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Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit could be more than a mixed reality tech demo – MobileSyrup

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4 years ago

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While it’s likely still a little too early to tell, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit feels like it has the potential to be more than just a toys-to-life mixed reality (MR) tech demo.

During a virtual preview session hosted by Nintendo that expanded on some of the upcoming MR title’s features, I finally saw it in action. In various ways, Home Circuit is the kind of game you need to see to understand.

I remember watching Nintendo’s still recently released trailer and not grasping how the Home Circuit worked. Am I really controlling the physical kart? Is it all just in-game, and the karts don’t move? Is this just a very expensive amiibo?

First off, Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit really does allow players to turn their home into a real-world Mario Kart course. The setup process involves placing four gates and two arrow signboards to create a custom track. It’s worth noting that given the game’s expensive price tag, it’s disappointing the gates consist of what seems like flimsy cardboard.

The size of your play space can vary significantly, with tracks extending to a maximum of 4.6m and players being able to race at a total of 9m away from the course.

You then download Home Circuit from the eShop and scan a QR code on the back of the physical Luigi or Mario kart to sync the toy with the Switch. While Mario Kart Live is available for free in the eShop, it requires the kart toy to be playable.

After a quick setup lap around your custom track involving painting the course with a virtual kart, you’re ready to race in one of the title’s several modes, including Grand Prix circuits, time trials and local multiplayer with up to four players.

There’s no online multiplayer featured in Mario Kart Live, but that’s to be expected, given its focus on mixed reality. However, Nintendo says the game disconnects the Switch from Wi-Fi entirely to connect to the kart.

To be clear, your actions in the mixed-reality portion of the game affect the real-world kart. This means that when you turn a corner in Home Circuit on the Switch, the actual physical kart turns in the real-world. Also, if you hit an item box and get your hands on, for example, a Green Shell, shooting it successfully at an opponent will result in their kart slowing down both in the game on the Switch and in the real-world. The same can be said about accidentally hitting a table leg or couch.

In some ways, this is similar to Anki’s Overdrive line of modern-day slot cars. With Overdrive, you set up your own course using track pieces, and then control your vehicle via your smartphone. There are abilities, attacks and other features that come into play with Overdrive, but your attention is always on the physical cars whipping around the track you created. With Home Circuit, your attention is divided between the real-world kart and the actual game running in mixed reality on the Switch.

San Francisco-based Anki shut down in April 2019 after running out of money, but Digital Dream Labs eventually purchased its assets in January 2020.

Though Nintendo says all the Mario Kart series mainstays are in the game, it’s difficult to tell if Mario Kart Live will feel like a proper entry in the iconic series, especially since the in-game perspective is so close to the kart that it’s almost in first-person. With that in mind, there are 50cc, 100cc and 150cc karts. There are even 200cc races where the physical cart can drive at 10km/h when hitting a boost.

If you’ve been watching the Fast and the Furious movies and you’re looking to race at 150cc or 200cc, Nintendo suggests using a much larger play space because otherwise, the kart is challenging to control.

The game also features the ability to customize gates with AR obstacles like Piranha Plants, Thwomps, Item Pipes, Music Notes and several other options. Still, I’m concerned that beyond being fascinating technology, after a few hours, Home Circuit‘s mixed reality novelty will wear off.

For example, to play multiplayer, you need to buy two Mario or Luigi karts, which is an expensive proposition for most people. Otherwise, you’re stuck racing against AI Bowser Jr. and other Koopalings. A lot of the appeal of the Mario Kart series comes from racing against friends.

On the plus side, you can change your course to different mixed reality environments like racing underwater or in a desert, which in turn, subtly shifts how the kart handles. Further, just like in other more recent Mario Kart titles, coins you collect in the game can be used to unlock cosmetic features for your kart and racer. That said, these cosmetics unfortunately don’t affect how the kart controls.

Most of the game’s fun seems to stem from actually building the course, which you’re able to alter with real-world items. For example, say you decide to place a few small cardboard boxes in the middle of your track. This means you’ll need to navigate around those boxes in AR while playing the game. Nintendo also claims the real-world karts are very durable and can easily withstand crashes.

This is also one of the rare instances where Nintendo is handing the reins of one of its iconic franchises to a North American developer. While a joint project with significant input from the Japanese gaming giant, the bulk of Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit‘s development was handled by Troy, New York-based developer Velan Studios.

Since I haven’t actually played Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit yet and have only watched the game in action, it’s difficult to know for sure if it has the potential to be more than just an impressive mixed reality demo.

The groundwork is there, though, especially if you’re willing to pick up more than one $129 physical kart to play the game. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit releases on October 16th. MobileSyrup will have more on Home Circuit in the coming weeks.

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Slack researcher discusses the fear, loathing and excitement surrounding AI in the workplace

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9 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Artificial intelligence‘s recent rise to the forefront of business has left most office workers wondering how often they should use the technology and whether a computer will eventually replace them.

