AI For Business Isb

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Google Mobile Services

Google Mobile Services (GMS) is a collection of proprietary applications and application programming interfaces (APIs) services from Google that are typically pre-installed on the majority of Android devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and smart TVs. GMS is not a part of the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which means an Android manufacturer needs to obtain a license from Google in order to legally pre-install GMS on an Android device. This license is provided by Google without any licensing fees except in the EU. == Core applications == The following are core applications that are part of Google Mobile Services: Google Search Google Chrome YouTube Google Play Google Drive Gmail Google Meet Google Maps Google Photos Google TV YouTube Music === Historically === Google+ Google Hangouts Google Wallet Google Play Magazines Google Play Music Google Play Movies & TV Google Duo == Reception, competitors, and regulators == === FairSearch === Numerous European firms filed a complaint to the European Commission stating that Google had manipulated their power and dominance within the market to push their Services to be used by phone manufacturers. The firms were joined under the name FairSearch, and the main firms included were Microsoft, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Nokia and Oracle. FairSearch's major problem with Google's practices was that they believed Google were forcing phone manufacturers to use their Mobile Services. They claimed Google managed this by asking these manufacturers to sign a contract stating that they must preinstall specific Google Mobile Services, such as Maps, Search and YouTube, in order to get the latest version of Android. Google swiftly responded stating that they "continue to work co-operatively with the European Commission". === Aptoide === The third-party Android app store Aptoide also filed an EU competition complaint against Google once again stating that they are misusing their power within the market. Aptoide alleged that Google was blocking third-party app stores from being on Google Play, as well as blocking Google Chrome from downloading any third-party apps and app stores. As of June 2014, Google had not responded to these allegations. === Abuse of Android dominance === In May 2019, Umar Javeed, Sukarma Thapar, Aaqib Javeed vs. Google LLC & Ors. the Competition Commission of India ordered an antitrust probe against Google for abusing its dominant position with Android to block market rivals. In Prima Facie opinion the commission held that mandatory pre-installation of the entire Google Mobile Services (GMS) suite, under Mobile Application Distribution Agreements (MADA), amounts to the imposition of unfair conditions on the device manufacturers. === EU antitrust ruling === On July 18, 2018, the European Commission fined Google €4.34 billion for breaching EU antitrust rules which resulted in a change of licensing policy for the GMS in the EU. A new paid licensing agreement for smartphones and tablets shipped into the EEA was created. The change is that the GMS is now decoupled from the base Android and will be offered under a separate paid licensing agreement. === Privacy policy === At the same time, Google faced problems with various European data protection agencies, most notably In the United Kingdom and France. The problem they faced was that they had a set of 60 rules merged into one, which allowed Google to "track users more closely". Google once again came out and stated that their new policies still abide by European Union laws. === Android distributions without Google Mobile Services === After surveillance and privacy concerns, several custom android distributions have been implemented, such as GrapheneOS, LineageOS, CalyxOS, iodéOS or /e/OS, and they come either without any GMS installed by default or with microG, that adds a compatibility layer.
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Global digital divide

The global digital divide describes global disparities, primarily between developed and developing countries, in regards to access to computing and information resources such as the Internet and the opportunities derived from such access. The Internet is expanding very quickly, and not all countries—especially developing countries—can keep up with the constant changes. The term "digital divide" does not necessarily mean that someone does not have technology; it could mean that there is simply a difference in technology. These differences can refer to, for example, high-quality computers, fast Internet, technical assistance, or telephone services. == Statistics == There is a large inequality worldwide in terms of the distribution of installed telecommunication bandwidth. In 2014 only three countries (China, US, Japan) host 50% of the globally installed bandwidth potential (see pie-chart Figure on the right). This concentration is not new, as historically only ten countries have hosted 70–75% of the global telecommunication capacity (see Figure). The U.S. lost its global leadership in terms of installed bandwidth in 2011, being replaced by China, which hosts more than twice as much national bandwidth potential in 2014 (29% versus 13% of the global total). == Versus the digital divide == The global digital divide is a special case of the digital divide; the focus is set on the fact that "Internet has developed unevenly throughout the world" causing some countries to fall behind in technology, education, labor, democracy, and tourism. The concept of the digital divide was originally popularized regarding the disparity in Internet access between rural and urban areas of the United States of America; the global digital divide mirrors this disparity on an international scale. The global digital divide also contributes to the inequality of access to goods and services available through technology. Computers and the Internet provide users with improved education, which can lead to higher wages; the people living in nations with limited access are therefore disadvantaged. This global divide is often characterized as falling along what is sometimes called the North–South divide of "northern" wealthier nations and "southern" poorer ones. == Obstacles to a solution == Some people argue that necessities need to be considered before achieving digital inclusion, such as an ample food supply and quality health care. Minimizing the global digital divide requires considering and addressing the following types of access: === Physical access === Involves "the distribution of ICT devices per capita…and land lines per thousands". Individuals need to obtain access to computers, landlines, and networks in order to access the Internet. This access barrier is also addressed in Article 21 of the convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the United Nations. === Financial access === The cost of ICT devices, traffic, applications, technician and educator training, software, maintenance, and infrastructures require ongoing financial means. Financial access and "the levels of household income play a significant role in widening the gap". === Socio-demographic access === Empirical tests have identified that several socio-demographic characteristics foster or limit ICT access and usage. Among different countries, educational levels and income are the most powerful explanatory variables, with age being a third one. While a Global Gender Gap in access and usage of ICT's exist, empirical evidence shows that this is due to unfavorable conditions concerning employment, education and income and not to technophobia or lower ability. In the contexts understudy, women with the prerequisites for access and usage turned out to be more active users of digital tools than men. In the US, for example, the figures for 2018 show 89% of men and 88% of women use the Internet. === Cognitive access === In order to use computer technology, a certain level of information literacy is needed. Further challenges include information overload and the ability to find and use reliable information. === Design access === Computers need to be accessible to individuals with different learning and physical abilities including complying with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 in the United States. === Institutional access === In illustrating institutional access, Wilson states "the numbers of users are greatly affected by whether access is offered only through individual homes or whether it is offered through schools, community centers, religious institutions, cybercafés, or post offices, especially in poor countries where computer access at work or home is highly limited". === Political access === Guillen & Suarez argue that "democratic political regimes enable faster growth of the Internet than authoritarian or totalitarian regimes." The Internet is considered a form of e-democracy, and attempting to control what citizens can or cannot view is in contradiction to this. Recently situations in Iran and China have denied people the ability to access certain websites and disseminate information. Iran has prohibited the use of high-speed Internet in the country and has removed many satellite dishes in order to prevent the influence of Western culture, such as music and television. === Cultural access === Many experts claim that bridging the digital divide is not sufficient and that the images and language needed to be conveyed in a language and images that can be read across different cultural lines. A 2013 study conducted by Pew Research Center noted how participants taking the survey in Spanish were nearly twice as likely not to use the internet. == Examples == In the early 21st century, residents of developed countries enjoy many Internet services which are not yet widely available in developing countries, including: Mobile phones and small electronic communication devices; E-communities and social-networking; Fast broadband Internet connections, enabling advanced Internet applications; Affordable and widespread Internet access, either through personal computers at home or work, through public terminals in public libraries and Internet cafes, and through wireless access points; E-commerce enabled by efficient electronic payment networks like credit cards and reliable shipping services; Virtual globes featuring street maps searchable down to individual street addresses and detailed satellite and aerial photography; Online research systems which enable users to peruse newspaper and magazine articles that may be centuries old, without having to leave home; Electronic readers such as Kindle, Sony Reader, Samsung Papyrus and Iliad by iRex Technologies; Price engines which help consumers find the best possible online prices and similar services which find the best possible prices at local retailers; Electronic services delivery of government services, such as the ability to pay taxes, fees, and fines online. Further civic engagement through e-government and other sources such as finding information about candidates regarding political situations. == Proposed remedies == There are four specific arguments why it is important to "bridge the gap": Economic equality – For example, the telephone is often seen as one of the most important components, because having access to a working telephone can lead to higher safety. If there were to be an emergency, one could easily call for help if one could use a nearby phone. In another example, many work-related tasks are online, and people without access to the Internet may not be able to complete work up to company standards. The Internet is regarded by some as a basic component of civic life that developed countries ought to guarantee for their citizens. Additionally, welfare services, for example, are sometimes offered via the Internet. Social mobility – Computer and Internet use is regarded as being very important to development and success. However, some children are not getting as much technical education as others, because lower socioeconomic areas cannot afford to provide schools with computer facilities. For this reason, some kids are being separated and not receiving the same chance as others to be successful. Democracy – Some people believe that eliminating the digital divide would help countries become healthier democracies. They argue that communities would become much more involved in events such as elections or decision making. Economic growth – It is believed that less-developed nations could gain quick access to economic growth if the information infrastructure were to be developed and well used. By improving the latest technologies, certain countries and industries can gain a competitive advantage. While these four arguments are meant to lead to a solution to the digital divide, there are a couple of other components that need to be considered. The first one is rural living versus s
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Digital Cinema Initiatives

Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC (DCI) is a consortium of major motion picture studios, formed to establish specifications for a common systems architecture for digital cinema systems. The organization was formed in March 2002 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, 20th Century Studios, Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios and Warner Bros. Entertainment The primary purpose of DCI is to establish and document specifications for an open architecture for digital cinema that ensures a uniform and high level of technical performance, reliability and quality. By establishing a common set of content requirements, distributors, studios, exhibitors, d-cinema manufacturers and vendors can be assured of interoperability and compatibility. Because of the relationship of DCI to many of Hollywood's key studios, conformance to DCI's specifications is considered a requirement by software developers or equipment manufacturers targeting the digital cinema market. == Specification == On July 20, 2005, DCI released Version 1.0 of its "Digital Cinema System Specification", commonly referred to as the "DCI Specification". The document describes overall system requirements and specifications for digital cinema. Between March 28, 2006, and March 21, 2007, DCI issued 148 errata to Version 1.0. DCI released Version 1.1 of the DCI Specification on April 12, 2007, incorporating the previous 148 errata into the DCI Specification. On April 15, 2007, at the annual NAB Digital Cinema Summit, DCI announced the new version, as well as some future plans. They released the "Stereoscopic Digital Cinema Addendum" to begin to establish 3-D technical specifications in response to the popularity of 3-D stereoscopic films. It was also announced "which studios would take over the leadership roles in DCI after the current leadership term expires at the end of September." Subsequently, between August 27, 2007, and February 1, 2008, DCI issued 100 errata to Version 1.1. So, DCI released Version 1.2 of the DCI Specification on March 7, 2008, again incorporating the previous 100 errata into the specification document. An additional 96 errata were issued by August 30, 2012, so a revised Version 1.2 incorporating those additional errata was approved on October 10, 2012. DCI approved DCI Specification Version 1.3 on June 27, 2018, integrating the 45 errata issued to the previous version into a new document. On July 20, 2020, fifteen years to the day after Version 1.0, DCI issued a new DCI Specification Version 1.4 that assimilated 29 errata issued since Version 1.3. On October 13, 2021, DCI approved a new DCI Specification Version 1.4.1 that integrated the 23 errata that had been issued to DCI Specification Version 1.4. For the convenience of users, DCI also created an online HTML version of DCI Specification, Version 1.4.1. Due to the HTML conversion process, the footnotes in the DCSS now appear as endnotes. The PDF version contains pagination and page numbers whereas the HTML version does not. DCI Specification Version 1.4.2, dated June 15, 2022, includes revisions and refinements respecting Object-Based Audio Essence (OBAE), also known as Immersive Audio Bitstream (IAB). Version 1.4.2 also implements post-show log record collection utilizing SMPTE 430-17 SMS-OMB Communications Protocol Specification. Additionally, Version 1.4.2 incorporated two prior addenda: the Digital Cinema Object-Based Audio Addendum, dated October 1, 2018 and the Stereoscopic Digital Cinema Addendum, Version 1.0, dated July 11, 2007. Users using Version 1.4.2 no longer need to refer to the separate addenda. Previous DCSS versions are archived on the DCI web site. Based on many SMPTE and ISO standards, such as JPEG 2000-compressed image and "broadcast wave" PCM/WAV sound, the DCI Specification explains the route to create an entire Digital Cinema Package (DCP) from a raw collection of files known as the Digital Cinema Distribution Master (DCDM), as well as the specifics of its content protection, encryption, and forensic marking. The DCI Specification also establishes standards for the decoder requirements and the presentation environment itself, such as ambient light levels, pixel aspect and shape, image luminance, white point chromaticity, and those tolerances to be kept. Even though it specifies what kind of information is required, the DCI Specification does not include specific information about how data within a distribution package is to be formatted. Formatting of this information is defined by the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) digital cinema standards and related documents. == Image and audio capability overview == === 2D image === 2048×1080 (2K) at 24 frame/s or 48 frame/s, or 4096×2160 (4K) at 24 frame/s In 2K, for Scope (2.39:1) presentation 2048×858 pixels of the imager is used In 2K, for Flat (1.85:1) presentation 1998×1080 pixels of the imager is used In 4K, for Scope (2.39:1) presentation 4096×1716 pixels of the imager is used In 4K, for Flat (1.85:1) presentation 3996×2160 pixels of the imager is used 12 bits per color component (36 bits per pixel) via dual HD-SDI (encrypted) 10 bits only permitted for 2K at 48 frame/s CIE XYZ color space, gamma-corrected TIFF 6.0 container format (one file per frame) JPEG 2000 compression From 0 to 5 or from 1 to 6 wavelet decomposition levels for 2K or 4K resolutions, respectively Compression rate of 4.71 bits/pixel (2K @ 24 frame/s), 2.35 bits/pixel (2K @ 48 frame/s), 1.17 bits/pixel (4K @ 24 frame/s) 250 Mbit/s maximum image bit rate === Stereoscopic 3D image === 2048×1080 (2K) at 48 frame/s - 24 frame/s per eye (4096×2160 4K not supported) In 2K, for Scope (2.39:1) presentation 2048×858 pixels of the imager is used In 2K, for Flat (1.85:1) presentation 1998×1080 pixels of the imager is used Optionally, in the HD-SDI link only: 12 bit color, YCxCz 4:2:2 (i.e. chroma subsampling in XYZ space), each eye in separate stream === Audio === 24 bits per sample, 48 kHz or 96 kHz Up to 16 channels WAV container, uncompressed PCM DCI has additionally published a document outlining recommended practice for High Frame Rate digital cinema. This document discloses the following proposed frame rates: 60, 96, and 120 frames per second for 2D at 2K resolution; 48 and 60 for stereoscopic 3D at 2K resolution; 48 and 60 for 2D at 4K resolution. The maximum compressed bit rate for support of all proposed frame rates should be 500 Mbit/s. == Related information == The idea for DCI was originally mooted in late 1999 by Tom McGrath, then COO of Paramount Pictures, who applied to the U.S. Department of Justice for anti-trust waivers to allow the joint cooperation of all seven major motion picture studios. Universal Pictures made one of the first feature-length DCPs created to DCI specifications, using their film Serenity. Although it was not distributed theatrically, it had one public screening on November 7, 2005, at the USC Entertainment Technology Center's Digital Cinema Laboratory in the Pacific Theatre, Hollywood. Inside Man (2006) was Universal's first DCP commercial release, and, in addition to 35mm film distribution, was delivered via hard drive to 20 theatres in the United States along with two trailers. The Academy Film Archive houses the Digital Cinema Initiatives, LLC Collection, which includes film and digital elements from DCI's Standard Evaluation Material (StEM), a 12-minute production shot on 35mm and 65mm film, created for vendors and standards organizations to test and evaluate image compression and digital projection technologies.
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Acousto-electronics

