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Automotive technology pushes the bus industry to become more sustainable

When it comes to contributing to traffic on the roads, it goes without saying that individuals today are more and more dedicated to contributing more consciously and sustainably. Rather than simply driving or getting on any old mode of transportation to get from point A to point B, people are becoming more invested in ensuring that they contribute in more sustainable ways. Whether it is driving one’s own vehicle, or taking a coach bus to get where you are going, the point remains the same. Considering group transportation, there are many options available. And up to 72% of travellers agree that individuals today should be making more sustainable travel choices – even if they are counting on group transport. Every vehicle counts, after all.

Hiring a coach bus is without a doubt one of the most sustainable group transportation options available, no matter where in the world you live. On the scale of transportation methods (from walking to riding a dump truck, specifically) travelling by charter bus comes third only after walking cycling. It might come as something of a surprise to some people, but when you consider the number of individuals that can board a single bus, the fact becomes almost obvious. Why? Well, there are several reasons why, but here are the three most important reasons why charter buses are one of the most sustainable group transportation options available.

Charter buses can transport more people at once

Up to fifty-five people on average can fit in a single charter bus, while the average vehicle has one to four people maximum in it at any given time. This means that you are actively becoming part of the solution instead of a contributor to the problem on a personal level. The more individuals that partake in charter bus travel, the more impact a single charter bus journey has on the emissions level around Earth. But it does not end there.

Charter buses eliminate the necessity for constant personal vehicle use

Taking a bus to an event or when you commute to your job every day means that you are taking active and consistent actions to become a part of the solution. When you take a charter bus to get you to point B, you are sharing the load with up to fifty-four other individuals as well as making the decision to leave your own vehicle at home. This means that rather than contributing harmful emissions into the air for the use of one individual (you), you are boarding a charter bus and sharing the emissions of a single vehicle with upwards of fifty other individuals at any given time.

Charter buses continue to become more eco-friendly

More and more often, the charter buses that are on the roads today are becoming more and more eco-friendly. In fact, electronically-powered charter buses have been in the works for a while now, and we are beginning to see the first models roll out onto roads around the world. EVs are always positive vehicles, and when it takes the form of a charter bus – a vehicle that has the power and the overall capacity to transport fifty-five people or so at once – the potential for positive sustainable impact becomes even more pronounced.

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The Most Popular Approaches to Translating and Localizing Movies

Having a movie converted into multiple languages is one of the guarantees of its success. Read about the ways to translate films for massive audiences.

Through correct movie translation, it is possible to apply to the hearts of millions of people around the globe. Modern cinemas took care of advanced translations of the films they show to collect more money from their viewers. Even though English is considered an international language, and Chinese is the most spoken one, people prefer watching motion pictures in their native language to understand every single word, joke, and idiom. To succeed, movie makers turn to professional translation services and choose one of the available methods to localize their masterpieces. We will discuss them in this article.

The Role of Audiovisual Content

One of the most effective methods to convert films in various languages is, no doubt, audiovisual translation. Globalizing audiovisual content means expanding the target audience significantly and increasing the number of regions where people watch the movie or show. It is like website optimization. It might cost your business a bit, but the outcomes are usually worth investing in. Special language services providers usually offer audiovisual translation in numerous languages, and the fee usually depends on the number or complexity of the chosen languages. Commercial movie makers never use to consult the websites that offer free translation online. These companies hire the services of some professional translators to convert and add audiovisual effects in the movies. This is an extremely sensitive task because the translator has to produce the audiovisual content compatible with the cultural and emotional context of the source language. 

At the same time, the cultural aspect should be taken into consideration as direct translation will not bring the desired effect. Except for the cultural, political, religious, and economic factors are critical to take into account when dealing with movie translation. A movie maker should also consider various approaches to translating films:

  • Subtitling;
  • Voice-over;
  • Lip-sync dubbing

They all come at different costs. They also demonstrate different effectiveness. Those are just the most popular approaches that one should use if he or she wants the film to be equally successful in various languages and cultures. We should briefly discuss each method.

Subtitling

It was noticed that smaller regions choose subtitles when it comes to translations of movies. Under small countries, we mean those with populations around 10 million people or even less. The approach is known as relatively cheap. Thus, it is also popular among independent movie makes who do not receive enough budget for their masterpieces. 

