Saturday, December 28, 2019

The Self-Driving Automaton

The Self-Driving Automaton The Self-Driving Automaton The Self-Driving AutomatonThe autonomous car is easy. Yes, compared to the doltish vehicles of decades past, completely dependent, as they were, for all navigation on the people at their wheels- be they drunk, sober, passive, aggressive, reckless, homicidal, suicidal, erratic, law-fearing, or plain bonkers- the self-driving auto is a marvel to behold. But, to get a human-free car to safely guide itself through the streets and highways of our land, theres already a baseline to go by the rules of the road. And our computational wonderthings are very good at following rules.But theres another arena of transportation thats mora lawless. Or, at least, the rules are unspoken (and have no weight in a court of law). The sidewalk. Navigating the strips on concrete that line our streets is a much more subtle affair, dependent on body language, unconscious conventions, and social and cultural norms. Google Chauffeur installed on a smaller ma chine wouldnt do too well on a pedestrian pathway. Now a team of researchers at Stanford has taken up the challenge of creating a self-navigating machine for the sidewalk. Their R2D2-sized autonomous automaton is named Jackrabbot, after its hare-like form. To successfully steer itself through the complex world of walkways, Jackrabbot relies on several methodologies. The traditional CNN deep learning approaches are not sufficiently adequate, says Silvio Salvarese, a professor of computer science and the director of Stanfords Computational Vision and Geometry Lab. What my group is trying to do is integrate more traditional machine learning with neural networks.Analyzing human interactions on unigelnde sidewalks. Image StanfordThe goal is to have a robot that moves like a pedestrian. To do so it has to understand a lot more than human to human interactions. The sidewalk, after all, hosts skateboarders, bicyclists, hoverboarders, wheelchairs, dog walkers, and squirrels in addition to un adorned people out for a stroll. You can see that the complexity of interaction is much richer than that between humans, says Salvarese. For example, pedestrians and bikes use a lot of conventions and subtle cues, in close proximity, without accidents- well, sometimes accidents, but mostly not.To understand this complexity, and get it into the Jackrabbot, the team collected a massive data set of interactions on collegiate walkways. What we did is fly a drone over the Stanford unigelnde, says Savarese, and we recorded hours and hours of footage of all possible actors that populate the campus pedestrians, bikes, skateboards, strollers. All these agents and trajectories are for learning inter-class relationships. The data also includes non-agents such as sidewalk, grass, trees, fountains, and staircases.A side effect of the project is that, in learning how to best inform Jackrabbot on how to navigate among humans, theyve learned a lot about how humans navigate among humans. Their data could be used by civil engineers and sociologists hoping to better understand the flow of humanity. And their technique neednt be limited to understanding human interactions. In fact, one colleague at the school has put the team and their practices to use in an attempt to track the relationships of hens in large colonies. And, of course, those autonomous cars could make use of the approach. Theres more to the rules of the road than the rules, after all. At urban intersections with stop signs, self-driving cars will have to understand when walker hesitation is just a safety check, and when its a sign that the right of way had been surrendered. More immediate applications for the Jackrabbot could include assisting shoppers, patrolling the campus as a mobile information booth, and solving the last mile problem (that is, unloading deliveries of cargo delivered by self-driving truck).So far, Jackrabbot has done the majority of its meandering indoors. Itll spend more time outside on the p athways of the Stanford campus this fall, when then team is sure all safety issues have been worked out. Then finally, perhaps, robots will become the autonomous things they were first imagined to be.Its an exciting time for AI, says Savarese. My group is really trying to help make an ecosystem where humans and robots are interacting in successful and imaginative ways.Michael Abrams is an independent writer.Pedestrians and bikes use a lot of conventions and subtle cues, in close proximity, without accidents- well, sometimes accidents, but mostly not.Prof. Silvio Salvarese, Stanford University