Acousto-electronics (also spelled 'Acoustoelectronics') is a branch of physics, acoustics and electronics that studies interactions of ultrasonic and hypersonic waves in solids with electrons and with electro-magnetic fields. Typical phenomena studied in acousto-electronics are acousto-electric effect and also amplification of acoustic waves by flows of electrons in piezoelectric semiconductors, when the drift velocity of the electrons exceeds the velocity of sound. The term 'acousto-electronics' is often understood in a wider sense to include numerous practical applications of the interactions of electro-magnetic fields with acoustic waves in solids. In particular, these are signal processing devices using surface acoustic waves (SAW), different sensors of temperature, pressure, humidity, acceleration, etc.
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Reflection lines

Engineers use reflection lines to judge a surface's quality. Reflection lines reveal surface flaws, particularly discontinuities in normals indicating that the surface is not C 2 {\displaystyle C^{2}} . Reflection lines may be created and examined on physical surfaces or virtual surfaces with the help of computer graphics. For example, the shiny surface of an automobile body is illuminated with reflection lines by surrounding the car with parallel light sources. Virtually, a surface can be rendered with reflection lines by modulating the surfaces point-wise color according to a simple calculation involving the surface normal, viewing direction and a square wave environment map. == Mathematical definition == Consider a point p {\displaystyle p} on a surface M {\displaystyle M} with (normalized) normal n {\displaystyle n} . If an observer views this point from infinity at view direction v {\displaystyle v} then the reflected view direction r {\displaystyle r} is: r = v − 2 ( n ⋅ v ) n . {\displaystyle r=v-2(n\cdot v)n.} (The vector v {\displaystyle v} is decomposed into its normal part v n = ( n ⋅ v ) v {\displaystyle v_{n}=(n\cdot v)v} and tangential part v t = v − v n {\displaystyle v_{t}=v-v_{n}} . Upon reflection, the tangential part is kept and the normal part is negated.) For reflection lines we consider the surface M {\displaystyle M} surrounded by parallel lines with direction a {\displaystyle a} , representing infinite, non-dispersive light sources. For each point p {\displaystyle p} on M {\displaystyle M} we determine which line is seen from direction v {\displaystyle v} . The position on each line is of no interest. Define the vector r p {\displaystyle r_{p}} to be the reflection direction r {\displaystyle r} projected onto a plane P {\displaystyle P} that is orthogonal to a {\displaystyle a} : r p = r − ( r ⋅ a ) a {\displaystyle r_{p}=r-(r\cdot a)a} and similarly let v p {\displaystyle v_{p}} be the viewing direction projected onto P {\displaystyle P} : v p = v − ( v ⋅ a ) a {\displaystyle v_{p}=v-(v\cdot a)a} Finally, define v o {\displaystyle v_{o}} to be the direction lying in P {\displaystyle P} perpendicular to a {\displaystyle a} and v p {\displaystyle v_{p}} : v o = a × v p {\displaystyle v_{o}=a\times v_{p}} Using these vectors, the reflection line function θ ( p ) : M → ( − π , π ] {\displaystyle \theta (p):M\rightarrow (-\pi ,\pi ]} is a scalar function mapping points p {\displaystyle p} on the surface to angles between v p {\displaystyle v_{p}} and r p {\displaystyle r_{p}} : θ = arctan ⁡ ( r p ⋅ v o , r p ⋅ v p ) {\displaystyle \theta =\arctan {(r_{p}\cdot v_{o},r_{p}\cdot v_{p})}} where a r c t a n ( y , x ) {\displaystyle arctan(y,x)} is the atan2 function producing a number in the range ( − π , π ] {\displaystyle (-\pi ,\pi ]} . ( v p {\displaystyle v_{p}} and v o {\displaystyle v_{o}} can be viewed as a local coordinate system in P {\displaystyle P} with x {\displaystyle x} -axis in direction v p {\displaystyle v_{p}} and y {\displaystyle y} -axis in direction v o {\displaystyle v_{o}} .) Finally, to render the reflection lines positive values θ > 0 {\displaystyle \theta >0} are mapped to a light color and non-positive values to a dark color. == Highlight lines == Highlight lines are a view-independent alternative to reflection lines. Here the projected normal is directly compared against some arbitrary vector x {\displaystyle x} perpendicular to the light source: θ = arctan ⁡ ( n a ⋅ a ⊥ , n a ⋅ x ) {\displaystyle \theta =\arctan {(n_{a}\cdot a^{\perp },n_{a}\cdot x)}} where n a {\displaystyle n_{a}} is the surface normal projected on the light source plane P {\displaystyle P} : n a ^ / | n a ^ | , n a ^ = n − ( n ⋅ a ) a {\displaystyle {\hat {n_{a}}}/|{\hat {n_{a}}}|,{\hat {n_{a}}}=n-(n\cdot a)a} The relationship between reflection lines and highlight lines is likened to that between specular and diffuse shading.
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FutureMedia

FutureMedia is a program that analyzes the state and future of digital, social, and mobile media. It functions as a collaborative initiative at Georgia Tech and the Georgia Tech Research Institute. FutureMedia consults approximately 500 faculty members working in those fields. == History == In 2019, Future Media expanded into the Direct-To-Consumer market by acquiring Australian watchmaker Oak & Jackal. == Programs == === FutureMedia Fest === The organization most recently hosted FutureMedia Fest 2010, a four-day conference (Oct 4–7, 2010) with a keynote addresses from Michael Jones, the chief technology advocate at Google. The event featured panels, workshops, and technology demonstrations. === FutureMedia Outlook === Contemporaneous with FutureMedia Fest 2010, the organization released the FutureMedia Outlook, an analysis of the future of media, concentrating on six major trends in those fields, including information overload, personalization, data integrity, an expectation of multimedia, augmented reality, and collaborative software.
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Vacuum tube characteristics