Those were among the highlights of a recent study conducted by the workplace communications platform Slack. After conducting in-depth interviews with 5,000 desktop workers, Slack concluded there are five types of AI personalities in the workplace: “The Maximalist” who regularly uses AI on their jobs; “The Underground” who covertly uses AI; “The Rebel,” who abhors AI; “The Superfan” who is excited about AI but still hasn’t used it; and “The Observer” who is taking a wait-and-see approach.

Only 50% of the respondents fell under the Maximalist or Underground categories, posing a challenge for businesses that want their workers to embrace AI technology. The Associated Press recently discussed the excitement and tension surrounding AI at work with Christina Janzer, Slack’s senior vice president of research and analytics.

Q: What do you make about the wide range of perceptions about AI at work?

A: It shows people are experiencing AI in very different ways, so they have very different emotions about it. Understanding those emotions will help understand what is going to drive usage of AI. If people are feeling guilty or nervous about it, they are not going to use it. So we have to understand where people are, then point them toward learning to value this new technology.

Q: The Maximalist and The Underground both seem to be early adopters of AI at work, but what is different about their attitudes?

A: Maximalists are all in on AI. They are getting value out of it, they are excited about it, and they are actively sharing that they are using it, which is a really big driver for usage among others.

The Underground is the one that is really interesting to me because they are using it, but they are hiding it. There are different reasons for that. They are worried they are going to be seen as incompetent. They are worried that AI is going to be seen as cheating. And so with them, we have an opportunity to provide clear guidelines to help them know that AI usage is celebrated and encouraged. But right now they don’t have guidelines from their companies and they don’t feel particularly encouraged to use it.

Overall, there is more excitement about AI than not, so I think that’s great We just need to figure out how to harness that.

Q: What about the 19% of workers who fell under the Rebel description in Slack’s study?

A: Rebels tend to be women, which is really interesting. Three out of five rebels are women, which I obviously don’t like to see. Also, rebels tend to be older. At a high level, men are adopting the technology at higher rates than women.

Q: Why do you think more women than men are resisting AI?

A: Women are more likely to see AI as a threat, more likely to worry that AI is going to take over their jobs. To me, that points to women not feeling as trusted in the workplace as men do. If you feel trusted by your manager, you are more likely to experiment with AI. Women are reluctant to adopt a technology that might be seen as a replacement for them whereas men may have more confidence that isn’t going to happen because they feel more trusted.

Q: What are some of the things employers should be doing if they want their workers to embrace AI on the job?

A: We are seeing three out of five desk workers don’t even have clear guidelines with AI, because their companies just aren’t telling them anything, so that’s a huge opportunity.

Another opportunity to encourage AI usage in the open. If we can create a culture where it’s celebrated, where people can see the way people are using it, then they can know that it’s accepted and celebrated. Then they can be inspired.

The third thing is we have to create a culture of experimentation where people feel comfortable trying it out, testing it, getting comfortable with it because a lot of people just don’t know where to start. The reality is you can start small, you don’t have to completely change your job. Having AI write an email or summarize content is a great place to start so you can start to understand what this technology can do.

Q: Do you think the fears about people losing their jobs because of AI are warranted?

A: People with AI are going to replace people without AI.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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Biden administration to provide $325 million for new Michigan semiconductor factory

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9 hours ago

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October 21, 2024

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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Tuesday that it would provide up to $325 million to Hemlock Semiconductor for a new factory, a move that could help give Democrats a political edge in the swing state of Michigan ahead of election day.

The funding would support 180 manufacturing jobs in Saginaw County, where Republicans and Democrats were neck-in-neck for the past two presidential elections. There would also be construction jobs tied to the factory that would produce hyper-pure polysilicon, a building block for electronics and solar panels, among other technologies.

Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said on a call with reporters that the funding came from the CHIPS and Science Act, which President Joe Biden signed into law in 2022. It’s part of a broader industrial strategy that the campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, supports, while Republican nominee Donald Trump, the former president, sees tariff hikes and income tax cuts as better to support manufacturing.

“What we’ve been able to do with the CHIPS Act is not just build a few new factories, but fundamentally revitalize the semiconductor ecosystem in our country with American workers,” Raimondo said. “All of this is because of the vision of the Biden-Harris administration.”

A senior administration official said the timing of the announcement reflected the negotiating process for reaching terms on the grant, rather than any political considerations. The official insisted on anonymity to discuss the process.

After site work, Hemlock Semiconductor plans to begin construction in 2026 and then start production in 2028, the official said.

Running in 2016, Trump narrowly won Saginaw County and Michigan as a whole. But in 2020 against Biden, both Saginaw County and Michigan flipped to the Democrats.

The Canadian Press. All rights reserved.

