app that links their faces with their bank accounts. A device at the register then scans their faces and transfers funds from their bank to the shop.

Additionally, the Japanese government joined forces with Hitachi on Slovenian soil to find ways to manage energy storage to power electric vehicles and the shopping center itself. The energy collected from the grid is stored in batteries to be installed in the ecosystem. 

But some companies continue to work alone. Daimler is developing a product that lets users earn points for visiting the gym and redeem them for ride- and bike-share services. BTC developed its own pilot to redistribute hot air generated from a nearby factory to heat the waterpark.  

The results also let companies know when they need to return to the drawing board. Navya, a French autonomous vehicle company, piloted its self-driving cars within BTC City before finding that the technology isn’t ready for real-world conditions. In the meantime, it will use the technology for airport and hotel shuttles. 

Automotive supplier Hella is having more success, testing the sound and light signals that best allow autonomous vehicles to broadcast their intent to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Their facial expressions are captured using a camera embedded in the car and analyzed to teach driverless cars how to communicate. 

Said Avdagič, “When you put a lot of smart people in a small country, magic happens.”

Credit: Source link

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The Shopping Center That Is a Technology Testing Center

A shopping center on the fringes of Ljubljana, Slovenia resembles those in virtually any European city. But it’s different in one significant way: BTC City, as the development is called, is part of an experiment aimed at changing how we live. 

The 117-acre agglomeration of shops, restaurants, office buildings, a movie theater, and waterpark, houses a huge network of sensors and video cameras. The point is for the 18-month old development to serve as a testing ground for emerging technology. 

AV Living Lab, the name for the digital ecosystem, has managed 30 tests within the shopping center for companies such as Google and Toyota that are hoping to create cutting-edge technology. But to do so, they must understand how real people go about their daily lives. 

Each time visitors use the parking lot, buy a sandwich at a food cart, or hit the gym, an extensive digital monitoring system collects the data and crunches it so that businesses can test and refine their technology.  

The broad urban experiment, owned by the Slovenian real estate conglomerate BTC Group, attracts businesses from sectors including energy, retail, and banking. It charges companies money for access to its digital infrastructure and real-time audience. 

Even though the AV Living Lab follows the European Union’s stringent privacy regulations, most visitors aren’t aware they’re serving as lab rats for a large-scale experiment. For app-based technology, customers must opt-in before the lab collects personal data. Data on traffic patterns and pedestrian density, for example, is anonymized at the source. 

“In the past, research and development may have taken place behind closed doors,” said AV Living Lab chief technology officer Radovan Sernec, “whereas today, it is clear that solutions must be tested in a living environment as soon as possible.” 

The AV Living Lab in Ljubljana, Slovenia

The idea of a contained digital infrastructure within city limits is not unique to Slovenia. London’s Smart Mobility Living Lab and Barcelona Smart City have incubated transportation and IoT technology for several years. 

Meanwhile, Sidewalk Labs, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, is building a 12-acre, sensor-laden smart neighborhood on Toronto’s waterfront. The project will tackle transportation, housing, and other challenges facing growing cities.

Of course, some of the projects have prompted backlash as companies extend their influence offline. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is suing three levels of government over Sidewalk Labs’ plans, arguing that the data could be used to target advertising and influence votes.

When it comes to privacy in smart cities, “there is none,” said Anthony Townsend, a New York-based urban planner. “People are guinea pigs being used to evaluate the market for new technologies.”

The European Union implemented sweeping privacy reforms last year to control how residents’ personal information can be used. Companies are required to obtain permission from users before collecting data, a move that will “make the EU a better place for privacy protection but will raise the cost of testing,” Townsend said.

At Ljubljana’s AV Living Lab, the process is “carefully managed on a case-per-case basis,” said Daniel Avdagič, the project’s chief executive. Getting approval online when users download an app is straightforward. But if a company wants to use CCTV footage, “they would need to stop everyone in the area and ask for permission,” he said, acknowledging that it would take a good deal of manpower to secure permission from every pedestrian in the relevant footage. “It hasn’t happened yet, but that process would be painful, costly, and time-consuming.”

For now, most companies setting up shop at AV Living Lab use mobile apps and sensors to test their technology quickly. The area’s monitored features include 8,500 parking spaces, 22 electric vehicle-charging stations, a free shuttle bus, and stations for car-sharing and bicycle rentals. 

Nearly 54,000 people visit the shopping center daily. Each day, about 38,000 cars drive its 6.8 miles of roads and more than a dozen roundabouts, a traffic device crucial to testing autonomous vehicles. 