Vacuum tube characteristics (also called tube curves, valve characteristics or valve curves) describes the electrical relationships between electrode voltages and currents in a vacuum tube. These relationships are commonly presented as characteristic curves in tube manuals and engineering references. The curves typically show plate current versus plate voltage for several fixed control-grid voltages, showing how current varies with electrode potentials under controlled conditions. Designers use them to select operating points, determine voltage gain, estimate output power, and construct graphical load-line analyses. The use of characteristic curves as an engineering tool for analyzing vacuum-tube operation was established in the 1910s, notably in work by Edwin Howard Armstrong. Examples of such curves appear in early tube manuals and textbooks and form the basis of classical vacuum-tube circuit design. Different types of vacuum tubes are characterized using plots appropriate to their electrode structure and intended use. Two-electrode devices such as diodes are described primarily by the relation between plate voltage and plate current. Amplifying tubes containing control grids, such as triodes, tetrodes, pentodes, and beam tetrodes, are represented by families of curves measured for different grid voltages. From these families additional parameters such as amplification factor (μ), transconductance (gm), and plate resistance (rp) may be obtained. Although these plots are used primarily for circuit design, their shapes arise from the underlying physics of electron flow in vacuum tubes. The physical principles responsible for the observed characteristics are discussed in later sections. == 3/2 power law == In high-vacuum thermionic diodes operating under normal conditions, plate current increases nonlinearly with plate voltage. Over the space-charge-limited region, the current is well approximated by the three-halves power relation I p = P ⋅ V p 3 / 2 {\displaystyle I_{p}=P\cdot V_{p}^{3/2}} where P {\displaystyle P} is the perveance of the tube. Perveance is determined primarily by electrode geometry, including cathode area and cathode-to-plate spacing. It provides a practical measure of current-producing capability and is often used in tube manuals in place of a complete family of plate-characteristic curves. == Signal diode characterization == For small-signal diodes, tube manuals typically publish a single static anode characteristic showing anode current (Ia) as a function of anode voltage (Va), measured with the heater operating at its rated voltage. Because the diode contains no control grid, only one such I–V curve is required. The low-voltage portion of the curve is particularly important in detector service, where the nonlinear curvature of the current–voltage relation allows a small alternating signal to produce a net direct-current output, resulting in rectification. In addition to the static characteristic, tube manuals specify heater ratings, maximum plate voltage, permissible average current, and interelectrode capacitance. These parameters define the allowable operating region and high-frequency behavior. Another typical data sheet for a diode is for the Philips EB91 double diode. This book includes curves of the diode response in use as a detector. The output voltage is non-zero for an input voltage of 0 due to the Edison effect. == Rectifier characterization == Vacuum-tube rectifiers intended for power-supply service are specified differently from signal diodes. Their data emphasize heater requirements, peak inverse voltage, maximum peak plate current, permissible DC output current for various filter configurations, and regulation characteristics. Rectifier tubes exhibit nonlinear voltage drop that increases with current. For limited operating ranges this behavior may be represented by an equivalent or effective series resistance corresponding to the local slope of the plate characteristic (dynamic plate resistance, dV/dI). Diode voltages can be determied by use of a graphical aide. In capacitor-input supplies, conduction occurs in pulses near the peaks of the AC waveform, producing peak currents substantially greater than the average DC load current. Data sheets therefore specify maximum peak plate current and permissible filter capacitance in addition to average DC ratings. Under varying load conditions, the supply voltage changes in accordance with the rectifier's nonlinear characteristic and effective impedance. == Triode characterization == === Early use === The systematic use of characteristic curves to explain and quantify vacuum-tube amplification was introduced by Edwin Howard Armstrong in 1914. Using measured plate voltage-current curves, Armstrong demonstrated the mechanism of triode amplification and clarified the operation of grid-leak detection. ==== Plate and transfer characteristics ==== Triode data sheets present families of plate characteristics showing plate current I p {\displaystyle I_{p}} as a function of plate voltage E p {\displaystyle E_{p}} for several fixed grid voltages E g {\displaystyle E_{g}} . From these curves the operating point, voltage gain, and load-line behavior may be determined graphically. In normal operation, plate current depends on both grid and plate voltage. Classical analysis shows that the characteristics for different grid voltages are similar in form and differ primarily by horizontal displacement. In triodes, plate current may be approximated by I p = k ( E g + E p μ ) 3 / 2 {\displaystyle I_{p}=k\left(E_{g}+{\frac {E_{p}}{\mu }}\right)^{3/2}} where E g {\displaystyle E_{g}} is the grid voltage, E p {\displaystyle E_{p}} the plate voltage, μ {\displaystyle \mu } the amplification factor, and k {\displaystyle k} a constant determined by the tube geometry.. The amplification factor μ represents the relative effectiveness of grid voltage compared with plate voltage in controlling current. It is fundamentally determined by structural dimensions, particularly grid-to-cathode spacing relative to plate-to-cathode spacing. ==== Small-signal parameters ==== Triodes are commonly characterized by three interrelated small-signal parameters: Amplification factor ( μ {\displaystyle \mu } ) — the change in plate voltage divided by the change in grid voltage at constant plate current: μ = ( ∂ E p ∂ E g ) I p {\displaystyle \mu =\left({\frac {\partial E_{p}}{\partial E_{g}}}\right)_{I_{p}}} Transconductance ( g m {\displaystyle g_{m}} ) — the change in plate current divided by the change in grid voltage at constant plate voltage: g m = ( ∂ I p ∂ E g ) E p {\displaystyle g_{m}=\left({\frac {\partial I_{p}}{\partial E_{g}}}\right)_{E_{p}}} Plate resistance ( r p {\displaystyle r_{p}} ) — the change in plate voltage divided by the change in plate current at constant grid voltage: r p = ( ∂ E p ∂ I p ) E g {\displaystyle r_{p}=\left({\frac {\partial E_{p}}{\partial I_{p}}}\right)_{E_{g}}} These parameters are related by μ = g m r p {\displaystyle \mu =g_{m}r_{p}} as shown in classical tube theory treatments. These parameters are obtained either from slopes of the characteristic curves or from tabulated operating-point data. ==== Comparison of ECC81, ECC82, and ECC83 ==== The ECC81, ECC82, and ECC83 (also known respectively as 12AT7, 12AU7, and 12AX7) are closely related dual triodes widely used in small-signal amplifier stages. Although similar in construction and envelope size, they differ significantly in electrical parameters due to differences in electrode spacing and grid structure. (Data representative of manufacturer specifications.) The ECC83 exhibits high μ {\displaystyle \mu } and high plate resistance, producing large voltage gain but relatively low current drive capability. The ECC82 has lower μ {\displaystyle \mu } and lower plate resistance, allowing greater current delivery and reduced voltage gain. The ECC81 occupies an intermediate position with comparatively high transconductance and moderate amplification factor. These differences arise primarily from variations in grid pitch, cathode area, and electrode spacing, which determine perveance and amplification factor. Although the external envelope is similar, the internal geometry governs the characteristic curves and small-signal parameters. == Tetrode (screen-grid) characterization == The screen-grid tube (tetrode) was developed primarily to reduce the electrostatic coupling between plate and control grid that limited gain and stability in radio-frequency triode amplifiers. In triodes, the grid–plate capacitance provides feedback from plate to grid, restricting obtainable gain and often requiring neutralization circuits such as those used in neutrodyne receivers. By inserting a positively biased screen grid between control grid and plate, this capacitive coupling is greatly reduced, permitting higher stable gain at radio frequencies. The screen grid, also known as the shield grid or grid 2 (to distinguish it from t
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HTTP compression

