Step into the world of AR travel

Travel

A couple on the trip to Rome (Image: iStock) Imagine visiting the Colosseum in Rome and watching gladiators fight, and the crowd cheer. Or, strolling through the gardens in the historical city of Kyoto and experiencing a grand tea ceremony. All but with the help of Augmented Reality (AR). With tech increasingly becoming a part of travel, and travel becoming all about “experiences”, the world of AR is helping to make travelling more immersive by blending the physical and digital worlds.What is Augmented Reality?At its core, AR is a technology that superimposes computer-generated images, sounds, or sensory data into the real world. Unlike Virtual Reality (VR), which immerses users in a completely fabricated environment, AR enhances the physical world, making your surroundings interactive and engaging in real-time. For travel, AR offers travellers an extra layer of engagement with the world around them that can be accessed through apps, and AR glasses.How does AR help in enhancing your travel experience?*Brings historical sites to life with interactive 3D visualisations*Provides navigation aids for visually impaired travellers*Makes travel more engaging and accessible, overcoming challenges faced by tourists*AR apps help travellers understand foreign languages – from menus to street signs through real-time translations(With inputs from Suresh Iyer, co-founder of an AR travel app)AR can instantly translate menus or signboards. We’ve even incorporated accessibility features to guide visually impaired travelers, so they can explore independently and confidentlySuresh Iyer, co-founder, an AR travel appBefore travelling, check if your destination offers AR experiences. Many cities and tourism boards are partnering with AR companies to provide these digital guides and immersive experiencesVani Sharma, a travel experience designerAn AR app helping a tourist navigate (Image: iStock) Here’s what AR apps can help you with:*Navigation*Gettinghistorical insights with the help of a scan*Virtual guides and animated stories*Translation*Capturing and booking travel experiences in 3D, by creating a personalised digital memento of your trip(With inputs from Yashagya Handa, senior engineer, Google Lens, an AR travel app)With AR, you don’t just look at the landmarks, you get to know about the events that made those places significantKanika Verma, digital tourism strategistA mini guide to help you in your next trip*Download AR apps: Popular apps like Google Lens, AR City, and History Here offer interactive maps and

India’s biggest flop film, made for Rs 45 crore earned only Rs 60000, sold just 500 tickets, no OTT platforms released it, lead actors were…

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

These days, the movie budgets are immense. Bollywood is sparing no effort in making films that serve as a visual treat to the masses. Massive budgets are being allotted for stunts, VFX and more with hope that it will yield a great return on investment. Makers today are willing to take the risk and gamble. However, at times, this gamble does not fall through! Not all movies do wonders at the box office. Also Read – ‘All I do is make….’: Malaika Arora’s cryptic video goes viral after Arjun Kapoor confirms breakup
Here’s a discussion over one such movie that failed very badly at the box office. The movie that had a big budget could not even earn a lakh at the box office. Despite a few popular names being the leading stars, the film failed so badly even OTT platforms refused to stream it. Also Read – Arjun Kapoor says Priyanka Chopra was ‘out of league’ for a movie starring him and…
All about Biggest Flop of Bollywood
Arjun Kapoor and Bhumi Pednekar’s movie The Lady Killer is the one that is termed as the Bollywood’s one of the biggest flop films. The film directed by Ajay Bahl released in the year 2023, however, it opened to negative reviews and the impact was seen on its box office numbers. The film’s budget was said to be around Rs 45 crore while its box office collection was Rs 60000. It did not even make a lakh and the film faced a loss of almost 99.99 percent. Reportedly, it only sold 293 tickets on first day and 500 tickets in total. Arjun and Bhumi are both well-known celebrities and have featured in many films yet their popularity could not save The Lady Killer from sinking. The story revolved around a simple man who faced financial crisis. He comes across a woman who loves to be in dangerous situations. Their dangerous romance did not work though! Also Read – Singham Again: Arjun Kapoor got calls from THESE celebs to review his performance, ‘You feel…’

Killer style, killer looks and a killer vibe! Presenting to you @arjunk26 in and as #TheLadyKiller!Directed by #AjayBahl.Produced by #BhushanKumar @ShaaileshRSingh #KrishanKumar
@TSeries @KarmaMediaEnt pic.twitter.com/6htUTimZDP
— T-Series (@TSeries) October 11, 2021

In fact, The Lady Killer did not get any buyer for its OTT release. The film is not available on any OTT platform and the makers finally had to release it on YouTube. It is now available to watch for free.
Well, after a series of flops, Arjun Kapoor has finally tasted success again with the release of Singham Again. He plays the villain and fans loved his antagonist avatar.