Monday, December 23, 2019

How to Become a Television Executive

How to Become a Television ExecutiveHow to Become a Television ExecutiveTelevision executives are in charge of programming. They decide which pilots get made into TV shows, which series get renewed, and which programs get canceled. Being an executive can be rewarding and potentially lucrative, though the job can also be quite demanding and highly competitive. Getting elevated to this level in the industry takes determination, motivation, and astute networking abilities. And once an executive has earned such a coveted slot, like any greenlit pilot, they have to prove themselves and get good ratings to get renewed. The Traits and Tasks of a Television Executive Success starts by being well informed. TV execs need to know whats airing on every competing network and streaming platform and whos writing, directing, and staring in the top shows. With traditional broadcasters, plus all the cable networks, and the disparate digital providers, this can be a time-consuming endeavor. They al so have to understand the process of show development, be familiar with the overall life of a series, and possess keen instincts forecasting which programs are going to resonate. While there are several different executive jobs, the two most prominent positions- the current executive and development executive- are among the most essential. Current Executive Role This person oversees projects that are currently on the air. Working with the writers, producers, directors, and the casts of existing television shows, they serve as a liaison between the network or senderaum and the actual production. A current executives job is to make sure a given production services the needs of the network or studio, grows in viewer ratings and stays on budget. They must also solve any issues that arise, from cast changes to hiring and managing writers and directors, and ensure that each production hits its pre-established timeline. Development Executive Role This person works on developing new TV show concepts. These ideas can come directly from pitches from writers and production companies or from exploring a concept, genre, or style the network feels is missing from their current line up. Whatever the case, the development executives ultimate goal is finding fresh material to put into production. Once a concept is in place, the exec works to get the shows developed. First, theyll identify writers for the project, then enlist a director, assist with casting decisions, and later tap additional writers and producers once a show goes from a pilot to series production. Getting a Television Executive Job Starting as an assistant to a TV executive is one of the fastest routes to becoming an exec yourself. As an assistant, you can learn the ins and outs from someone established. And youll also have a chance to interact with the managers, agents, writers, directors, and producers youll be working with should you get promoted. Be a Sponge Soak up all the knowledge you can. I f you land a position as an assistant, make it clear that youd like to learn on the job. Most executives- or at least those who dont feel threatened- will be happy to give you tips and insight. Many of them climbed up the ladder the same way. Theres also something in it for them. Smart executives know that the more informed their assistant is, the more autonomous and capable they can be for them.Be Assertive Read every script that comes in, watch every platzset of dailies, learn the names of the players, and youll find that you suddenly become executive material. And when it comes time to fill that next open slot, you may be taken seriously as a potential candidate. Be Personable This is a job in Hollywood where connections really can help you get to where you want to be. Most of these positions are filled internally through promotion or internal transfer. So, its vital to network within the networks and studios and determine who can help you once youre ready to make your move.

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Learn How to Book a Concert Tour