HTTP compression is a capability that can be built into web servers and web clients to improve transfer speed and bandwidth utilization. HTTP data is compressed before it is sent from the server: compliant browsers will announce what methods are supported to the server before downloading the correct format; browsers that do not support compliant compression method will download uncompressed data. The most common compression schemes include gzip and Brotli; a full list of available schemes is maintained by the IANA. There are two different ways compression can be done in HTTP. At a lower level, a Transfer-Encoding header field may indicate the payload of an HTTP message is compressed. At a higher level, a Content-Encoding header field may indicate that a resource being transferred, cached, or otherwise referenced is compressed. Compression using Content-Encoding is more widely supported than Transfer-Encoding, and some browsers do not advertise support for Transfer-Encoding compression to avoid triggering bugs in servers. == Compression scheme negotiation == The negotiation is done in two steps, described in RFC 2616 and RFC 9110: 1. The web client advertises which compression schemes it supports by including a list of tokens in the HTTP request. For Content-Encoding, the list is in a field called Accept-Encoding; for Transfer-Encoding, the field is called TE. 2. If the server supports one or more compression schemes, the outgoing data may be compressed by one or more methods supported by both parties. If this is the case, the server will add a Content-Encoding or Transfer-Encoding field in the HTTP response with the used schemes, separated by commas. The web server is by no means obligated to use any compression method – this depends on the internal settings of the web server and also may depend on the internal architecture of the website in question. == Content-Encoding tokens == The official list of tokens available to servers and client is maintained by IANA, and it includes: br – Brotli, a compression algorithm specifically designed for HTTP content encoding, defined in RFC 7932 and implemented in all modern major browsers. compress – UNIX "compress" program method (historic; deprecated in most applications and replaced by gzip or deflate) deflate – compression based on the deflate algorithm (described in RFC 1951), a combination of the LZ77 algorithm and Huffman coding, wrapped inside the zlib data format (RFC 1950); exi – W3C Efficient XML Interchange gzip – GNU zip format (described in RFC 1952). Uses the deflate algorithm for compression, but the data format and the checksum algorithm differ from the "deflate" content-encoding. This method is the most broadly supported as of March 2011. identity – No transformation is used. This is the default value for content coding. pack200-gzip – Network Transfer Format for Java Archives zstd – Zstandard compression, defined in RFC 8478 In addition to these, a number of unofficial or non-standardized tokens are used in the wild by either servers or clients: bzip2 – compression based on the free bzip2 format, supported by lighttpd lzip – compression based on the free lzip format, supported by wget and Links lzma – compression based on (raw) LZMA is available in Opera 20, and in elinks via a compile-time option peerdist – Microsoft Peer Content Caching and Retrieval rsync – delta encoding in HTTP, implemented by a pair of rproxy proxies. xpress – Microsoft compression protocol used by Windows 8 and later for Windows Store application updates. LZ77-based compression optionally using a Huffman encoding. xz – LZMA2-based content compression, supported by a non-official Firefox patch; and fully implemented in mget since 2013-12-31. == Servers that support HTTP compression == SAP NetWeaver Microsoft IIS: built-in or using third-party module Apache HTTP Server, via mod_deflate (despite its name, only supporting gzip), and mod_brotli Hiawatha HTTP server: serves pre-compressed files Cherokee HTTP server, On the fly gzip and deflate compressions Oracle iPlanet Web Server Zeus Web Server lighttpd nginx – built-in Applications based on Tornado, if "compress_response" is set to True in the application settings (for versions prior to 4.0, set "gzip" to True) Jetty Server – built-into default static content serving and available via servlet filter configurations GeoServer Apache Tomcat IBM Websphere AOLserver Ruby Rack, via the Rack::Deflater middleware HAProxy Varnish – built-in. Works also with ESI Armeria – Serving pre-compressed files NaviServer – built-in, dynamic and static compression Caddy – built-in via encode Many content delivery networks also implement HTTP compression to improve speedy delivery of resources to end users. The compression in HTTP can also be achieved by using the functionality of server-side scripting languages like PHP, or programming languages like Java. Various online tools exist to verify a working implementation of HTTP compression. These online tools usually request multiple variants of a URL, each with different request headers (with varying Accept-Encoding content). HTTP compression is considered to be implemented correctly when the server returns a document in a compressed format. By comparing the sizes of the returned documents, the effective compression ratio can be calculated (even between different compression algorithms). == Problems preventing the use of HTTP compression == A 2009 article by Google engineers Arvind Jain and Jason Glasgow states that more than 99 person-years are wasted daily due to increase in page load time when users do not receive compressed content. This occurs when anti-virus software interferes with connections to force them to be uncompressed, where proxies are used (with overcautious web browsers), where servers are misconfigured, and where browser bugs stop compression being used. Internet Explorer 6, which drops to HTTP 1.0 (without features like compression or pipelining) when behind a proxy – a common configuration in corporate environments – was the mainstream browser most prone to failing back to uncompressed HTTP. Another problem found while deploying HTTP compression on large scale is due to the deflate encoding definition: while HTTP 1.1 defines the deflate encoding as data compressed with deflate (RFC 1951) inside a zlib formatted stream (RFC 1950), Microsoft server and client products historically implemented it as a "raw" deflated stream, making its deployment unreliable. For this reason, some software, including the Apache HTTP Server, only implements gzip encoding. == Security implications == Compression allows a form of chosen plaintext attack to be performed: if an attacker can inject any chosen content into the page, they can know whether the page contains their given content by observing the size increase of the encrypted stream. If the increase is smaller than expected for random injections, it means that the compressor has found a repeat in the text, i.e. the injected content overlaps the secret information. This is the idea behind CRIME. In 2012, a general attack against the use of data compression, called CRIME, was announced. While the CRIME attack could work effectively against a large number of protocols, including but not limited to TLS, and application-layer protocols such as SPDY or HTTP, only exploits against TLS and SPDY were demonstrated and largely mitigated in browsers and servers. The CRIME exploit against HTTP compression has not been mitigated at all, even though the authors of CRIME have warned that this vulnerability might be even more widespread than SPDY and TLS compression combined. In 2013, a new instance of the CRIME attack against HTTP compression, dubbed BREACH, was published. A BREACH attack can extract login tokens, email addresses or other sensitive information from TLS encrypted web traffic in as little as 30 seconds (depending on the number of bytes to be extracted), provided the attacker tricks the victim into visiting a malicious web link. All versions of TLS and SSL are at risk from BREACH regardless of the encryption algorithm or cipher used. Unlike previous instances of CRIME, which can be successfully defended against by turning off TLS compression or SPDY header compression, BREACH exploits HTTP compression which cannot realistically be turned off, as virtually all web servers rely upon it to improve data transmission speeds for users. As of 2016, the TIME attack and the HEIST attack are now public knowledge.
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Kruti

Kruti is a multilingual AI agent and chatbot developed by the Indian company Ola Krutrim. It is designed to perform real-world tasks for users, such as booking taxis and ordering food, by integrating directly with various online services. It is notable for its ability to understand and respond in multiple Indian languages. Developed by a team founded by Bhavish Aggarwal, Kruti functions as an "agentic" AI, meaning it can reason, plan, and execute multi-step tasks to fulfill a user's request. The backend technology combines several open-source large language models with Ola's proprietary Krutrim V2 model. The system was developed to work primarily on smartphones, addressing the Indian market's specific needs, including language diversity and potential bandwidth constraints. Kruti was officially released in June 2025, replacing an earlier chatbot from the company that was also named Krutrim. Initially supporting 13 languages, the company plans to expand its capabilities to 22 Indian languages. == Background == Kruti is an improved version of Ola's Krutrim chatbot, which was first launched in 2023 and was intended to be replaced by Kruti. It was officially released on 12 June 2025 as an upgrade to passive chatbots, with support for text and voice in 13 Indian languages. As an agentic AI, it can execute tasks with customization and reasoning, providing adaptive answers based on user preferences and past interactions. Kruti is optimized for smartphone usage and designed to accommodate bandwidth constraints and usage patterns in India. To ensure scalability and cost-effective performance, it combines various open-source large language models with Ola's own Krutrim V2, which has 12 billion parameters. Its speech recognition is built to identify regional Indian languages, dialects, and accents. Due to its integration with numerous apps and services, Kruti is context-aware and can proactively complete tasks. Initially connected only with Ola ecosystem services, Krutrim intends to expand and incorporate various Indian services into Kruti, with the goal of adding services from Blinkit, Swiggy, and Uber with respective voice command support. On 20 June 2025, Krutrim acquired the AI platform BharatSah‘AI’yak to increase its involvement in government, education, and agriculture projects. This acquisition will allow Kruti to assist in broadening the scope of BharatSah'AI'yak's work on India-centric, vernacular retrieval-augmented generation AI bots. == Development == Kruti is designed to perform tasks with minimal user input, accepting documents, images, and text, without requiring users to switch between applications. Its agentic framework breaks queries into sub-tasks executed by multiple agents working sequentially or concurrently, with reported accuracy exceeding 90%. Kruti connects to company databases and APIs via the Model Context Protocol and presents responses as summaries, tables, or narratives adapted to user behaviour. The system supports payments via credit/debit cards and UPI. The underlying stack, which includes foundation models and AI training and inference systems, is intended to support adaptation across sectors such as healthcare, education, and finance. Ola Cabs and the Open Network for Digital Commerce have begun integrating Kruti into their platforms pending broader reliability testing.
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Mass media use by the Islamic State