In such countries as Spain and Portugal, subtitles are often applied to foreign television shows. Also, many countries today have more than two official languages, and that is another thing that makes subtitling quite wide-spread: language minorities especially benefit from this method. To sum up, the pros of subtitling include:

  • Comparatively low costs (15 times cheaper than dubbing on the average!);
  • Original language is still heard (it helps many people to learn new languages);
  • The plot’s main message is delivered way better (the main idea remains the same as it is not important to sync the dialogues and the actors’ lips).

Of course, like in any situation, there are some disadvantages to using subtitles. Perhaps, you can guess some of them, but here is the top of disadvantages that might even prevent some filmmakers from subtitling:

  • This method slows down the watcher (having to read comments whenever the dialogues are on may distract the viewer from the plotline);
  • Limited space is required (when subtitling, the translators have to meet several strict conditions);
  • The production time becomes longer;
  • The overlapping colors may become an obstacle.

Dubbing

The next common method is so-called dubbing. The idea is to remove the source audio track to include a recorded one in the required language. The central European countries prefer this method on TV and in the cinema industry in general. This approach suits regions with large populations more. As some countries have just one officially recognized language, dubbing is their best choice. No cultural factors or religion usually matter but politics. It is still critical to obey censorship. 

What about the advantages of this method? They include:

  • Increased film’s appeal to mainstream watchers (provides a sense of national identity and comfort in general);
  • Guarantees successful motion picture localization (dubbing the movie in their native language makes the audience understand the plot better; when mixed along with subtitles, the effect is the best);
  • Humor and idioms become better to understand (dubbing allows accepting the joke or anecdote converted into the language that the local population understands).

So, the greatest advantage of dubbing is localizing the content so that the audience perceives the movie as the one produced by the domestic filmmaker. Of course, some cons were admitted by the experts, too:

  • Selection of voice may be improper (often, the same actors dub the same original actors in movies, and audience sooner or later gets acquainted with that; but when it comes to some regions, a single actor dubs all actors, and it is not really comfortable as people should watch the picture all the time to get who is talking);
  • Sync of the voices (it is not easy to synchronize the voices with the mouths of actors);
  • Some voices may sound irritating to the watcher.

How to Translate a Film Step-by-Step

We have discussed a couple of the most commonly applied approaches to movie translation. Now, it is time to have a look at the steps a crew should do to implement each of them. So, we will start with the guide to adding subtitles:

  • Collect the requirements by identifying the nature/scope of the film;
  • Come up with the necessary assets (transcript and framework);
  • The translation of the dialogue itself;
  • Adjustment of settings and timing;
  • Implement quality assurance tests;
  • The last few steps in engineering.

The process of dubbing looks pretty much similar with some differences. For example, once the translators are done with their job, it is necessary to apply instruments to count the script’s syllables to adapt the translated material. Then, the actors may view the translation while voiceover. At the same time, one should control their tone, intonation, expressions, etc. The last steps are the same as in the case of subtitling: quality assurance and engineering.

So, Which One to Choose?

No matter which of the discussed techniques you choose, you will benefit from converting and localizing your project. It refers not only to movies: the entire business world works this way today. When translating a movie, consider the regions you plan to target as well as some other factors such as costs and voiceover actors’ availability. Then, your film is doomed to succeed (taking into account an interesting plot and good acting, of course).

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The company providing solutions for the entire pet industry

BabelBark was started by Roy Stein and Bill Rebozo. They created a solution for a personal problem. Stein and Rebozo wanted to leave for vacation. The problem with traveling as a pet parent is that must leave their fur loved one with someone they trust. Although boarding is an option, it’s often wildly expensive and also can cause emotional stress on the animal because it’s taken out of its natural environment. Pet sitters are increasing in number as the amount of pet owners continues to grow.

As friends, co-workers, and software engineers, both men decided to create an app that helped find care givers. Not only did it connect the pet parents with their community, it also provided updates on the pet while the parent was away. It’s a revolutionary idea that creates a simple solution to a present day issue.

“The idea for BabelBark came about in early 2015 when we were planning an extended vacation—and worried about leaving our dogs with sitters. So, we created an app to help the care givers out and enable us keep tabs on what’s happening with our dogs.” – Roy Stein

The app usage started with just two guys and then spread to their community. The men saw and conquered a business opportunity to make it available to the public. They did a soft launch in 2018 and a full launch in 2019. Since then, the company is growing in investments, services offered, and brand awareness.

