Tech

Building Inclusivity Into the Design Process With Real-Time Visualization – Urban Toronto

Published

3 years ago

April 6, 2022

Building Information Modelling (BIM) software is used by firms across the Architecture/Engineering/Construction (AEC) industry to document, visualize, and develop the designs behind infrastructure. Several software packages are on the market to address the AEC industry’s needs. Last week, Paul Keskeys, Editor in Chief at Architizer, hosted a webinar on the art of architectural rendering with Roderick Bates, Head of Integrated Practice at Enscape, one of the companies offering software solutions. Listeners from around the world tuned in to hear their discussion, ‘How to Build inclusivity into the Design Process with Real-Time Visualization.’

“While it’s a fantastic tool for what it is, BIM is for trained professionals,” says Bates. “It’s not for the end user of the building.” Stakeholders – particularly client groups or the public – do not have the expertise to navigate BIM models nor interpret traditional building drawings. “If you try to communicate with BIM, you exclude stakeholders from having a full understanding of what that design is.”

Enscape’s real-time rendering software integrates into major CAD platforms. Bringing experience in architecture firms, and as a self-described “conduit for customer feedback,” Bates’ focus is ensuring that Enscape’s products align with the AEC industry’s needs. Enscape bridges the necessarily complex and perhaps abstract BIM/CAD interface and reality of a constructed project. This helps both designers and their clients to envision what a design will look like when built. Bates says, “To BIM data, we add key ingredients – motion, spatial exploration, and engagement – to allow for an inclusive, broad understanding of a building design.”

Presentation slide “Understanding virtual space” L) Front Elevation C) Side Elevation R) Visualized through motion, image by Enscape

To illustrate these three components, Bates cited a series of studies testing participants in VR environments.

Elevations or similar drawings are too far removed from reality for many to understand on a level sufficient to make rapid, informed design decisions. However, introducing motion helps– when you see something from multiple perspectives over a brief period of time, it becomes much easier to understand.

Presentation slide “Understanding virtual space” L) 2D condition C) 3D static condition R) 3D immersive condition, image by Enscape

Spatial exploration is also important to comprehension – it unlocks people’s capacity to navigate a space on their own and create mental maps. Bates cited a recent study where participants in teams of three were tasked with selecting an apartment based on digital representations. As one might expect, 3D virtual environments are more effective in supporting an understanding of space than 2D information presentations. Bates noted, however, that while 3D immersion is best for individual understanding, 3D static images are best for shared understanding and group decision-making.

To illustrate the third component, engagement, Bates referred to a VR user study that looked at the impact of visual complexity on users’ spatial orientation. When participants viewed 3D maps with varying levels of detail (building blocks, topography, etc.), the additional visual complexity made it easier to locate themselves and increased the environment’s general appeal.

Presentation slide “Levels of Detail,” image by Enscape

So, what does this mean in the context of design?

The tool provides a variety of ways in which information can be presented. Its ‘white mode’ (stripped-down model), for example, is helpful to focus attention on specific details, whereas greater detail is favourable to increase interest and engagement around a particular design.

In Enscape’s current offering, users can plant a flag and make comments, however, it has not had the kind of traction they had hoped for. Users want a more casual, more inclusive interface, like with a scratch pad, “something that is device agnostic, has an intuitive interface, and is easy to use,” says Bates.

Enscape is actively exploring a product concept called ‘Collaborative Annotation’ where users are equipped with a drawing pad and can sketch and comment directly on top of a drawing and share feedback across the entire design team. “It’s an accessible way in which to provide nuanced feedback on the design, overall increasing their level of engagement and agency.”

“Real-Time Feedback – Collaborative Annotation,” image by Enscape

Enscape’s product is constantly evolving, and the company looks to users to feed back on their needs of today and tomorrow, to ensure they make it into the product roadmap.

Audience questions involved software, augmented reality, and issues of scale, and different user types. One of the webinar’s polls asked, ‘What’s the biggest challenge when it comes to project communication with clients?’ to which the audience overwhelmingly responded: ‘Ensuring clients understand what is being proposed’, and ‘Visualizations take too long to create.’

