Month: June 2019

Augmented Reality And The Tourism Industry

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Augmented Reality (AR) allows recorded and animated images to blend and be viewed in real time. Most of the past augmented reality apps mainly focused on entertainment, such as the Lego Kiosks, futuristic baseball cards and even a virtual tour of the starship Enterprise. More recent apps however, have shifted their focus: providing travelers with useful information and answers to their possible questions.

What does augmented reality mean for tourism?
Augmented reality apps comprise different layers, such as museums, historic sites, dining and real estate to name but a few. The tourism layer, however, is the one most commonly used. This makes sense since tourists need information which will make their travelling experience easier, more informed and more secure, allowing travelers to experience the destination before they arrive.

A few examples of how augmented reality was used in tourism
TripAdvisor launched their Augmented Reality Tours app for iPad this month, using images from Google Street View to create a virtual walk through various destinations. This app might not be as advanced as apps by Layar, Lonely Planet or mTrip, but is still more useful and fun to use than 2D maps.

The Beijing Institute of Technology created a virtual reconstruction of Yuanmingyuan, a local historic site destroyed in 1860 during the Opium War, by using various paintings and sketches. They built a coin-operated viewing platform which tourists can use to see what Yuanmingyuan used to look like.

The Cluny Abbey Museum in France has a giant augmented reality screen, a window to the past if you will, allowing users to travel back in time and view a pre-destruction example of the Abbey. GraffitiGeo launched the first ever augmented reality restaurant recommendations app. Just point your phone towards a restaurant and see immediate reviews.

There are a lot of augmented reality apps, too many to mention in only one blog. Did I miss your favourite? Please share it with us in the comments.

How to Stop the Logging Industry from Losing its Youthful Appeal!

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People have many assumptions about the status of the logging industry. This could be due to the number of layoffs in the industry resulting from the economic downturn of the past few years. It is difficult to get exact information about the number of people who have lost their jobs because of the recession. This has created big differences between the number of people terminated and those that are being recruited. Moreover, it is undeniable that there are many problems in the logging industry that have caused a critical situation to exist.

Worker Enticements

In spite of this ongoing crisis, the logging industry is attempting to find creative ways to make it more enticing and appealing. In fact, future projections in Washington are expected to show progress being made, which is quite the opposite of what had been projected. The effort of logging companies to cope with the recession is actually praiseworthy and the annual revenue of the logging industry is reaching billions of dollars. To be exact, Atlanta is making $28 billion annually.

Common Problems

Some of the more common problems that are encountered by many workers when applying for jobs within the logging industry include the monthly salary, insurance premiums, health benefits, retirement packages, and compensation packages. On top of this, most potential employees have the impression that this is not a lucrative field in which to earn a good salary; yet the fact is that some logging companies are booming and will continue to grow in the global market.

There is also the problem of the effect of testing for drug abuse. For whatever reason, drug testing in this industry is putting a heavy price tag on keeping a reliable workforce. Contractors are finding it increasingly difficult to retain employees due to this one issue. On the plus side, those companies and contractors that enforce a drug-free workforce will pay reduced worker compensation premiums.

Increased Core Compensation

Five years ago, new employees shied away from applying for jobs in the logging industry because they were required to pay for certification programs and training for safety awareness just to work with forestry equipment without receiving any type of compensation for those incurred expenses. Additionally, the wages were rather low. The annual mean salary for a typical logger in United States ranges from $30,260 to $33,269.

Currently, the anticipated yearly salary for all logger jobs is expected to increase due to the tight competition in the global arena. The core annual compensation amount could reach up to $50,041 per employee. Core compensation includes: base salary; social security; 401K/403B plans; disability insurance; healthcare insurance; pension; and paid time off.

The logging industry has been clouded with negative notions brought on by the economic recession and the future remains uncertain for this particular business. Perceptions have existed that this was an unstable working environment because the monthly salary was low with minimal benefits and too many requirements to be certified to do this work. This type of business is losing its appeal because of the upswing battle against the global market. Yet, due to new regulations, strategies, employee benefits, innovations such as bio-fuels and better forestry equipment, working in the logging industry has become more appealing. This can only hope to give the logging industry a brighter future!

