KLM tests boarding via facial recognition system | Tnooz

March 2, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Dutch airline KLM has started a pilot project to see if facial recognition software would make boarding any easier and quicker for passengers.

The “biometric boarding” technology has been designed so that passengers do not have to show their passport or boarding pass at the gate.

The system has been installed at a single gate at the airline’s home airport of Schiphol in Amsterdam and is expected to be in place for at least three months.

Passengers will be asked to register at a kiosk beforehand, as they approach the gate for their flight.

Want To Travel In Business Class Flight Cheaply? Here Are 8 Tricks How | Life Hack

March 2, 2017March 2, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Every once in a while we all want to take a vacation or visit someone special. Whether you are an avid flyer or this is your first time, you have to know that you can take advantage of that luxurious business class privilege. We know it is expensive – with all the lavish seats, meals and champagne, and great service from the attendants – but here are some tricks where you can grab this luxury at a lower price.

Upgrade by using loyalty points

Airlines nowadays use loyalty points to entice customers into coming back. If you frequently fly, the miles can add up and you can use them one day for upgrading. A good number of airlines allow their customers to get upgrades on tickets bought for cash. If you have accumulated sufficient points over the past several flights, you can use the earned points to get yourself a seat in the business class. Accumulated points normally have an expiration date. Keep yourself updated with the airlines’ newsletters and emails to know when your points are due to expire.

Snapchat shares to begin trading on NYSE | Business Insider

March 2, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Snap Inc. will make its debut as a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday morning.

The parent company of Snapchat priced an initial public offering of 200 million shares at $17 apiece. That raised $3.4 billion for the company and some investors, and gives Snap a valuation of nearly $24 billion.

The stock is currently indicated to open at between $22 and $24 a share, according to price indications at 10:15 a.m. E.T.

What Do Women in Other Markets Really See When They Watch a Nike Ad? We Asked Them | Adweek

March 1, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

In a recent Nike ad about equality, created by Wieden + Kennedy, a conviction-laden voice says, “Opportunity does not discriminate.” In the background, Alicia Keys croons, “Change is gonna come.”

With that gorgeous piece of work, Nike touted its commitment to inspire people to take local action to advance the values of sportsmanship, self-empowerment and acceptance off the field. Perhaps in keeping with that, the Nike Women account on YouTube—mainly used to promote Nike Training Club—has, since January, released four different regional ads that seize upon these ideas.

In other words, Nike appears to be doubling down on ads that speak directly to women, with calls to activate locally and change social norms.

So, we decided to talk to women from each market to get a better sense of what they’re saying. Find those conversations below, along with the ads.

Google Targets Cable With ‘YouTube TV’—40 Channels for $35 | WIRED

March 1, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

GOOGLE JUST JOINED the “skinny bundle” TV war with YouTube TV, a paid subscription service that streams a slew of premium broadcast and cable networks to your mobile device, tablet, computer, and anything with Chromecast.

Just $35 a month gets you six accounts and access to live TV from more than 40 providers including the big broadcast networks, ESPN, regional sports networks and dozens of popular cable networks. Subscriptions include cloud DVR with unlimited storage, AI-powered search and personalization, and access to YouTube Red programming. YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki calls it the evolution of television, and a bid to “give the younger generation the content that they love with the flexibility they expect.”

Are Any Fad Diets Actually Healthy? What the Research Shows | Live Science

February 28, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

With so many diet fads around these days, how do you know which ones are actually good for you?

In a new review of studies covering about 40 years, researchers attempted to dispel the hype surrounding some popular diet trends and to outline what experts really know about a heart-healthy diet. They presented what might be considered the “best” dietary pattern for reducing the risk of heart disease, and explained why consumers should be wary of nutrition fads such as antioxidant pills and juicing.

The bottom line: A heart-healthy diet is one that’s high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes, and includes nuts in moderation. Heart-healthy diets may also include limited amounts of lean meat, fish, low-fat and nonfat dairy products, and liquid vegetable oils, the researchers said. In contrast, people should avoid saturated, trans and solid fats; sodium; added sugars; and refined grains.

Business Leaders Are Losing Ground In ‘Digital IQ,’ New PwC Study Finds | Forbes

February 28, 2017February 28, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A decade into their efforts, businesses nationwide are struggling with their transitions to a digital focus.

Just 52% of businesses would rate their “digital IQ” as strong in 2017, a 10th annual survey from PwC has found — compared to 67% a year ago. And in the adoption of new technology, surveyed businesses said they’re spending about 18% of their budget on emerging tech, up just 1% from 10 years ago.

Employees Naturally Trust Leaders That Display These 3 Powerful Habits | Inc.com

February 28, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A friend recently told me about a previous company trying to lure him back to his old position. In a moment of crisp clarity, he said he could never go back no matter how enticing the offer.

The reason? One toxic leader up in the ivory tower making life miserable for others below, that’s what. I agreed that my friend chose to take the higher road.

I, too, left a company once due to a toxic CEO with low emotional intelligence. His Grand Canyon-sized ego manifested in bullying and controlling behaviors that sent some of his best people packing. In exit interview data of the top-five reasons people quit, he was “reason No.5.” (I say this with accuracy because I collected the data)

Millennials as a Target Customer | Lydia Mehit

February 27, 2017March 13, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

Millennials have been the target of more scrutiny than any other generation. Why? Because as a generation, they are larger than the Baby Boomer generation that clocked in at 77 million. Baby Boomers were a significant force in terms of purchasing power, political direction and now retirement as they have moved through their lives. Millennials, sometimes called Echo Boomers, are expected to have an equal or greater influence on society.

Representing 25% of the population, and 80 million strong, Millennials are generally agreed to have been born between 1980 – 2000. You will also hear them referred to as Generation Y. The youngest Millennials are 17 years of age while the oldest will be 37 in 2017. What has this intense scrutiny revealed about these consumers?

Continue reading “Millennials as a Target Customer | Lydia Mehit” →

New food waste-fueled delivery trucks will roll out for U.K. supermarket | Curbed

February 27, 2017 ~ knjohn ~ Leave a comment

A British supermarket chain has been combatting food waste in more ways than one. Waitrose, the sixth largest grocery retailer in the United Kingdom with 350 stores, began selling “ugly” produce—often discarded for their imperfectness—at a discounted price last year.

Before that, five years ago, the company also halted the practice of sending food waste to landfills. Waitrose also aims to donate as much food as possible to local charities and good causes that have passed the “best before” dates (for legal reasons, it cannot donate food that has passed the “use by” date).