One of the challenges designers face is that really realistic drawings early in the process tend to scare people off, as they feel the design is already finished. Echoing audience comments, Keskeys discussed the desire for RT renderings that look more like a sketch – less real, less permanent – inviting stakeholders to mark-up/cut/rearrange the way they would a scale model or a loose sketch. “It’s bridging a gap of physical model on the table which was such a go-to as part of an architect’s presentation and moving into the digital realm …creative ways to combine the two.” This too is something that Enscape is looking at.

These types of emerging technologies can bring stakeholders with no experience in ‘reading’ drawings to truly understand a design (at any phase) in such a way that they can have valuable input on the project itself.

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This story is not meant as an endorsement by UrbanToronto of this software solution over other possible solutions, and no promotional fee was transacted for its publication.

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UrbanToronto’s new data research service, UrbanToronto Pro, offers comprehensive information on construction projects in the Greater Toronto Area—from proposal right through to completion stages. In addition, our subscription newsletter, New Development Insider, drops in your mailbox daily to help you track projects through the planning process.

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Tech

Ottawa orders TikTok’s Canadian arm to be dissolved

Published

3 days ago

November 6, 2024

Anne Joseph

The federal government is ordering the dissolution of TikTok’s Canadian business after a national security review of the Chinese company behind the social media platform, but stopped short of ordering people to stay off the app.

Industry Minister François-Philippe Champagne announced the government’s “wind up” demand Wednesday, saying it is meant to address “risks” related to ByteDance Ltd.’s establishment of TikTok Technology Canada Inc.

“The decision was based on the information and evidence collected over the course of the review and on the advice of Canada’s security and intelligence community and other government partners,” he said in a statement.

The announcement added that the government is not blocking Canadians’ access to the TikTok application or their ability to create content.

However, it urged people to “adopt good cybersecurity practices and assess the possible risks of using social media platforms and applications, including how their information is likely to be protected, managed, used and shared by foreign actors, as well as to be aware of which country’s laws apply.”

Champagne’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment seeking details about what evidence led to the government’s dissolution demand, how long ByteDance has to comply and why the app is not being banned.

A TikTok spokesperson said in a statement that the shutdown of its Canadian offices will mean the loss of hundreds of well-paying local jobs.

“We will challenge this order in court,” the spokesperson said.

“The TikTok platform will remain available for creators to find an audience, explore new interests and for businesses to thrive.”

The federal Liberals ordered a national security review of TikTok in September 2023, but it was not public knowledge until The Canadian Press reported in March that it was investigating the company.

At the time, it said the review was based on the expansion of a business, which it said constituted the establishment of a new Canadian entity. It declined to provide any further details about what expansion it was reviewing.

A government database showed a notification of new business from TikTok in June 2023. It said Network Sense Ventures Ltd. in Toronto and Vancouver would engage in “marketing, advertising, and content/creator development activities in relation to the use of the TikTok app in Canada.”

Even before the review, ByteDance and TikTok were lightning rod for privacy and safety concerns because Chinese national security laws compel organizations in the country to assist with intelligence gathering.

Such concerns led the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill in March designed to ban TikTok unless its China-based owner sells its stake in the business.

Champagne’s office has maintained Canada’s review was not related to the U.S. bill, which has yet to pass.

Canada’s review was carried out through the Investment Canada Act, which allows the government to investigate any foreign investment with potential to might harm national security.

While cabinet can make investors sell parts of the business or shares, Champagne has said the act doesn’t allow him to disclose details of the review.

Wednesday’s dissolution order was made in accordance with the act.

The federal government banned TikTok from its mobile devices in February 2023 following the launch of an investigation into the company by federal and provincial privacy commissioners.

— With files from Anja Karadeglija in Ottawa

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 6, 2024.

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Health

Here is how to prepare your online accounts for when you die

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Most people have accumulated a pile of data — selfies, emails, videos and more — on their social media and digital accounts over their lifetimes. What happens to it when we die?

It’s wise to draft a will spelling out who inherits your physical assets after you’re gone, but don’t forget to take care of your digital estate too. Friends and family might treasure files and posts you’ve left behind, but they could get lost in digital purgatory after you pass away unless you take some simple steps.

Here’s how you can prepare your digital life for your survivors:

Apple

The iPhone maker lets you nominate a “ legacy contact ” who can access your Apple account’s data after you die. The company says it’s a secure way to give trusted people access to photos, files and messages. To set it up you’ll need an Apple device with a fairly recent operating system — iPhones and iPads need iOS or iPadOS 15.2 and MacBooks needs macOS Monterey 12.1.