The company has a competitive advantage in their market for a few reasons. The primary reason they will continually see growth and success is that they are the first to enter a market. In a way, they created the market and then dived into other facets of the pet industry. An app that helps connect pet owners and care givers will give the owners a peace of mind while traveling and also provide the care givers with new clients.

“Since the idea for the app came about, BabelBark has grown into a Pet Suite of products including the BabelBark app for pet owners, BabelVet software for veterinary hospitals + clinics and BizBark software for businesses + shelters—all designed to work together to

redefine the connection between pets and everyone who cares for them.” -Roy Stein

When researching their audience, BabelBark owners realized a few key factors played into their hopeful success. A generational and demographic shift means that millennials are holding off on kids. Research demonstrates that the millennial generation is getting waiting to get married and have children, and thus, have opted to raise furry friends. Because they all aren’t paying for weddings or children in their twenties, some of them are more likely to pay for luxury pet items and be much more invested in the lives of their pets.

“Pet parents have different needs now than 10 years ago due to a number of factors. Verticality is out and old thinking – Horizontality is the new way to think and what millennials expect. Pet businesses need to ensure they are prepared because the new digital mobile practice is a horizontal movement. They now need to be connected to the entire pet ecosystem and ONLY BabelBark does this.” – Bill Rebozo

Their company provides a full service and horizontal integration approach to users. So not only does it focus on care givers, the company also provides other services like BizBark and BabelVet. Those two services help connect pet businesses and vet providers to owners. The app can essentially be a one stop shop for owners. Because it is a multi-faceted provider, businesses and vet clinics are likely to use it on their end to connect with pet owners. As a mutually beneficial product, the horizontal approach helps every notch in the system.

Although the startup came about just a few years ago, the two men have successful raised $8.6M in funding and are continually hoping for growth in their idea. The American Animal Hospital Association (AHAA) chose BabelBark as the exclusive vet-pet platform until December 2021. The app has the ability to benefit animal hospitals and vet clinics by advertising their services on the app. Because it provides global services, BabelBark is able target in local markets. Unlike purchasing a product, sometimes buying a service, like vet care, is preferred to be done locally by pet parents. For this reason, BabelBark connects local pet parents with the local businesses and vets available to them. This powerhouse system of data is beneficial for all users involved and gives BabelBark an upper hand when it comes to future investments and business endeavors.

“By connecting the whole eco-system of pet parents with veterinary and other pet caregiver businesses through a single platform, our platform delivers mutually-reinforcing benefits with a robust data base enabling predictive analytics on what product and service is needed & when.” –Bill Rebozo

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Which Investments Do America’s Wealthy Use to Counteract a Recession?

The American economy is booming at the moment – but booms only last for so long. If history tells us anything, it’s that we’re likely to experience a recession within the next five to seven years. And when this recession comes, financially savvy Americans will have a plan for how they can protect their portfolios with wise investments.

What is a Financial Recession?

If we want to have a discussion about recessions and the smart steps wealthy people take to successfully counteract the negatives that come with them, it’s important that we begin with a clear understanding of exactly what a recession is.

Technically speaking, a recession is a period between a peak and a trough. By contrast, the period between a trough and a peak is known as expansion. The period from late 2007 to early 2009 was a recession. The period from early 2009 to today has been a period of expansion.

During a recession, there’s a significant decline in activity across the entire economy. This period generally lasts anywhere from a few months to a couple of years. (Economists generally wait until there’s two consecutive quarters of declining GDP to use the “R” word.)

6 Investments Built to Withstand a Recession

During a recession, investors aren’t necessarily looking for massive returns. Most will actually settle with breaking even or making some small percentage gains. What you don’t want to do is absorb the brunt of the decline – which is easier said than done.

Every situation is unique, but you’ll find that most successful investors turn to investments like these during down markets:

  1. Cash

It might not be an investment in the normal sense of the word, but cash can be a smart method of storing money during a recession.

Think of it this way: What’s the difference between someone who has $1,000 sitting in cash making no money and someone who has $1,000 plugged into an investment that loses 20 percent? At the end of the day, the person with the cash is up $200. Sometimes not losing money is valuable place to be.

  1. Treasury Bonds

High-quality bonds – such as U.S. Treasury Bonds – are great for recessionary periods. They’re slightly more risky than holding money in cash, but they also provide greater returns. During negative economic environments, look for bonds that last around five or six years, as this will get you the best ROI.