That’s enough to convince one of the world’s largest automakers, Toyota, to conduct a rideshare experiment to put to use some of the 90% of vehicles that remain parked during the work day. The information collected on how workers and shopping center goers use the cars will shed light on how to price rideshares and right-size fleets. 

“We have buildings, roads, and people,” said Avdagič. “We have everything a city has.”

The development benefits from its location in Central Europe, too. The four-season climate allows companies to test their technology and observe consumer behavior across a range of challenging weather conditions like fog and snow, which can wreak havoc on sensors’ ability to read infrastructure. 

One year into the project, BTC is aggressively recruiting companies worldwide, touting time and cost savings. For example, Avdagič said a basic experiment can start at $25,000 and run for a month. The AV Living Lab is nimble enough to implement pilots within days but large enough to attract 20 million visitors annually along with international tenants including Microsoft and Novo Nordisk.

“We are like a Disneyland for proofs of concept, and engineers love it,” Avdagič said. “They are from multiple industries and companies, so they can learn from each other and partner.”

Meanwhile, the living lab format requires corporations to sacrifice privacy, too. Long used to guarding their proprietary technology, companies must now collaborate to gain a foothold in the “passenger” economy, which Intel projects to be worth $7 trillion by 2050. The term comprises the multitude of mobility services, from rideshare to entertainment, arising from the driverless future.

Several of the region’s test cases are joint ventures. Budapest-based OTP Bank and Liberbank in Madrid partnered to launch the “Pay with a Smile” project. The fintech pilot uses facial recognition for BTC City visitors who want to buy an ice cream at the waterpark or bottled water at the tennis complex but left their wallets behind in the locker room. Users register through an app that links their faces with their bank accounts. A device at the register then scans their faces and transfers funds from their bank to the shop.

Additionally, the Japanese government joined forces with Hitachi on Slovenian soil to find ways to manage energy storage to power electric vehicles and the shopping center itself. The energy collected from the grid is stored in batteries to be installed in the ecosystem. 

But some companies continue to work alone. Daimler is developing a product that lets users earn points for visiting the gym and redeem them for ride- and bike-share services. BTC developed its own pilot to redistribute hot air generated from a nearby factory to heat the waterpark.  

The results also let companies know when they need to return to the drawing board. Navya, a French autonomous vehicle company, piloted its self-driving cars within BTC City before finding that the technology isn’t ready for real-world conditions. In the meantime, it will use the technology for airport and hotel shuttles. 

Automotive supplier Hella is having more success, testing the sound and light signals that best allow autonomous vehicles to broadcast their intent to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Their facial expressions are captured using a camera embedded in the car and analyzed to teach driverless cars how to communicate. 

Said Avdagič, “When you put a lot of smart people in a small country, magic happens.”

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The Shopping Center That Is a Technology Testing Center

A shopping center on the fringes of Ljubljana, Slovenia resembles those in virtually any European city. But it’s different in one significant way: BTC City, as the development is called, is part of an experiment aimed at changing how we live. 

The 117-acre agglomeration of shops, restaurants, office buildings, a movie theater, and waterpark, houses a huge network of sensors and video cameras. The point is for the 18-month old development to serve as a testing ground for emerging technology. 

AV Living Lab, the name for the digital ecosystem, has managed 30 tests within the shopping center for companies such as Google and Toyota that are hoping to create cutting-edge technology. But to do so, they must understand how real people go about their daily lives. 

Each time visitors use the parking lot, buy a sandwich at a food cart, or hit the gym, an extensive digital monitoring system collects the data and crunches it so that businesses can test and refine their technology.  

The broad urban experiment, owned by the Slovenian real estate conglomerate BTC Group, attracts businesses from sectors including energy, retail, and banking. It charges companies money for access to its digital infrastructure and real-time audience. 

Even though the AV Living Lab follows the European Union’s stringent privacy regulations, most visitors aren’t aware they’re serving as lab rats for a large-scale experiment. For app-based technology, customers must opt-in before the lab collects personal data. Data on traffic patterns and pedestrian density, for example, is anonymized at the source. 

“In the past, research and development may have taken place behind closed doors,” said AV Living Lab chief technology officer Radovan Sernec, “whereas today, it is clear that solutions must be tested in a living environment as soon as possible.” 

The AV Living Lab in Ljubljana, Slovenia

The idea of a contained digital infrastructure within city limits is not unique to Slovenia. London’s Smart Mobility Living Lab and Barcelona Smart City have incubated transportation and IoT technology for several years. 

Meanwhile, Sidewalk Labs, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, is building a 12-acre, sensor-laden smart neighborhood on Toronto’s waterfront. The project will tackle transportation, housing, and other challenges facing growing cities.  

Of course, some of the projects have prompted backlash as companies extend their influence offline. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association is suing three levels of government over Sidewalk Labs’ plans, arguing that the data could be used to target advertising and influence votes.