The Islamic State (IS) is known for its extensive and effective use of propaganda. It uses a version of the Muslim Black Standard flag and developed an emblem which has clear symbolic meaning in the Muslim world. The Islamic State targets younger audiences, such as teenagers and young adults, since they are more vulnerable to propaganda. It is known to exploit the internet to spread its propaganda by establishing websites, such as the Al Fustat domain. Videos by the Islamic State are commonly accompanied by nasheeds (chants), notable examples being the chant Dawlat al-Islam Qamat, which came to be viewed as an unofficial anthem of the Islamic State, and Salil al-Sawarim. Academic research has emphasized the scale and volume of Islamic State media production beyond its flagship magazines. A quantitative study cited in R. Malash’s academic work documented 1,373 distinct Islamic State media products released over a six-month period between 1 August 2017 and 28 February 2018, including magazines, newsletters, reports, photographic releases, audio recordings, and other media formats. Scholars have used such datasets to illustrate the breadth and intensity of the group’s media output, particularly during periods of territorial decline, when propaganda activity remained high despite military pressure. == Traditional media == === Al-Furqan Foundation for Media Production === In January 2006, shortly after the group's rebranding as the "Islamic State of Iraq", it established the Al-Furqan Foundation for Media Production (Arabic: مؤسسة الفرقان للإنتاج الإعلامي, romanized: Muasasat al-Furqān lil'īntāj al'ilāmī), which produces CDs, DVDs, posters, pamphlets, and web-related propaganda products and official statements. It is the primary media production house of the Islamic State and responsible for production of major media releases, including the statements of the spokesmen and leaders of the group. On January 10, 2006, Al-Furqan released its very first video, titled (Arabic: زحف الأنوار, romanized: Zahf al-Anwār) It was founded by the Iraqi man Dr Wa'il al-Fayad, known as Abu Muhammad al-Furqan. He got his name "Al-Furqan" from his role in founding this media house, which was named after the 25th surah of the Quran Al-Furqan. It is the oldest media production house for the Islamic State, being founded in November 2006 to release media for the Islamic State of Iraq. The earliest release indexed by the SITE Intelligence Group is on 21 November 2006, documenting the storming of a police station in the Iraqi town of Miqdadiyah. Al-Furqan is considered to be a considerable innovation in jihadist media, with Kavkaz Center describing it as "a milestone on the path of jihad, a distinguished media that takes the great care in the management of the conflict with the crusaders and their tails and to expose the lies in the crusader's media." In October 2007, the Long War Journal reported on United States Army raids targeting Al-Furqan media cell members across Iraq, including in Mosul and Samarra. Between August 2013 and March 2014 they released the 22 part series Messages from the Land of Epic Battles. On 2 September 2014 SITE Intelligence Group discovered the beheading video called A Second Message to America, about the death of Steven Sotloff. Since then, Al-Furqan has released videos of their operations across Iraq and Syria, as well as execution videos directed to governments around the world. In April 2019, Al-Furqan released a video Interviewing Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Al-Furqan also produces media in the form of audio, which consists mostly of recordings of IS leaders and spokesmen giving speeches, as well as producing a single nasheed under their name called "Ya Allah Al-Jannah" (O Allah, (we ask you for) Paradise), sung by now-dead member of IS, Uqab Al-Marzuqi. === Al-I'tisam Foundation for Media Production === The Islamic State of Iraq founded a second media foundation - Al-I'tisam Media Foundation - around 2011, marked by their first video release, titled "The Conqueror of the Murtaddin: Abu Ahmad Al-Ansari". The foundation has since released a few series of videos, 50 parts of "Windows on the Land of Battles", 9 parts of "Pictures from the Land of Battles", a 9-part series quoting leaders about the establishment of the Islamic State, and other series before their last release, "Deterring the Safavids in Salah ad-Din" in 2015. Since then, there were no further releases from their behalf. === Al-Hayat Media Center === In mid-2014, IS established the Al-Hayat Media Center, which targets Western audiences and produces material in English, German, Russian, Urdu, Indonesian, Turkish, Bengali, Chinese, Bosnian, Kurdish, Uyghur, and French. When IS announced its expansion to other countries in November 2014 it established media departments for the new branches, and its media apparatus ensured that the new branches follow the same models it uses in Iraq and Syria. Then FBI Director James Comey said that IS's "propaganda is unusually slick," noting that, "They are broadcasting... in something like 23 languages". In July 2014, Al-Hayat began publishing a digital magazine called Dabiq, in a number of different languages including English. According to the magazine, its name is taken from the town of Dabiq in northern Syria, which is mentioned in a hadith about Armageddon. Al-Hayat also began publishing other digital magazines, including the Turkish language Konstantiniyye, the Ottoman word for Istanbul, the French language Dar al-Islam, and the Russian language Istok (Russian: Исток). By late 2016, these magazines had apparently all been discontinued, with Al-Hayat's material being consolidated into a new magazine called Rumiyah (Arabic for Rome). === Al-Naba === While the group's glossy, foreign-language magazines like Dabiq and Rumiyah ceased publication as the group lost territory, the weekly Arabic newsletter Al-Naba (The News) has continued to publish regularly, becoming the central pillar of the group's "media jihad" in the post-territorial phase. Recent scholarship, including studies published in 2025, suggests that Al-Naba serves a dual purpose: maintaining internal cohesion among dispersed fighters and projecting a narrative of endurance to enemies. Unlike the earlier magazines which were designed for recruitment, Al-Naba focuses on bureaucratic reporting, military statistics, and religious instruction. These are then translated and disseminated by decentralized supporter networks ("media mujahideen") to reach non-Arabic speakers. === Furat Media Center === The Al-Furat Media Center is another media center established in around 2015 to cater towards non-Arab speaking audiences. However, unlike the other organizations, the production wasn't as professional as ones made by the other media centers. Instead, they partially relied on local media departments and foreign communities of the Mujahideen to produce short-form videos. However, some professional long-form videos were also made under their behalf. As of now, the media center is the only known active branch of all the media centers of the Islamic State, after heavy losses from past campaigns against them. Their last release was "The Resolve of Muwahhidin in Russia", where videos from the Surovikino penal colony hostage crisis were edited and released. === Ajnad Foundation for Media Production === Ajnad Foundation is one of the official media wings of Islamic State which produces nasheeds and Quran recitations. It was established in January 2014 and has released more than 150 nasheeds. === Asdaa Foundation === Like the Ajnad Foundation, the Asdaa Foundation (Arabic: مؤسسة أصداء) or Asedaa Foundation produces Anasheed (Islamic chants). The foundation is the closest counterpart to Ajnad in producing Islamic State nasheeds, only difference being Ajnad is directly linked to the Islamic State while Asdaa is only classified as a "supporter organization" (munaser/munasera). The foundation had humble beginnings possibly in Yemen, where low-quality nasheeds were produced at first by 2 munshids, Abu Layth Al-Iraqi and Abu Ya'qub Al-Yamani. After that, the quality had improved a bit (possibly with new equipment and increased recognition) and eventually had its nasheeds included in the Islamic State's official media releases. One of its munshids, Abu Hafs is a renowned munshid who sings around 70 nasheeds, who as well works with Ajnad Foundation in some instances. He is currently alive, and working under Ansar Production Center (مركز إنتاج الأنصار), another Munasir foundation and Asedaa. Another Yemeni munshid, Abu Musab al-Adani, worked temporarily with Asdaa Foundation before defecting back to AQAP, from which he previously defected from. Some of their anasheed is used in IS's execution videos, a popular one is their human slaughterhouse execution video released during the time of Eid Al-Adha in 2016. The background nasheed they used was "We Came To Fill The Horizons With Terror", produced by the Asd
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Information element