  1. Municipal Bond Funds

While they carry a bit more risk than treasury bonds, municipal bond funds – those issued by state and local governments – are still pretty safe. You may be able to squeak out a couple of percentage points in interest, which is better than nothing.

  1. Dividend Aristocrats

Dividend stocks are great. The only problem is that many of them decline in value during recessions – leaving you with negative returns, instead of positive cash flow. But there are still some dividend stocks that are valuable.

Your best bet is to go with “dividend aristocrats.” This is the title given to dividends that are in the S&P 500 and have 25+ consecutive years of dividend increases. In other words, they’ve continued to increase dividend payments every year for the last quarter century (even during the 2007-2009 recession). In a stock market where nothing is certain, that’s pretty good!

  1. Rental Real Estate

It’s always a great idea to purchase real estate when the market bottoms out. The problem is that you don’t know when the market is reaching its low point. So instead of trying to perfectly time the market, you should instead try to invest in the right type of real estate.

A recession is a great time to begin buying apartment complexes. While the number of people buying homes declines in a recession, the number of people renting goes up. This makes it a strong investment opportunity.

  1. Yourself

Quite honestly, the smartest investment you can make is in yourself. The more money you put into improving your talents, acquiring new skills, and networking with other professionals, the greater your chances are of increasing your income (both now and in the future). Don’t miss this!

Stay Plugged In

We’re at a very interesting point in time. We’ve experienced nearly a decade of unprecedented growth, which was preceded by one of the largest recessions in American history, and storm clouds are brewing. Most experts agree that a recession of some sort is on its way within the next two or three years – though it’s hard to say exactly when.

When it comes to making investment decisions, it’s important that you don’t just hand everything off to someone else. Even if you have the best financial advisors and experts in your corner, it’s wise to stay abreast of what’s happening at all times. You’ll discover that gut instinct and intuition can be as important as technical analysis.

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The ultimate list of IT resources that UBC students can utilize

If you haven’t noticed, technology has taken over the world and the only way for anyone to survive, especially college students, is to evolve alongside it. In the past, students lacked the technical knowledge necessary to take advantage of various IT resources that were beginning to appear across college campuses. Students at UBC today have no excuse for not taking advantage of IT resources available to them. All you really need is access to the internet.

The importance of having a personal website

Many students might be skeptical about the necessity of creating and maintaining a personal website. There are dozens of benefits gained from having a personal website and it doesn’t take very long to actually make one. To better understand how to get started building an online presence, all you have to do is compare local web hosting services to figure out where to house your website. After that, you can have a website up and running in a day or two using WordPress.

As a college student, having your own website can set you apart from other job applicants when your job search begins, whether you are applying for an internship or a full-time job. A personal website can act as a personal portfolio where you are able to showcase work from projects, organizations, and jobs. 

Controlling your personal branding is another added benefit of a personal website. You have the power to convince potential employers to form an opinion that you want them to form regarding your professional presence. Even having a second place to point recruiters to where they can place a face to a resume is an added benefit.

Imagine a scenario where you found your dream job. You and your competition sent in your resume and your cover letter, excited about the opportunity. The difference between you and your competition is that you have a personal website and they don’t. While they sit there twiddling their thumbs, you are updating your website to make it personalized towards the job you applied for. Imagine what will happen when a recruiter opens your website and sees “Specific Company, please interview me.”

Investing in a laptop

It’s understandable if you don’t have a laptop yet due to financial difficulties. School and everything surrounding your education is expensive. The problem is that laptops provide such an improved experience over an alternative. With a laptop, you can work whenever and wherever, achieving a level of independence and freedom that you previously lacked. 

If you are not able to afford your own laptop, you can simply rent one from the library – all you need to do flash your student ID.

Beyond that, you have other options. There are options for a personal laptop that will only cost you $200 such as a Chromebook. You may not be able to use complicated software and play games on a Chromebook but you can surf the internet, use Microsoft Word and Excel, and take notes in class.

Anything else that needs to be done can be supplemented by a rented laptop or by using a PC in the library.

Immerse yourself in coding and develop your interests

Coding is a modern language. Everything regarding technology beyond hardware is made possible through different coding languages. The value of knowing how to code is massive and could help you as automation takes the job industry by storm.

Beyond that, having any additional skills on your resume will help you in securing a job when you graduate. Any extra little bit can help when applying for a job. At the very list, showing you have a diverse set of skills can get you ahead of the competition.