What insurance do I need for a home baking business?

Business News

Why do you need home baking insurance?

As a home baking business, there’s always a risk of accidents and damage in the kitchen. But as a customer-facing business that serves food to the public, you’ll also need to be covered for public and product liability should your products or services cause an injury or damage someone’s property.

Home baking insurance coverage

Home baking businesses usually take out one or all of these types of cover:

Employers’ liability insurance – Covers you if an employee becomes ill or injured while working. This is a legal requirement if you employ one or more people.

Product liability insurance – Covers you if someone becomes ill or injured by a product you have supplied e.g. food and drink.

Public liability insurance – This covers you in case your product or service causes injury or damage to a customer or someone who isn’t an employee.

Business contents insurance – Covers any business equipment and tools you have against theft, fire or damage. Check your provider to see if this covers perishable stock such as food and ingredients.

Legal expenses insurance – In case you need to pay legal costs associated with your business.

Personal accident insurance – This protects you (or anyone you name in the policy) in the case of an accident, and covers you both in and out of working hours.

How could home baking insurance protect your business?

Here are a few scenarios where having home baking insurance coverage could come in handy:

A customer getting an allergic reaction to food you’ve served

Your kitchen being broken into and equipment stolen

A client refusing to pay for a wedding cake, causing you to raise a legal case

Choosing a home baking insurance policy

When choosing home baking insurance policies, it’s good to ask yourself:

What types of workers do I employ?  You’ll need to have employers’ liability insurance no matter the type of employees you have, including full/part time, contractors or permanent staff.

Will my business grow in the future?  It’s good to plan for your business growing by getting flexible cover that can grow with you.

Which liability cover limit should I choose?  Make sure you take into consideration the maximum amount your business could lose in terms of public liability and choose a policy that reflects it.

FAQs

What insurance do I need to run my business from home? – If you’re running your business from home, you’ll still need many of the same types of insurance. Business contents insurance, for example, guarantees your equipment, stock and tools are covered beyond your standard home insurance.

Should I get standalone policies or a bundled insurance package? This will depend on the types of insurance you need for your business. Insurance bundles can be helpful in getting the full coverage, and can often be tailored to your needs. However, if you’re already covered for one aspect of your business, you might only need a standalone policy. Always compare policies to make sure you’re getting the best value.

What information do I need to apply for a policy? – When applying to for business insurance, you’ll need to provide some basic information about your business. This often includes:

your name

your address

the size of your business

your annual turnover

how many employees you have

any previous claims made against your business

See also:

What insurance do I need for a bakery? – If you’re expanding your baking business to a fully fledged bakery, here’s what you need to know when it comes to insurance.

Americans have regained modest trust in scientists, survey finds

Science and Health

For the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the public’s trust in scientists has improved, according to a survey published Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
About 76% of Americans say they have confidence that scientists act in the public’s best interest, a modest but significant improvement from last year but about 10 points lower than the figure before the pandemic.

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This year’s uptick was driven largely by a slight increase in trust among Republicans, a group that also experienced the steepest drop in confidence during the pandemic, said Alec Tyson, a Pew researcher and the report’s lead author.
Still, the roughly 9,500 Americans surveyed were divided over whether scientists should play a role in policy decisions.
About half of the respondents said experts should take “an active role” in policy debates about scientific issues, like childhood vaccines and climate change, while the other half said they should focus instead on “establishing sound scientific facts.”
Respondents were largely split along partisan lines: 67% of Democrats believed scientists should be involved in policy debates, compared with just 35% of Republicans.
Past surveys have shed some light on this divide. During the pandemic, many Republicans reported feeling that scientists’ personal views biased their policy decisions and that they too quickly dismissed views that countered their research. In contrast, Democrats are more likely to believe that scientists make judgments “based solely on the facts.”
The numbers published Thursday might indicate that the pandemic’s most polarizing issues — like school closures and mask mandates — are fading from the public consciousness, Tyson said.
Overall, scientists are in good standing compared with other professions that have taken reputational hits in recent years, including journalists and elected officials. Ratings are even slightly more favorable than they are for such well-trusted professionals as public school principals and police officers.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
© 2024 The New York Times Company

Americans have regained modest trust in scientists, survey finds

Science and Health

For the first time since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the public’s trust in scientists has improved, according to a survey published Thursday by the Pew Research Center.
About 76% of Americans say they have confidence that scientists act in the public’s best interest, a modest but significant improvement from last year but about 10 points lower than the figure before the pandemic.