Learn How to Book a Concert TourLearn How to Book a Concert TourBooking a concert tour isnt that much different from booking a local gig youre just doing it on a much larger scale. Given the scale, its probably no surprise that taking a combo out on tour can be expensive. Even a bare-bones tour where everyone sleeps in the van and lives on pretzels might cost more than youre anticipating. How to Book a Concert Tour by Yourself Booking a concert tour is a great way to expand your audience, but there are a lot of things to consider before you strike out in the van. Since you are booking your own tour, you dont have an agent helping you avoid the common touring pitfalls - but that also means youre saving on agency fees. Here are some things you need to know before getting started and how to take the first steps in planning a concert tour on your own. Set a Tour Budget If youre an artist or part of a band hitting the road to build a name foryourself, then youre not likely to mak e much money from your shows. The tour is likely to be an out-of-pocket adventure, so your budget will need to encompass every stage of planning. Know exactly how much you can afford to spend before you hit the road. The tricky part of creating a tour budget for your first tour is that there are a lot of unknown variables. You might be able to calculate a rough idea of what youll make per show, but always low-ball those estimates, and err on the side of caution if youre not sure. Working on a budget will help you figure out where you can trim costs, it will also help you flag things you may have skipped in your planning. Pick Your Touring Area So where do you want to play? Make a wish list, keepin mind you have to consider budget first and other factors second.As touring costs a lot, getting the most bang for your buck is critical. One of the best ways to get value for money is choosing your touring destinations wisely. If youve been getting good press in a particular area, add it to your list. If this tour is more about getting your music to a new audience and promoting a new release, first consider places that are budget-friendly and may have a concentration of music press and industry people.Ideally,youll choose places where you have a personal connection of some kind, whether its a strong fan cousine or a promoter you know well. Do a little research into the venues in the cities or towns youre interested in. Find gig listing guides to see where musicians in your genre and of your level are playing. Make a short list of venues to approach, not forgetting to include places where you might make a good support band. Balancing these considerations will help you identify a good area for your tour. Choose Your Touring Window Now that you know where you want to go, you need to decide when you want to be there. There are two mini steps involved here. First, pick a window of dates that you can be on the road, factoring in work, family commitments, and other life events that you cant miss. Within that window, select a smaller window of dates for each city in which you hope to play. It will help you keep costsdown since it will reduce the amount of traveling you need to do. Write Your Itinerary Much like a budget, a tour itinerary helps keep you on track and helps you identify potential problems. At a minimum, an itinerary should include the dates and times of your shows (including things that can eat into your schedule like load-in, and soundchecks. It also needs to include details about where youre staying every day, with contact information and check-in times. Factor in how long youll have to drive every day and include the cost of gas. Contact information for promoters, other bands youre playing with, and venue details should be on the itinerary as well. Essentially your itinerary should be your go-to guide for everything you need to know about your tour. departure writing the itinerary as soon as you start booking and keep updat ing it as you plan. Share it with other band members, either via an electronic means like Google Drive or hard copies. Make sure that there is always a backup in case something unexpected happens (which it almost certainly will). Be Creative and Flexible The process of booking a show out of town is essentially the same as booking a show in town. But in areas other than your neighborhood. Youre going to have to work harder to convince a venue and a promoter that you can get people in the door. If youve been getting some press/radio play, then youve got a strong case. If you havent, try asking about sharing a booking with some local acts that are a good draw. Consider being an opening act. Let them know what promotional support youll provide, such as your website, social media accounts or mailing lists. If you have handily conquered your local scene, the experience of booking a tour outside of your local scene can feel a little bit like going backward. If you havent had much press or radio play or your bands profile is essentially zero outside of your area, a gig swap can go a long way towards making your shows worthwhile. Hook up with musicians who have conquered their local scene as you have done yours, bask in their built-in audience, and hopefully, make some fans who will come out to see the next time. Sell Merchandise Make some money along the way at your tour stops to keep your van full of gas and your bellies full of food - while spreading your bands brand prestige and getting your music to more ears. Typically a venue will take a cut of the door revenue, but wont often ask for any percentage of the merchandise you sell. Set up a merch table - and have a trustworthy friend or fan man the booth to make sure all the cash is there at the end of the show. Sell T-shirts, posters, CDs, or other branded items. You can even take credit card now with services like PayPal or Square. Check and Double-Check Your Budget Youve done the bookings, found cheap hotels, have estimated costs for food and gas. Now, go back over everything with a fine-toothed comb and make sure theres nowhere else you can save money. If youve been realistic, your budget and itinerary will help ensure youll have a successful first concert tour.