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The Internet is Littered in ‘Educated Guesses’ Without the ‘Education’

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2 weeks ago

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October 8, 2024

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Although no one likes a know-it-all, they dominate the Internet.

The Internet began as a vast repository of information. It quickly became a breeding ground for self-proclaimed experts seeking what most people desire: recognition and money.

Today, anyone with an Internet connection and some typing skills can position themselves, regardless of their education or experience, as a subject matter expert (SME). From relationship advice, career coaching, and health and nutrition tips to citizen journalists practicing pseudo-journalism, the Internet is awash with individuals—Internet talking heads—sharing their “insights,” which are, in large part, essentially educated guesses without the education or experience.

The Internet has become a 24/7/365 sitcom where armchair experts think they’re the star.

Not long ago, years, sometimes decades, of dedicated work and acquiring education in one’s field was once required to be recognized as an expert. The knowledge and opinions of doctors, scientists, historians, et al. were respected due to their education and experience. Today, a social media account and a knack for hyperbole are all it takes to present oneself as an “expert” to achieve Internet fame that can be monetized.

On the Internet, nearly every piece of content is self-serving in some way.

The line between actual expertise and self-professed knowledge has become blurry as an out-of-focus selfie. Inadvertently, social media platforms have created an informal degree program where likes and shares are equivalent to degrees. After reading selective articles, they’ve found via and watching some TikTok videos, a person can post a video claiming they’re an herbal medicine expert. Their new “knowledge,” which their followers will absorb, claims that Panda dung tea—one of the most expensive teas in the world and isn’t what its name implies—cures everything from hypertension to existential crisis. Meanwhile, registered dietitians are shaking their heads, wondering how to compete against all the misinformation their clients are exposed to.

More disturbing are individuals obsessed with evangelizing their beliefs or conspiracy theories. These people write in-depth blog posts, such as Elvis Is Alive and the Moon Landings Were Staged, with links to obscure YouTube videos, websites, social media accounts, and blogs. Regardless of your beliefs, someone or a group on the Internet shares them, thus confirming your beliefs.

Misinformation is the Internet’s currency used to get likes, shares, and engagement; thus, it often spreads like a cosmic joke. Consider the prevalence of clickbait headlines:

  • You Won’t Believe What Taylor Swift Says About Climate Change!
  • This Bedtime Drink Melts Belly Fat While You Sleep!
  • In One Week, I Turned $10 Into $1 Million!

Titles that make outrageous claims are how the content creator gets reads and views, which generates revenue via affiliate marketing, product placement, and pay-per-click (PPC) ads. Clickbait headlines are how you end up watching a TikTok video by a purported nutrition expert adamantly asserting you can lose belly fat while you sleep by drinking, for 14 consecutive days, a concoction of raw eggs, cinnamon, and apple cider vinegar 15 minutes before going to bed.

Our constant search for answers that’ll explain our convoluted world and our desire for shortcuts to success is how Internet talking heads achieve influencer status. Because we tend to seek low-hanging fruits, we listen to those with little experience or knowledge of the topics they discuss yet are astute enough to know what most people want to hear.

There’s a trend, more disturbing than spreading misinformation, that needs to be called out: individuals who’ve never achieved significant wealth or traded stocks giving how-to-make-easy-money advice, the appeal of which is undeniable. Several people I know have lost substantial money by following the “advice” of Internet talking heads.

Anyone on social media claiming to have a foolproof money-making strategy is lying. They wouldn’t be peddling their money-making strategy if they could make easy money.

Successful people tend to be secretive.

Social media companies design their respective algorithms to serve their advertisers—their source of revenue—interest; hence, content from Internet talking heads appears most prominent in your feeds. When a video of a self-professed expert goes viral, likely because it pressed an emotional button, the more people see it, the more engagement it receives, such as likes, shares and comments, creating a cycle akin to a tornado.

Imagine scrolling through your TikTok feed and stumbling upon a “scientist” who claims they can predict the weather using only aluminum foil, copper wire, sea salt and baking soda. You chuckle, but you notice his video got over 7,000 likes, has been shared over 600 times and received over 400 comments. You think to yourself, “Maybe this guy is onto something.” What started as a quest to achieve Internet fame evolved into an Internet-wide belief that weather forecasting can be as easy as DIY crafts.

Since anyone can call themselves “an expert,” you must cultivate critical thinking skills to distinguish genuine expertise from self-professed experts’ self-promoting nonsense. While the absurdity of the Internet can be entertaining, misinformation has serious consequences. The next time you read a headline that sounds too good to be true, it’s probably an Internet talking head making an educated guess; without the education seeking Internet fame, they can monetize.

______________________________________________________________

 

Nick Kossovan, a self-described connoisseur of human psychology, writes about what’s

on his mind from Toronto. You can follow Nick on Twitter and Instagram @NKossovan.

 

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