ADVERTISING

This year’s uptick was driven largely by a slight increase in trust among Republicans, a group that also experienced the steepest drop in confidence during the pandemic, said Alec Tyson, a Pew researcher and the report’s lead author.
Still, the roughly 9,500 Americans surveyed were divided over whether scientists should play a role in policy decisions.
About half of the respondents said experts should take “an active role” in policy debates about scientific issues, like childhood vaccines and climate change, while the other half said they should focus instead on “establishing sound scientific facts.”
Respondents were largely split along partisan lines: 67% of Democrats believed scientists should be involved in policy debates, compared with just 35% of Republicans.
Past surveys have shed some light on this divide. During the pandemic, many Republicans reported feeling that scientists’ personal views biased their policy decisions and that they too quickly dismissed views that countered their research. In contrast, Democrats are more likely to believe that scientists make judgments “based solely on the facts.”
The numbers published Thursday might indicate that the pandemic’s most polarizing issues — like school closures and mask mandates — are fading from the public consciousness, Tyson said.
Overall, scientists are in good standing compared with other professions that have taken reputational hits in recent years, including journalists and elected officials. Ratings are even slightly more favorable than they are for such well-trusted professionals as public school principals and police officers.
This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
© 2024 The New York Times Company

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour reaches Toronto this week. What is the pop star’s net worth? Take our business and investing news quiz

Business News

Open this photo in gallery:Taylor Swift performs at Wembley Stadium as part of her Eras Tour June 21, in London.Scott A Garfitt/The Associated PressWelcome to The Globe and Mail’s business and investing news quiz. Join us each week to test your knowledge of the stories making the headlines. Our business reporters come up with the questions, and you can show us what you know.This week: In a bit of good news, nine wealthy families and foundations teamed up to make the Canada’s largest-ever philanthropic commitment to fight climate change, pledging $405-million over the next decade. The total commitment includes contributions from the Trottier Family Foundation, the Peter Gilgan Foundation, the Ronald S. Roadburg Foundation, the Chisholm Thomson Family Foundation, David Keith and Kirsten Anderson, the Sitka Foundation, the Vohra Miller Foundation and Allan Shiff.And speaking of rich people, a certain pop star began the Canadian leg of her world tour. While Taylor Swift crossed into the country effortlessly, there are growing concerns of friction at the border once Donald Trump becomes U.S. president. All and all, a big week for millionaires, billionaires and their ilk.

In DeSantis’ Florida, one book is banned more than most, reports show

Arts & Culture, Books

Acclaimed classic “The Handmaid’s Tale” is one of the most-removed books in Florida schools.New lists from a nonprofit advocacy group and the Florida Department of Education both place that book in the top three of removed novels for the 2023-24 school year, highlighting the school-shelf access effects of recent laws passed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida’s legislative GOP supermajority.And that includes access to one of the most popular and influential books in the nation.

Monongah Middle School students get lesson in removing the abstract from science

Science and Health

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FAIRMONT — Sixth grade science teacher Dorothea Tustin underestimated how much enthusiasm her students would have for projectile motion.The West Virginia STEAM Technical Assistance Center delivered an immersive science lesson to students at Monongah Middle School on Thursday. Tustin’s students have been looking forward to the event.“I told them about it a month ago, to build excitement,” Tustin said. “Maybe that was a mistake, because they’ve been hyper for that.”
The challenge was to build a kicking contraption out of rubber bands, dowels and plastic plates. The lesson connected abstract ideas about the laws of physical motion to something tangible that a child could touch and play with.The sixth graders picked up the lesson faster than the STEAM TAC instructor could put down. Tustin said the class had already gone through a presentation covering the abstract portions of the exercise the day before. Good peer reviews spread at lunch or recess from other kids from different classrooms helped build anticipation.Donna Peduto, director of the West Virginia Public Education Collaborative, said she hopes the exercise gets students to fall in love with Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. The Collaborative — along with the West Virginia Department of Education and West Virginia University — sponsors STEAM TAC. She said these immersive lessons provide the foundation for skills that can be utilized in future careers.The state’s population is decreasing amid a push to diversify the state’s economy and introduce a technology industry to the state’s primary industries.