Friday, December 13, 2019

Leadership - Show Your Office You Can Lead - The Muse

Leadership - Show Your Office You Can Lead - The MuseLeadership - Show Your Office You Can Lead Its possibly the toughest transition youll make in your career the shift from doing to leading. If youve made a name for yourself as a rock star high performer and are recognized as a high-potential emerging leader, the day will soon come when youll have to stop doing everything youre great at and discard the strengths that got you to where you are today to become an effective leader. You see, those skills- things like your subject matter expertise, your just do it track record of execution, and your ability to take a task and run with it without close supervision- can actually derail you as a manager if you keep trying to accomplish things the way youve always done them. As a leader, its no longer your responsibility to do. Its your job to help others do the tasks- and do them well. Leading and doing are polar opposites, and it can be hard to switch hit and start swinging in the other dir ection- but swing you must if youre ever to be mora than just a doer. Even if youre not in a management position yet, you can start learning this skill. To give you a head start, here are three things you can learn- and apply- immediately about the transition from doing to leading1. Become an Ex-Specialist and a Well-Rounded GeneralistLeading is all about marshaling your resources and stepping out of your comfort zone. Lisa Walsh, vice president at PepsiCo Sales, says, Youve probably built success as a specialist who is adept at knowing your topic or your area of the business. Its one of the reasons youve gotten promoted. But as you go higher, you will be valued for understanding the business and how various pieces of the business integrate into the whole.So, those company-wide email updates that youve been ignoring? Its time to stop hitting delete and start mining them for information that can contribute to your knowledge of whats going on outside your department. In addition, star t networking outside your team, looking for people like yourself who are subject matter experts trying to broaden their exposure to other areas of the business. As you begin to trade knowledge, youll become each others go-to people. If you work in finance, for instance, recruit some smart new friends in research, engineering, manufacturing, and marketing. Then, you wont only have an expert contact in each of those areas, but by collaborating with them, youll begin to learn that knowledge yourself and become more well-rounded within the company. 2. Own Your Failures, Not Your SuccessesUntil now, youve probably made a point of showcasing your accomplishments and promoting your value up the chain of command. Its how you got recognized as a high-potential emerging leader in the first place. Well, get ready for that to change. In the transition from doing to leading, youll have to re-evaluate how you deal with successes and failures.Walsh says, Most of us work on high-powered teams, but every team needs a leader. You have to be willing to put yourself out there, take risks, and take responsibility for both successes and failures. Thats what makes a great leader.The Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, When the best leaders work is done, the people say, We did it ourselves. To be a great leader, youll need to get in the habit of letting your team own the wins, while you assume responsibility for risks and failures.According to a CFO with Bank of America, true leaders are humble enough to apologize publicly and gloat privately. You dont see leaders bragging about their success, she says. They talk about their team and their teams contributions. And if they feel really good about themselves, they boast at home or with a close friend, but not publicly. Whats more, a leader will apologize and take accountability for his or her actions when things go wrong.So, how can up-and-coming leaders display this skill, even if theyre not in a leadership role yet? Next time a gro up youve worked with achieves a big win, publicly acknowledge each individual for his or her effort. And next time the team suffers a setback, dont play the blame game. Instead, raise your hand to be the one to deliver the bad news to management, along with a plan for how the team can move forward.3. Turn Your To-Do List Into a To-Lead ListThe best way to learn leadership skills is not to wait until you are promoted, but to take on a management challenge first, regardless of whether youre in a supervisory position.Your challenge is this Identify a task or a project that is currently on your to-do list, such as an assignment at work or, if theres nothing suitable on-site, a project outside of work, such as a charitable drive or a professional association event. Then, try to achieve the end result by leading- not doing- the work. For example, if you work in HR, you might be the go-to person to stay up late finessing the PowerPoint deck the night before a big presentation to the execut ive team. But is this something you could accomplish by leading someone else on the team, rather than doing the work yourself? Those are the questions youll find yourself answering in a leadership position- questions you can practice answering now. To do this well at work, youll need to get to know your peers, the things that motivate them, and their career aspirations. And let your manager know that youre looking for ways to practice your people management and project leadership skills. (To be clear This is not about mindlessly pushing your workload off onto others)Get clear on the goal or end result of the project, share your goal with your manager, and offer to include colleagues who would be excited to get involved. Tie your request to your colleagues to something that you know would benefit them, like Its not just another presentation we have the opportunity to change the way our company handles flex working or Heres an opportunity to show off your graphic design skills. They k ey to success is to make it personal and meaningful.Dont tell them what to do, but work together to create clear goals, expectations, and accountability by asking questions like How will we measure success? What steps do we need to take to make that happen? How will we hold ourselves accountable? and How will we celebrate when we achieve this? By shifting the focus away from yourself and onto a team member, youll learn the valuable art of leadership while still working one-on-one with a trusted collaborator. So there you have it To make the leap from employee to leader, move from specialist to generalist, let the team own the wins while you own the failures, and turn your to-do list into a to-lead list.In short, dont just do it- lead itPhoto of flock of birds courtesy of Shutterstock.