An information element, sometimes informally referred to as a field, is an item in Q.931 and Q.2931 messages, IEEE 802.11 management frames, and cellular network messages sent between a base transceiver station and a mobile phone or similar piece of user equipment. An information element is often a type–length–value item, containing 1) a type (which corresponds to the label of a field), a length indicator, and a value, although any combination of one or more of those parts is possible. A single message may contain multiple information elements. The abbreviation IE is found in many technical specification documents from 3GPP. It is not uncommon for a single specification document to contain thousands of references to IEs.
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Plug compatibility

Plug compatibility is a characteristic of computer hardware that performs exactly like that of another vendor. Manufacturers who made replacements for IBM peripherals were referred to as plug-compatible manufacturers (PCMs). Later plug-compatible mainframe (also PCM) referred to IBM-compatible mainframe computers. PCM can also mean plug-compatible machine or plug-compatible module. == Plug compatibility and peripherals == Before the rise of the plug-compatible peripheral industry, computing systems were either configured with peripherals designed and built by the CPU vendor or designed to use vendor-selected rebadged devices. The first examples of plug-compatible IBM subsystems were tape drives and controls offered by Telex beginning 1965. Memorex in 1968 was first to enter the IBM plug-compatible disk market, followed shortly thereafter by a number of suppliers such as CDC, Itel, and Storage Technology Corporation. This was boosted by the world's largest user of computing equipment, the US General Services Administration, buying plug-compatible equipment. Eventually there were third-party plug-compatible alternatives to most first-party peripherals and first-party system main memory. == Plug compatibility and computer systems == A plug-compatible machine is one that is backward compatible with a prior machine. In particular, a new computer system that is plug-compatible has not only the same connectors and protocol interfaces to peripherals, but also binary-code compatibility—it runs the same software as the old system. A plug compatible manufacturer, or PCM, is a company that makes such products. One recurring theme in plug-compatible systems is the ability to be bug compatible as well. That is, if the forerunner system had software or interface problems, then the successor must have (or simulate) the same problems. Otherwise, the new system may generate unpredictable results, defeating the objective of full compatibility. Thus, it is important for customers to understand the difference between a bug and a feature, where the latter is defined as an intentional modification to the previous system (e.g. higher speed, lighter weight, smaller package, better operator controls, etc.). === Plug compatibility and IBM mainframes === The original example of plug-compatible mainframes was the Amdahl 470 mainframe computer which was plug-compatible with the IBM System 360 and 370, costing millions of dollars to develop. Similar systems were available from Comparex, Fujitsu, and Hitachi. Not all were large systems. Most of these system vendors eventually left the PCM market. In late 1981, there were eight PCM companies, and collectively they had 36 IBM-compatible models. == Non-computer usage of plug compatibility == Plug compatibility may also be used to describe replacement criteria for other components available from multiple sources. For example, a plug-compatible cooling fan may need to have not only the same physical size and shape, but also similar capability, run from the same voltage, use similar power, attach with a standard electrical connector, and have similar mounting arrangements. Some non-conforming units may be re-packaged or modified to meet plug-compatible requirements, as where an adapter plate is provided for mounting, or a different tool and instructions are supplied for installation, and these modifications would be reflected in the bill of materials for such components. Similar issues arise for computer system interfaces when competitors wish to offer an easy upgrade path. In general, plug-compatible systems are designed where industry or de facto standards have rigorously defined the environment, and there is a large installed population of machines that can benefit from third-party enhancements. Plug compatible does not mean identical. However, nothing prevents a company from developing follow-on products that are backward-compatible with its own early products.
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Fake nude photography

Fake nude photography is the creation of nude photographs designed to appear as genuine nudes of an individual. The motivations for the creation of these modified photographs include curiosity, sexual gratification, the stigmatization or embarrassment of the subject, and commercial gain, such as through the sale of the photographs via pornographic websites. Fakes can be created using image editing software or through machine learning. Fake images created using the latter method are called deepfakes. == History == Magazines such as Celebrity Skin published non-fake paparazzi shots and illicitly obtained nude photos, showing there was a market for such images. Subsequently, some websites hosted fake nude or pornographic photos of celebrities, which are sometimes referred to as celebrity fakes. In the 1990s and 2000s, fake nude images of celebrities proliferated on Usenet and on websites, leading to campaigns to take legal action against the creators of the images and websites dedicated to determining the veracity of nude photos. "Deepfakes", which use artificial neural networks to superimpose one person's face into an image or video of someone else, were popularized in the late 2010s, leading to concerns about the technology's use in fake news and revenge porn. Fake nude photography is sometimes confused with Deepfake pornography, but the two are distinct. Fake nude photography typically starts with human-made non-sexual images, and merely makes it appear that the people in them are nude (but not having sex). Deepfake pornography typically starts with human-made sexual (pornographic) images or videos, and alters the actors' facial features to make the participants in the sexual act look like someone else. === DeepNude === In June 2019, a downloadable Windows and Linux application called DeepNude was released which used a Generative Adversarial Network to remove clothing from images of women. The images it produced were typically not pornographic, merely nude. Because there were more images of nude women than men available to its creator, the images it produced were all female, even when the original was male. The app had both a paid and unpaid version. A few days later, on June 27, the creators removed the application and refunded consumers, although various copies of the app, both free and for charge, continue to exist. On GitHub, the open-source version of this program called "open-deepnude" was deleted. The open-source version had the advantage of allowing it to be trained on a larger dataset of nude images to increase the resulting nude image's accuracy level. A successor free software application, Dreamtime, was later released, and some copies of it remain available, though some have been suppressed. === Deepfake Telegram Bot === In July 2019 a deepfake bot service was launched on messaging app Telegram that used AI technology to create nude images of women. The service was free and enabled users to submit photos and receive manipulated nude images within minutes. The service was connected to seven Telegram channels, including the main channel that hosts the bot, technical support, and image sharing channels. While the total number of users was unknown, the main channel had over 45,000 members. As of July 2020, it is estimated that approximately 24,000 manipulated images had been shared across the image sharing channels. === Nudify websites === By late 2024, most ways to produce nude images from photographs of clothed people were accessible at websites rather than in apps, and required payment. == Purposes == The reasons for the creation of nude photos may range from a need to discredit the target publicly, personal hatred for the target, or the promise of pecuniary gains for such work on the part of the creator of such photos. Fake nude photos often target prominent figures such as businesspeople or politicians. == Notable cases == In 2010, 97 people were arrested in Korea after spreading fake nude pictures of the group Girls' Generation on the internet. In 2011, a 53-year-old Incheon man was arrested after spreading more fake pictures of the same group. In 2012, South Korean police identified 157 Korean artists of whom fake nudes were circulating. In 2012, when Liu Yifei's fake nude photography released on the network, Liu Yifei Red Star Land Company declared a legal search to find out who created and released the photos. In the same year, Chinese actor Huang Xiaoming released nude photos that sparked public controversy, but they were ultimately proven to be real pictures. In 2014, supermodel Kate Upton threatened to sue a website for posting her fake nude photos. Previously, in 2011, this page was threatened by Taylor Swift. In November 2014, singer Rain was angry because of a fake nude photo that spread throughout the internet. Information reveals that: "Rain's nude photo was released from Kim Tae-hee's lost phone." Rain's label, Cube Entertainment, stated that the person in the nude photo is not Rain and the company has since stated that it will take strict legal action against those who post photos together with false comments. In July 2018, Seoul police launched an investigation after a fake nude photo of President Moon Jae-in was posted on the website of the Korean radical feminist group WOMAD. In early 2019, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democratic politician, was berated by other political parties over a fake nude photo of her in the bathroom. The picture created a huge wave of media controversy in the United States. == Methods == Fake nude images can be created using image editing software or neural network applications. There are two basic methods: Combine and superimpose existing images onto source images, adding the face of the subject onto a nude model. Remove clothes from the source image to make it look like a nude photo. == Impact == Images of this type may have a negative psychological impact on the victims and may be used for extortion purposes.
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Creator economy