Automobile Industry Of India

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India has a huge automobile industry. The country ranks 4thin Asia and 9th in the world as the world’s largest automobile Industry. India has an annual production of approximately about 2.3 million units.

Presently, India is the world’s largest manufacturer of tractors, second-largest manufacturer of two-wheelers, and fifth-largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles.

The automobile industry in India gained momentum after the liberalization in 1991. The industry has continued to grow consistently and is increasingly becoming competent in the global market. In the recent past, India has seen an upsurge in the automobile industry thanks to its relaxed restriction on the investment policies in the sector. India’s overall economic growth has also played a significant role in attracting foreign investors in India to invest in the automobile sector of the country.

The automobile sector in India has displayed great advances in relation to the utilization of new technologies and being flexible in the wake of the changing business scenario.

Both the central government of India and its state governments have taken several measures to draw investments in the sector and further accelerate the growth of the industry in the country. The government has liberalized the norms for foreign investment in the sector. Presently the government permits 100% direct foreign investment in the sector.

The government has also undertaken several policy measures and incentives to boost investment in the automobile sector of India. The most prominent policy is Auto Policy, which was drawn in 2000. This policy basically aims to establish a globally competitive automobile industry in India and contribute to the Indian economy.

The important objectives of the Auto Policy are:

1.Making India a global source for auto components
2.Aiding the development of vehicles that can be driven by alternative energy sources
3.Developing domestic safety methods that are on par with international standards
4.Steering India’s software industry into the automobile technology
5.Making India an international hub for manufacturing small and cheap passenger cars
6.Being the global center for manufacturing two-wheelers
7.Ensuring a balanced transition to open trade at a minimal risk

Thus, this ambitious Auto Policy of India aims not only to make India grow in the sector but also attract huge investment in the country.

The Department of Heavy Industry, which falls under the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, is the leading agency responsible for promoting the growth and development of the automobile industry in India.

The department assists the industry’s growth through policy initiatives, providing technological collaboration, upgrading, and R&D facilities to the automobile manufacturers.

Also, the growth of Indian middle class and their increased purchasing power supported by strong macro-economic fundamentals have been instrumental in attracting major auto manufacturers in India. Several global players, including leading automobile manufacturers Suzuki and Honda, have invested heavily in India and have managed to tap the Indian market.

All these factors and the initiatives of the government is an indication that the Indian automobile Industry has been emerging as a new sector that has unlimited potential for growth and has promise to offer valuable returns on investments. The automobile sector has not only been meeting the requirements of the domestic market but has been penetrating deep into the international market.

Leather Industry Of India

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The leather industry in India holds a very prominent place in the Indian economy. The leather and leather products industry is one of the oldest manufacturing industries in India. The Indian leather industry provides employment to about 2.5 million people in the country and has an annual turnover of approximately US$ 5,000,000.

The industry has a massive potential for providing more employment, growth, and exports. Recently, the exports of leather and leather products have gained massive momentum. The exports of Indian leather goods have registered phenomenal growth. This is mainly because great emphasis has been placed on the planned development of the leather industry and at the optimal utilization of available raw materials.

Over the years the leather industry in India has undergone drastic change from being a mere exporter of raw materials in the early 60’s and 70’s to now becoming an exporter of finished, value-added leather products. The main reason behind the transformation is the several policy initiatives taken by the government of India. The proactive government initiatives have yielded quick and improved results. Thanks to the government efforts today, the Indian leather industry has attained a prominent place in the Indian export and has made the industry one of the top 7 industries that earns foreign exchange for the country.

Since India adopted the globalization and liberalized economic policies in 1991, the leather industry has flourished consistently in several ways and has contributed heavily to the Indian exchequer. Though the industry has developed, it still has great potential for more growth and investments. Investing in Indian leather industry is particularly advantageous because the industry is poised to grow further and achieve a major share in the global trading market.

The government of India in its Foreign Trade Policy for 20002009 has identified the leather sector as a focus sector in view of its immense potential for export growth and generation of employment generation prospects.