For iPhones, go to settings, tap Sign-in & Security and then Legacy Contact. You can name one or more people, and they don’t need an Apple ID or device.

You’ll have to share an access key with your contact. It can be a digital version sent electronically, or you can print a copy or save it as a screenshot or PDF.

Take note that there are some types of files you won’t be able to pass on — including digital rights-protected music, movies and passwords stored in Apple’s password manager. Legacy contacts can only access a deceased user’s account for three years before Apple deletes the account.

Google

Google takes a different approach with its Inactive Account Manager, which allows you to share your data with someone if it notices that you’ve stopped using your account.

When setting it up, you need to decide how long Google should wait — from three to 18 months — before considering your account inactive. Once that time is up, Google can notify up to 10 people.

You can write a message informing them you’ve stopped using the account, and, optionally, include a link to download your data. You can choose what types of data they can access — including emails, photos, calendar entries and YouTube videos.

There’s also an option to automatically delete your account after three months of inactivity, so your contacts will have to download any data before that deadline.

Facebook and Instagram

Some social media platforms can preserve accounts for people who have died so that friends and family can honor their memories.

When users of Facebook or Instagram die, parent company Meta says it can memorialize the account if it gets a “valid request” from a friend or family member. Requests can be submitted through an online form.

The social media company strongly recommends Facebook users add a legacy contact to look after their memorial accounts. Legacy contacts can do things like respond to new friend requests and update pinned posts, but they can’t read private messages or remove or alter previous posts. You can only choose one person, who also has to have a Facebook account.

You can also ask Facebook or Instagram to delete a deceased user’s account if you’re a close family member or an executor. You’ll need to send in documents like a death certificate.

TikTok

The video-sharing platform says that if a user has died, people can submit a request to memorialize the account through the settings menu. Go to the Report a Problem section, then Account and profile, then Manage account, where you can report a deceased user.

Once an account has been memorialized, it will be labeled “Remembering.” No one will be able to log into the account, which prevents anyone from editing the profile or using the account to post new content or send messages.

It’s not possible to nominate a legacy contact on Elon Musk’s social media site. But family members or an authorized person can submit a request to deactivate a deceased user’s account.

Passwords

Besides the major online services, you’ll probably have dozens if not hundreds of other digital accounts that your survivors might need to access. You could just write all your login credentials down in a notebook and put it somewhere safe. But making a physical copy presents its own vulnerabilities. What if you lose track of it? What if someone finds it?

Instead, consider a password manager that has an emergency access feature. Password managers are digital vaults that you can use to store all your credentials. Some, like Keeper,Bitwarden and NordPass, allow users to nominate one or more trusted contacts who can access their keys in case of an emergency such as a death.

But there are a few catches: Those contacts also need to use the same password manager and you might have to pay for the service.

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Is there a tech challenge you need help figuring out? Write to us at onetechtip@ap.org with your questions.

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Tech

Google’s partnership with AI startup Anthropic faces a UK competition investigation

Published

2 weeks ago

October 24, 2024

Anne Joseph

LONDON (AP) — Britain’s competition watchdog said Thursday it’s opening a formal investigation into Google’s partnership with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it has “sufficient information” to launch an initial probe after it sought input earlier this year on whether the deal would stifle competition.

The CMA has until Dec. 19 to decide whether to approve the deal or escalate its investigation.

“Google is committed to building the most open and innovative AI ecosystem in the world,” the company said. “Anthropic is free to use multiple cloud providers and does, and we don’t demand exclusive tech rights.”

San Francisco-based Anthropic was founded in 2021 by siblings Dario and Daniela Amodei, who previously worked at ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The company has focused on increasing the safety and reliability of AI models. Google reportedly agreed last year to make a multibillion-dollar investment in Anthropic, which has a popular chatbot named Claude.

Anthropic said it’s cooperating with the regulator and will provide “the complete picture about Google’s investment and our commercial collaboration.”

“We are an independent company and none of our strategic partnerships or investor relationships diminish the independence of our corporate governance or our freedom to partner with others,” it said in a statement.

The U.K. regulator has been scrutinizing a raft of AI deals as investment money floods into the industry to capitalize on the artificial intelligence boom. Last month it cleared Anthropic’s $4 billion deal with Amazon and it has also signed off on Microsoft’s deals with two other AI startups, Inflection and Mistral.

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