The creator economy, also known as influencer economy, is a platform-driven economy in which creators produce content, products, or services and distribute them directly to their audience through social media platforms and emerging technologies. This economic model is based on the ability of creators to build and maintain communities of users, monetizing their creative activity through multiple channels including advertising, sponsorships, product sales, crowdfunding, and subscription-based services. Creators include various professional categories such as social media influencers, YouTubers, bloggers, artists, online educators, podcasters, and independent professionals, who use platforms as infrastructure to reach their audience without necessarily relying on traditional intermediaries in the cultural and media industry. According to Goldman Sachs Research, the ongoing growth of the creator economy will likely benefit companies that possess a combination of factors, including a large global user base, access to substantial capital, robust AI-powered recommendation engines, versatile monetization tools, comprehensive data analytics, and integrated e-commerce options. Examples of creator economy software platforms include YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitch, Spotify, Substack, OnlyFans and Patreon. == History == The term "creator" was coined by YouTube in 2011 to be used instead of "YouTube star", an expression that at the time could only apply to famous individuals on the platform. The term has since become omnipresent and is used to describe anyone creating any form of online content. A number of platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, and Facebook have set up funds with which to pay creators. == Criticism == The large majority of content creators derive no monetary gain for their creations, with most of the benefits accruing to the platforms who can make significant revenues from their uploads. As few as 0.1% of creators are able to earn a living through their channels.
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Web3D

Web3D, also called 3D Web, is a group of technologies to display and navigate websites using 3D computer graphics. These technologies enable applications such as online games, virtual reality experiences, interactive product demonstrations, and 3D data visualization directly within web browsers. The emergence of Web3D dates back to 1994, with the advent of VRML, a file format designed to store and display 3D graphical data on the World Wide Web. Modern Web3D is primarily powered by WebGL, a JavaScript API that enables hardware-accelerated 3D graphics rendering in web browsers without requiring plug-ins. == Pre-WebGL era == The emergence of Web3D dates back to 1994, with the advent of VRML, a file format designed to store and display 3D graphical data on the World Wide Web. In October 1995, at Internet World, Template Graphics Software demonstrated a 3D/VRML plug-in for the beta release of Netscape 2.0 by Netscape Communications. The Web3D Consortium was formed to further the collective development of the format. VRML and its successor, X3D, have been accepted as international standards by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. The main drawback of the technology was the requirement to use third-party browser plug-ins to perform 3D rendering, which slowed the adoption of the standard. Between 2000 and 2010, one of these plug-ins, Adobe Flash Player, was widely installed on desktop computers and was used to display interactive web pages and online games and to play video and audio content. Several Flash-based frameworks appeared that used software rendering and ActionScript 3 to perform 3D computations such as transformations, lighting, and texturing. Most notable among them were Papervision3D and Away3D. Eventually, Adobe developed Stage3D, an API for rendering interactive 3D graphics with GPU-acceleration for its Flash player and AIR products, which was adopted by software vendors. In 2009, an open-source 3D web technology called O3D was introduced by Google. It also required a browser plug-in, but contrary to Flash/Stage3D, was based on JavaScript API. O3D was geared not only for games but also for advertisements, 3D model viewers, product demos, simulations, engineering applications, control and monitoring systems. == WebGL and glTF == WebGL (short for "Web Graphics Library") evolved out of the Canvas 3D experiments started by Vladimir Vukićević at Mozilla Foundation. Vukićević first demonstrated a Canvas 3D prototype in 2006. By the end of 2007, both Mozilla and Opera had made their own separate implementations. In early 2009, the nonprofit technology consortium Khronos Group started the WebGL Working Group, with initial participation from Apple, Google, Mozilla, Opera, and others. Version 1.0 of the WebGL specification was released in March 2011. Major advantages of the new technology include conformity with web standards and near-native 3D performance without the use of any browser plug-ins. Since WebGL is based on OpenGL ES, it works on mobile devices without any additional abstraction layers. For other platforms, WebGL implementations leverage ANGLE to translate OpenGL ES calls to DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan API calls. Among notable WebGL frameworks are A-Frame, which uses HTML-based markup for building virtual reality experiences; PlayCanvas, an open-source engine alongside a proprietary cloud-hosted creation platform for building browser games; Three.js, an MIT-licensed framework used to create demoscene from the early 2000s; Unity, which obtained a WebGL back-end in version 5; and Verge3D, which integrates with Blender, 3ds Max, and Maya to create 3D web content. With the rapid adoption of WebGL, a new problem arose—the lack of a 3D file format optimized for the Web. This issue was addressed by glTF, a format that was conceived in 2012 by members of the COLLADA working group. At SIGGRAPH 2012, Khronos presented a demo of glTF, which was then called WebGL Transmissions Format (WebGL TF). On 19 October 2015, the glTF 1.0 specification was released. Version 2.0 glTF uses a physically based rendering material model, proposed by Fraunhofer. Other upgrades include sparse accessors and morph targets for techniques such as facial animation, and schema tweaks and breaking changes for corner cases or performance, such as replacing top-level glTF object properties with arrays for faster index-based access. == Future == "WebGPU" is the working name for a potential web standard and JavaScript API for accelerated graphics and computing, aiming to provide "modern 3D graphics and computation capabilities". It is developed by the W3C "GPU for the Web" Community Group, with engineers from Apple, Mozilla, Microsoft, and Google, among others. WebGPU will not be based on any existing 3D API and will use Rust-like syntax for shaders.
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