There are various resources that any UBC students can make use of on campus to further their coding knowledge or to dive deeper into interests they have. The internet also has a lot to offer for free. Previous generations mainly view education as an institution. We don’t fully disagree as UBC is one of the best institutions for learning in the world, but there are other options as well.

Education has generally become much more fluid and learning is accessible in a wide variety of places. Anyone can learn how to play the piano via Youtube or learn filmography through an online learning platform such as Coursera. While you might not receive a document certifying your skills, you can learn many useful skills. The world is becoming increasingly flexible regarding qualifications. If you receive one degree and have skills in another field, the combination of the two makes you a unique job candidate.  

There is no reason why you cannot learn a new skill while pursuing your undergraduate degree or masters at UBC. It’s only a matter of dedication and self-motivation. As a student, learning how to balance your formal education with other learning opportunities will make you a well-rounded person after graduation.

Small Business Accelerator

At UBC, becoming an entrepreneur is just as much about immersing yourself in technology as it is about learning basic business principles. If you have a business idea, the business accelerator program gives you access to technology that will allow you to bring your business idea into reality.

The biggest boost the accelerator can give you is access to market research you wouldn’t have otherwise. Data from studies on the internet can cost hundreds and thousands of dollars. UBC has access to information you wouldn’t have access to otherwise.

The accelerator also gives access to other online resources such as business idea evaluation, business plans, funding, and legal assistance. Accessing this wealth of information while you’re in school can give you a massive leg up on future competition. 

Final Thoughts

Almost anything is possible with the internet and other forms of technology. The main issue is trying to figure out where to specifically look. Information overload is a real thing and UBC is attempting to make the process easier by providing specialized IT resources. Exploring the IT resources available at UBC can make your education better and your post-graduation life even more prosperous.

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Financial coaching: Is it necessary?

Let’s face it, school prepares us for everything but the real world which is bogged down with taxes, repayments, loans and other financial baggage. College gives us a taste of it by forcing us to pay bills, rent and fees. However, unless you are a student in finance, financial management might not come easily to you. Some people run themselves into debt the moment they leave college because they simply do not understand the concept of money and how to make it work for you. 

Turn debts into profits

It might sound like a bit of a stretch, but if one lady can manage to dig her way out of debt after being laid off, it goes to show that everyone can. Whether through the help of online loans with no credit check and instant approval to set up a new business or to help you out of a bit of a tight financial spot or simply by offering your skills up for hire, there are definitely ways that one can find a way out of debt and begin creating revenue.

How a financial coach can help 

Some might wonder how is it practical to hire someone to help them out of a financial crisis, while they are in a financial crisis – wouldn’t it be much wiser to use whatever money one has to pay off their debts rather than to run up a bill with a financial coach? The matter of perspective is important here: a financial coach will be able to teach you how to avoid such circumstances in the future and how to get out of the current situation. It is a worthy investment, especially if one is completely clueless in terms of financial management. 

One financial coach defined what she does as, “changing behaviors around money and helping a client see where they can reduce spending to create more savings, or helping them get out of debt or understanding their emotions around money, which may have created obstacles to good financial management.”

What is emotional spending

Everyone has heard the concept of how shopping makes one feel better – when you’re having a bad day or just feeling down in the dumps, retail therapy has been proven to lift spirits and boost one’s mood. Apparently, it ties in with wishful thinking: people purchase items that they foresee they will use in their future. As PsycologyToday puts it, “As people shop, they’re naturally visualizing how they’ll use the products they’re considering, and in doing so, they’re also visualizing their new life.” What this does is it motivates the individual into chasing their new life instead of allowing their current circumstances to stand in the way. However, this behavior can also be damaging when the shopper spends more than they can afford and purchase things which will only bring them deeper debt. 

Therefore, it is crucial to be responsible with one’s finances and if you are finding it hard to control your shopping urges or do not know how to manage your salary, it is definitely helpful to turn to someone who is successful in your life – a brother, aunt or parent – to help you better manage your finances or if you are unable to find such a person, it is time to turn to a financial coach. 

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Understanding credit scores below the surface

The finance industry is one that is paved with good intentions and some little tricks under the surface. This is one of the most intricate and deep-rooted industries in the world, and so it should come as little surprise that many people struggle to understand the depths of it. Consider the understanding of credit scores and all they encompass, for example. Credit sores are so important, if for no other reason than because they determine how you can (and if you can) get assistance for contracts, bills, and loans (among other financial backings and innovators).