Sunday, December 8, 2019

Where to Find Resume References Format

Where to Find Resume References Format Resume References Format - the Conspiracy By way of example, maybe you want to emphasize your management and leadership abilities. Even if it resembles a solitary undertaking, the work search is a give-and-take process which relies on lots of individuals. For nearly all job applications you wont need to incorporate any references with your resume. Since you may see, the candidate quantified how lots of new employees he trained and the number of patients he treated daily. When you must provide references to a prospective employer, the ideal way to do it is to create a reference page you may share with them. You ought to be able to list a minimum of five references on a single page. Your one page may be used a lot more effectively. List the references most likely to supply you with a glowing recommendation close to the peak of your list. Only submit your references if youre asked to. Character In some instances, you may want to offer c haracter references. Hence, references cant be provided by any person. Ensure all your references are contented to endorse you. Formatting your resume references is a comparatively straightforward undertaking. Make both columns symmetrical by listing the very same number of references in every single column. You would rather not include things like an emaille address with a typo or a telephone number thats missing a digit. You cant mention the reference from every individual. Be certain to include whole contact information for every one of your references. Mention the total name of the individual providing reference, title of the individual, complete address and contact number. It is possible to also incorporate volunteer experience and menial work in the experience section. The only time that it is acceptable to include references with the resume in a work application is when theyre requested directly in the work vacancy description. If youre looking for work, then youl l need references. The ideal time to find a job is when youve got work, but it doesnt indicate that its simple to look for work during the time that youre employed. Free reference list samples do save a whole lot of time and energy. Even if all your references are contented to be on your list, it is a great concept to supply a heads-up that someone might be reaching out to ask about you. Obviously, you need to make sure everyone in your list may give a positive recommendation but if youre being honest, Im convinced you can pick which one of your references is probably to provide you an impressive recommendation. Remember your references ought to be on a single parcel of paper. The Resume References Format Stories Because you might be sending your reference sheet with your resume, its recommended to use the exact same font on both documents. Are you attempting to discover what the ideal font for resume 2019 is. Possessing the ideal font for resume 2019 and the perfect forma t is extremely essential for getting your application noticed no matter where youre applying. Dont neglect to use the identical font. Choosing who to request a reference is a significant step in your application approach. The last webpage of the essay or perhaps an investigation paper is going to be the reference website. Searching for the ideal task Resume Structure. Observe these kinds of test guide data. The Benefits of Resume References Format As soon as its important to get people who can vouch for your abilities and abilities, offering a list of references right from the gate during work search isnt always the ideal policy. Try to remember that these references for resume are offered by the immediate seniors at the job or the folks holding-gesellschaft reputed place in the society. If do not have any expert experience, writing a resume may appear impossible. Resumes references may be the secret to demonstrate a strong history of succeeding and have a better chance a t getting through the interview. Most Noticeable Resume References Format Not all resumes should have or should have the very same skills. You would like your CV to demonstrate which you are professional and polished. Above all you need your CV to be simple to read at a glance. By earning your CV clear and simple to follow, you raise the probability an employer will look at it carefully.

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

What You Need to Know About Resume Writing Tips for Older Applicants

What You Need to Know About Resume Writing Tips for Older Applicants What You Should Do to Find Out About Resume Writing Tips for Older Applicants Before Youre Left Behind Emphasize you have a continuous interest in staying on top of the newest education alternatives and philosophies in your area. Analyze job ads You will see a great deal of helpful info on job ads. If you should put your older home on the industry, there are probably some things which you would do in order to raise the curb appeal, or possibly upgrade a few of the furnishings on the inside. There are both local and internet options are available, and generally the investment will be well worth the money. Resume Writing Tips for Older Applicants - Is it a Scam? 1 page wont get the job done for any of them. There are many websites with tips around the internet, but fruchtwein bring just a small number of them. Many examples and templates are offered on the web, he states. The Resume Writing Tips for Older A pplicants Trap Additionally, there are things which you can do on your own to boost your odds of landing a new job. The info on your resume is a significant aspect in landing you your dream job, which explains why you should find out the best ideas for writing a great resume. Keep in mind, your resume is just the very first step. Put simply, all experience is crucial, whether paid or voluntary, provided that its related to the job available. Usually, you only ought to demonstrate the most recent 10-15 decades of your career history and just incorporate the experience pertinent to the positions to which youre applying. Every time you submit an application for a job, your resume should evolve. If it is time to make tweaks dependent on the work position, always make certain you look at the little details for accuracy. Life After Resume Writing Tips for Older Applicants Your skills must be rejuvenated, too. Older applications frequently have resumes that are full of years of va luable experience. If youre trying to expand your understanding of specific software, youre able to learn on your own time utilizing online tutorials through a service like Lynda.com.