NH Tourism Industry Voices Urgent Concerns Over Proposed Budget Cuts

Travel

Industry Leaders Warn that a 30% Reduction in Marketing Funds Could Result in a $68 Million Lossin Tax Revenue and Weaken Economic Growth

CONCORD – The tourism industry is a critical sector of New Hampshire’s economy, employing over 70,000 individuals and generating more than $327 million annually in tax revenue through the Meals & Rentals Tax. Consequently, the organizations listed below are deeply concerned about the proposed budget cut for the Division of Travel & Tourism Development (DTTD).

The funds allocated for tourism marketing are vital for promoting New Hampshire to potential visitors and showcasing the state’s unique offerings, numerous attractions and ski resorts, outdoor recreation, tax-free shopping, locally crafted beer, wines and spirits, and diverse dining, lodging, camping, and destination resort options throughout our stunning state.

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Tourism marketing not only drives visitor numbers but also plays a crucial role in economic development. Each visitor represents a potential resident or business that may choose to relocate to New Hampshire, benefiting from what we call the “New Hampshire advantage.” This advantage is tangible; we are the only state in New England experiencing population growth.

However, the current proposal raises serious alarms. For over a decade, the State has committed to allocating 3.15% of the Meals & Rentals Tax to this essential marketing initiative, resulting in significant success. Yet, the newly released DTTD budget uses a revised statutory calculation that would impose a staggering 30% reduction in funding. This cut threatens to weaken the tourism sector and state revenues. Based on established returns on investment in tourism marketing, the state may risk losing as much as $68 million in tax revenues. This estimate is derived from state marketing research, which indicates that every dollar spent generates a return of $17.

Despite experiencing wonderful weather this summer and fall, the tourism industry is facing a notable slowdown. While there appears to be a 3% increase in the current Meals & Rentals revenue year-over-year, this is entirely due to businesses raising prices to cover increased operating expenses. Reducing marketing efforts during the next two years would be especially detrimental, as it would hinder our ability to attract visitors and support the State’s economy.

As we enter the early stages of the 2026-2027 budget process—with a new Governor and legislators elected—tourism industry partners are uniting to voice their concerns. We strongly urge state budget writers to maintain funding levels comparable to previous years. The existing formula has proven its effectiveness, yielding benefits for all residents of New Hampshire and ensuring continued economic prosperity for the State.

Sincerely,

Charyl Reardon, PresidentWhite Mountains Attractions Association

Jessyca Keeler, PresidentSki New Hampshire

Mike Somers, President & CEONew Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association

Amy Landers, Executive DirectorLakes Region Tourism Association

Michael Skelton, President & CEOBusiness & Industry Association of New Hampshire

Jeremy Sprince, Executive DirectorNew Hampshire Campground Owners’ Association

Rebecca Metcalf, ChairNew Hampshire Travel Council

Curtis Picard, CAE, President and CEONew Hampshire Retail Association

John B. Nyhan, President – Hampton Area Chamber and Chair, NH Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives

Luca Paris, President/CEOGreater Monadnock Collaborative

Karmen Gifford, PresidentLakes Region Chamber of Commerce

Wendy Hunt, President & CEOGreater Nashua Chamber of Commerce

Matty Leighton, Executive DirectorCentral New Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

Ashlee Rowley, Executive DirectorLake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce

Robert Clark, Board ChairMt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce

Tyler T. Ray, DirectorGranite Outdoor Alliance

Shannon MacMichael, Executive DirectorNewport Area Chamber of Commerce

Heather McGrail, President & CEOGreater Manchester Chamber

Laura Ring, President/CEOGreater Rochester Chamber of Commerce

Tracy Hutchins, Executive DirectorUpper Valley Business Alliance

Kim Pickering, Executive DirectorWestern White Mountains Chamber of Commerce

Jennifer Wheeler, Executive DirectorExeter Area Chamber of Commerce

Tim Sink, Executive DirectorGreater Concord Chamber of Commerce

Ben VanCamp, PresidentThe Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth

Margaret Joyce, PresidentGreater Dover Chamber of Commerce