Perhaps surprisingly, most people do not know much about credit scores, other than knowing what credit score range means (if that). In fact, throughout the United States, there is a surprisingly high percentage of the population that know the bare minimum (if that) about the depths of credit scores. So, what are those depths? What are the important fundamentals of managing and preserving your credit score?

Always pay your bills on time

A monumental 35% of your credit score hinges on your payment history. Late payments stay on your credit report for up to seven years, and the impact of that negative mark against your name can be devastating. It should not even be a consideration to pay your bills late if you can avoid it, but it is still one of the most disarming errors that people continue to make. Even a seemingly small bill, like your mobile phone plan, puts a dint in your credit score if it goes unpaid. So, always pay your bills on time. Stay on top of your finances. Your credit score will thank you, and so will the future you.

Stay on top of your credit utilization

This is the most important core aspect of maintaining and preserving your credit score, after your payment history. Credit reporting agencies do not store your income information; instead, they use something called ‘credit utilisation’ in place of a typical debt-to-income ratio. Your credit utilisation represents 30% of your overall credit score, and is the amount of debt outstanding on your revolving credit sources (think credit cards, home equity lines). Your utilisation means more than you think it does, so pay close attention to it.

Check your credit reports frequently

This might seem obvious, but it might surprise you how often people do not prioritise keeping on top of their credit reports. Making sure that your credit reports are accurate is an important defining factor of your credit score, because if there is even the slightest of errors, leaving it unchecked can prove to have dire consequences. Sometimes data is entered incorrectly, or someone takes hold of your credit card by stealing it (or any other manner of errors, for that matter), and the result can be that your credit score suffers. So, check your reports frequently and always bring inaccuracies to the attention of the appropriate parties. Your credit score should not suffer because of something that is not your fault, but unless you actively and consistently check your credit reports, you unfortunately cannot always prevent it from happening. 

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Why coding is becoming such a coveted career in the digital era

It is no secret that we are diving deeper and further into the digital era with every new day. These days, technological advancement and rapid digitalisation are as common as the air we breathe. We have become so comfortable, familiar, and even reliant on these modern innovations. Every facet of modern life, from the way we interact with one another and animals and experience the world around us, to the way we learn and work, has been fundamentally changed from the inside out.

Consider the way we work, for example. Careers in computer science, coding, IT, and programming are becoming more popular choices all the time. It is obvious that this is because we are all pining for a world where technological absolution rules, but it is about so much more than that. Essentially, the lure of careers in these technologically-driven fields is all about being able to do something important, rather than doing something for the sake of it. So, if a career in coding and the like is so important today, why is that?

The advantage of having a digital skillset

Here’s the thing. Individuals with careers in fields like coding and programming today have a distinct advantage over their competitors. When going for jobs these days, even if there is no strict coding and programming involved, there is something to be said about having a skillset that gives you an edge. Employers today look for candidates who have a skillset that sets them apart from the rest, and could potentially make them better at their job, and able to help elsewhere in the company if the opportunity arises. Whether that skillset is a degree in information technology, Masters in computer science, or expertise in big data engineering, or any other manner of tech-savvy qualifications, the point remains the same: a tech skillset is a direct advantage.

The benefit of having a high-paying, high-impact career

The students of today who are studying degrees in coding and the like, are the very same individuals who will likely go on to become the leading minds in some of the most important careers in the world. because of the exceedingly important impact that careers in areas like coding are having on the world, they are in high demand, and they pay exceptionally well. Students who have the passion, skills, and the determined mindset to excel in a career field like this are drawn to it because of its income bracket, its challenging nature, and its ability to make them not only better at their jobs, but more skilled in life in general.

The allure of contributing to the future of the world

Careers in coding, computer science, information technology, and programming are some of the most instrumental pillars of the future of the world. As we become more digitally inclined, the world has more need for individuals who can contribute to the most important parts of modern society. Coding and programming are important because the more digitally inclined we become, the more coding and programming become an instrumental part of modern society. With digitalisation comes the coding and programming that spurs it onward.