When it comes to privacy in smart cities, “there is none,” said Anthony Townsend, a New York-based urban planner. “People are guinea pigs being used to evaluate the market for new technologies.”

The European Union implemented sweeping privacy reforms last year to control how residents’ personal information can be used. Companies are required to obtain permission from users before collecting data, a move that will “make the EU a better place for privacy protection but will raise the cost of testing,” Townsend said.

At Ljubljana’s AV Living Lab, the process is “carefully managed on a case-per-case basis,” said Daniel Avdagič, the project’s chief executive. Getting approval online when users download an app is straightforward. But if a company wants to use CCTV footage, “they would need to stop everyone in the area and ask for permission,” he said, acknowledging that it would take a good deal of manpower to secure permission from every pedestrian in the relevant footage. “It hasn’t happened yet, but that process would be painful, costly, and time-consuming.”

For now, most companies setting up shop at AV Living Lab use mobile apps and sensors to test their technology quickly. The area’s monitored features include 8,500 parking spaces, 22 electric vehicle-charging stations, a free shuttle bus, and stations for car-sharing and bicycle rentals. 

Nearly 54,000 people visit the shopping center daily. Each day, about 38,000 cars drive its 6.8 miles of roads and more than a dozen roundabouts, a traffic device crucial to testing autonomous vehicles. 

That’s enough to convince one of the world’s largest automakers, Toyota, to conduct a rideshare experiment to put to use some of the 90% of vehicles that remain parked during the work day. The information collected on how workers and shopping center goers use the cars will shed light on how to price rideshares and right-size fleets. 

“We have buildings, roads, and people,” said Avdagič. “We have everything a city has.”

The development benefits from its location in Central Europe, too. The four-season climate allows companies to test their technology and observe consumer behavior across a range of challenging weather conditions like fog and snow, which can wreak havoc on sensors’ ability to read infrastructure. 

One year into the project, BTC is aggressively recruiting companies worldwide, touting time and cost savings. For example, Avdagič said a basic experiment can start at $25,000 and run for a month. The AV Living Lab is nimble enough to implement pilots within days but large enough to attract 20 million visitors annually along with international tenants including Microsoft and Novo Nordisk.

“We are like a Disneyland for proofs of concept, and engineers love it,” Avdagič said. “They are from multiple industries and companies, so they can learn from each other and partner.”

Meanwhile, the living lab format requires corporations to sacrifice privacy, too. Long used to guarding their proprietary technology, companies must now collaborate to gain a foothold in the “passenger” economy, which Intel projects to be worth $7 trillion by 2050. The term comprises the multitude of mobility services, from rideshare to entertainment, arising from the driverless future.

Several of the region’s test cases are joint ventures. Budapest-based OTP Bank and Liberbank in Madrid partnered to launch the “Pay with a Smile” project. The fintech pilot uses facial recognition for BTC City visitors who want to buy an ice cream at the waterpark or bottled water at the tennis complex but left their wallets behind in the locker room. Users register through an app that links their faces with their bank accounts. A device at the register then scans their faces and transfers funds from their bank to the shop.

Additionally, the Japanese government joined forces with Hitachi on Slovenian soil to find ways to manage energy storage to power electric vehicles and the shopping center itself. The energy collected from the grid is stored in batteries to be installed in the ecosystem. 

But some companies continue to work alone. Daimler is developing a product that lets users earn points for visiting the gym and redeem them for ride- and bike-share services. BTC developed its own pilot to redistribute hot air generated from a nearby factory to heat the waterpark.  

The results also let companies know when they need to return to the drawing board. Navya, a French autonomous vehicle company, piloted its self-driving cars within BTC City before finding that the technology isn’t ready for real-world conditions. In the meantime, it will use the technology for airport and hotel shuttles. 

Automotive supplier Hella is having more success, testing the sound and light signals that best allow autonomous vehicles to broadcast their intent to pedestrians in the crosswalk. Their facial expressions are captured using a camera embedded in the car and analyzed to teach driverless cars how to communicate. 

Said Avdagič, “When you put a lot of smart people in a small country, magic happens.”

Credit: Source link

The post The Shopping Center That Is a Technology Testing Center appeared first on WeeklyReviewer.

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...shout-out to the first-ever edit for Eddie x Susie on YouTube (though I maintain the teaser trailer actually gave us our first-ever EdSie song), my favourite kind of fan content for an OTP. I would say between this, the growing notes on posts, and the prospective Discord if anybody wants to help with that, we are well on our way.

Your love is scaring me No one has ever cared for me As much as you do Oooh, yeah, I need you here, oh