Investment opportunities in the leather industry lie in different segments related to the industry, which include tanning and finishing of leather products, manufacturing of leather garments, manufacturing of leather footwear and footwear parts, and manufacturing of leather goods, such as harness and saddlery amongst a host of other opportunities.

Amongst all the industries mentioned above the footwear industry in particular holds greater potential for investments in India. India produces approximately 700 million pairs of leather footwear every year and accounts for an 18% share of the total Indian leather export.

After footwear manufacturing of leather goods promise great investment opportunity. Manufacturing of leather products, such as wallets, travel wares, belts, and handbags offer great returns on investment.

India is one of the best destinations in the world for investing in the leather industry because India is endowed with abundant raw materials required for the industry to grow. India has a huge population of cattle. India accounts for 21% of the worlds cattle and buffalo and 11% of the worlds goat and sheep population. Apart from the easy availability of raw materials, investors are able to enjoy an easy and abundant supply of skilled manpower, world-class technology, competent and favorable environmental standards, and the devoted support of allied industries.

Several leading international leather goods manufacturing brand names, such as Hugo Boss, Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, Guess, and DKNY, have invested in India and are engaged in sourcing leather goods from India.

Console Wars. Competition Between Leaders Of Video Gaming Industry

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Console Wars is today a widely recognised phrase referring to the un-tracked battle between major video game consoles, which typically occurs every four or five years when a new ‘generation’ of games consoles are released by the industry leaders, which today are Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo – in no particular order.

The history of console wars is by no means brief, with the first of note being competed way back in the early 1980’s between the Intellivision and the Colecovision, and by all accounts, the Colecovision came out on top in that particular head-to-head selling half a million units, largely thanks to it’s licensing of popular arcade games from the time. If a video games console sold half a million units today, though, it would be a complete failure and would perhaps even go by un-noticed by the developed world’s hordes of gaming enthusiasts.

The growth of the video games industry has been so rapid that the top consoles of today, the XBox 360, Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii sell in multiple-millions across the world – with the main video gaming markets being North America, Japan, Europe and Australia.

Microsoft, despite being new-boys in the video game console market with the XBox 360 being only their second venture into it, have already established a firm fanbase of millions all over the world thanks to the success of the original XBox console. One of the main features that the XBox introduced to the console games market was the first online gaming community with any real feeling of value. XBox Live, the online gaming service of the XBox and now the XBox 360 too, was far superior to the Playstation Network – the Playstation 2 equivalent online service.

Microsoft of course have no lack of funds, and they gave the launch of the XBox console and indeed the XBox 360 console a huge kickstart by securing exclusive titles which proved a huge success. Notably games from the Grand Theft Auto and Halo games series.

The Playstation 3, although very powerful, has so far been living off the reputation established by the Playstation and Playstation 2, as it brings nothing to the industry which the XBox 360 and Nintendo Wii don’t offer also. Metal Gear Solid 4 alone, has infact been a major selling point of the console for many gamers – as it’s not available on the XBox 360 or Nintendo Wii consoles.

The Nintendo Wii is without doubt the most refreshing addition to the video games industry for quite some time, bringing a new perspective into gaming that has never before been explored, and it aims to get a stranglehold on the growing audience of lifestyle-aware gamers. Ultimately the Nintendo Wii gets gamers moving with it’s new motion sensitive control system and thanks to the many peripherals which the controller connects to, the possibilities that open up to you within Nintendo Wii games seem endless.

The only real exclusive titles worth mentioning to the Nintendo Wii, as with previous consoles, are those starring the companies legendary gaming mascot, Mario, such as Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Wii.

The difference in graphical power behind the XBox 360, Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii consoles is minimal and the game support for all three consoles is like never before ensuring all three have thrived alongside one another and continue to do so. There will be no clear winner in the current console war, as unlike in those gone by, most gamers find themselves loving two of the major consoles, if not all three! It’s no longer a “fan-boy” industry where everyone has their favourite, which can only be good news for the future of video gaming which has already grown at a faster rate than ever before in recent years.