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The legal changes to bring autonomous vehicles to global roads

The laws surrounding the global shift towards autonomous vehicles and if they should be legally allowed to operate on global roads have always been complicated. In the relatively short time that these types of laws have gone into their draft stages, the world of autonomous vehicles has experienced leaps and bounds in terms of progression – and not all those leaps and bounds have been overly positive. The rise of autonomous vehicles has brought with it much excitement and controversy, and it is important to take a step back and consider this issue from all angles.

First, it is important to note that autonomous vehicles are, as of yet, not a reality. Currently what we are working with are semi-autonomous vehicles. These are cars that can detect movement around them and take some of the driver’s responsibilities from their hands. Think reverse parking or sensor detection (i.e. vehicles that have light detections on side mirrors to let drivers know when it is safe to merge into the next lane over, or vehicles that detect the sides of the road and stop the vehicle from veering into them). But what is the single largest issue with the laws surrounding semi-autonomous vehicles, and what do they mean for the future of autonomous vehicles on the world’s roads?

The current issues with semi-autonomous vehicles

The legal implications currently surrounding on-road incidents involving semi-autonomous vehicles have everything to do with the problematic history of such vehicles in their introductory stages. In as little as two to three years, there have been up to five fatalities involving semi-autonomous vehicles around the world. While of course a period of trial and error is to be expected with any form of technology, there is something to be said about the harrowing impact that “trial and error” have when it comes to something as life-changing as autonomous vehicles being brought to the market, and to the roads around the world.

Why the law changes are so extraordinarily important

In addition to the standard or extraordinary legal implications of injuries or fatalities involving autonomous vehicles, comes the inevitable hiring of injury lawyers from law firms like Olympia Injury Lawyers. The issue of morality and legal accountability is one that is still pulled into question daily; in the case of a semi-autonomous vehicle striking and injuring or killing a person, is the individual behind the wheel responsible, since the vehicle was operating without the individual in the front seat physically controlling it? This is exactly it. The core underlying issue that speaks volumes of why specific laws surrounding road incidents involving semi-autonomous and autonomous vehicles, is so crucial.

The legal move for change continues to rage on

It is no secret that the laws surrounding this particular issue (and so many others, for that matter) are currently undergoing a massive remodelling. Road incidents involving semi-autonomous vehicles and the like are more complex in nature than those that involve standard vehicles, because of the role that tech plays in controlling and driving the vehicle. This is a global movement that is raging on everywhere, and that will continue to do so until a core agreement has been reached on how to handle such road incidents going into the future.

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Growing digital nomad population signals new frontier for travel

For the longest time, there has been the widespread, and frankly incorrect, notion that travel was something that the clear majority of people could only afford in between working. For decades, people have been playing this insane but understandable game of ping pong, bouncing between working to go on holiday, and going on holiday to escape work. For a long time, many people genuinely believed that this was their only option if they wanted to travel. However, in recent years all that is changing. That misconception is being blown apart, as more and more individuals join the ever-expanding global remote workforce.

The allure of travelling never dies

Travelling is something that we all (well, most of us, anyway) love to do. There is something undeniably exhilarating about getting on a plane, or a train, or a bus, or even into a car or onto a bike, and taking off to explore the big, wide world. That sense of pure exhilaration is only intensified when you arrive in your destination, surrounded by a whole new experience, and excited to take it all in. The best part about travelling is that it awakens the adventurous wild one in us, and it makes us want to work harder so that we can have more of it. We want it all, and travelling reminds us of why we want it all so badly.

The rise of a workforce that allows the best of both worlds

Gone are the days where people had to work for their vacations, and take time off work to enjoy said vacations. While there is nothing wrong with that, this is no longer the only option – and it is quickly becoming the less popular option, at that. Remote work allows you to travel the world and work simultaneously, successfully bridging the gap and quite literally having it all, without having to sacrifice one for the other in an ongoing see-saw activity spiral. Working remotely gives you direct control over how you work and where you work, and all you need is a reliable device, your device charger, a back-up system, and a steady internet connection.

Remote work is the future workforce for the adventurous

If there is one thing that remote work has taught the world thus far, it is that this is without a doubt the future workforce for the adventurous at heart. Sure, remote work technically is branching out to become exactly that right now, but the iteration has not yet come full circle. Soon enough, the remote workforce will welcome career-driven individuals from all different backgrounds, with all different qualifications and skill sets, and all different professional goals. Whether you want to be the owner of a walking tours agency, travelling the world to expand your brand and your business model, or a writer that works for themselves, anywhere in the world, or any other manner of career pathways, the remote workforce is for you.