Bill Gates: Within 10 years, AI Will Replace Many Doctors And Teachers—Humans Won’t Be Needed 'for most things’
It’s very profound and even a little bit scary — because it’s happening very quickly, and there is no upper bound, Gates told Brooks.
Over the next decade, advances in artificial intelligence (AI) will mean that humans will no longer be needed “for most things” in the world, says Bill Gates.
Bill Gates speaks during an event promoting the Netflix docuseries “What’s Next? The Future with Bill Gates” in New York City on Sept. 26, 2024 | Source: Netflix
Next Gen Investing | Published Wed, Mar 26 20259:05 AM EDT | Tom Huddleston Jr.Over the next decade, advances in artificial intelligence will mean that humans will no longer be needed “for most things” in the world, says Bill Gates.
That’s what the Microsoft co-founder and billionaire philanthropist told comedian Jimmy Fallon during an interview on NBC’s “The Tonight Show” in February. At the moment, expertise remains “rare,” Gates explained, pointing to human specialists we still rely on in many fields, including “a great doctor” or “a great teacher.”
But “with AI, over the next decade, that will become free, commonplace — great medical advice, great tutoring,” Gates said.
In other words, the world is entering a new era of what Gates called “free intelligence” in an interview last month with Harvard University professor and happiness expert Arthur Brooks. The result will be rapid advances in AI-powered technologies that are accessible and touch nearly every aspect of our lives, Gates has said, from improved medicines and diagnoses to widely available AI tutors and virtual assistants.
“It’s very profound and even a little bit scary — because it’s happening very quickly, and there is no upper bound,” Gates told Brooks.
The debate over how most humans will fit into this AI-powered future is ongoing. Some experts say AI will help humans work more efficiently—rather than replacing them altogether—and spur economic growth that leads to more jobs being created.
Others, like Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman, counter that continued technological advancements over the next several years will change the nature of most jobs across nearly every industry and have a “hugely destabilizing” impact on the workforce.
“These tools will only temporarily augment human intelligence,” Suleyman wrote in his book “The Coming Wave,” which was published in 2023. “They will make us smarter and more efficient for a time, and will unlock enormous amounts of economic growth, but they are fundamentally labor replacing.”
AI is both concerning and a ‘fantastic opportunity’
Gates is optimistic about the overall benefits AI can provide to humanity, like “breakthrough treatments for deadly diseases, innovative solutions for climate change, and high-quality education for everyone,” he wrote last year.
Talking to Fallon, Gates reaffirmed his belief that certain types of jobs will likely never be replaced by AI, noting that people probably don’t want to see machines playing baseball, for example.
“There will be some things we reserve for ourselves. But in terms of making things and moving things and growing food, over time those will be basically solved problems,” Gates said.
AI’s development does come with “understandable and valid” concerns, Gates wrote in a 2023 blog post. Today’s top-of-the-line AI programs are rife with errors and prone to enabling the spread of falsehoods online, for example.
But if he had to start a new business from scratch, he’d launch an “AI-centric” startup, Gates told CNBC Make It in September 2024.
“Today, somebody could raise billions of dollars for a new AI company [that’s just] a few sketch ideas,” he said, adding: “I’m encouraging young people at Microsoft, OpenAI, wherever I find them: ‘Hey, here’s the frontier.’ Because you’re taking a fresher look at this than I am, and that’s your fantastic opportunity.”
Gates predicted AI’s potential years ago
Gates saw the AI revolution coming nearly a decade ago: When asked which industry he’d focus on if he had to start over from scratch, he quickly chose AI.
“The work in artificial intelligence today is at a really profound level,” Gates said at a 2017 event at Columbia University alongside Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett. He pointed to the “profound milestone” of Google’s DeepMind AI lab creating a computer program that could defeat humans at the board game Go.
At the time, the technology was years away from ChatGPT-style generative text, powered by large language models. Yet by 2023, even Gates was surprised by the speed of AI’s development. He’d challenged OpenAI to create a model that could get a top score on a high school AP Biology exam, expecting the task to take two or three years, he wrote in his blog post.
“They finished it in just a few months,” wrote Gates. He called the achievement “the most important advance in technology since the graphical user interface [in 1980].”
Disclosure: NBCUniversal is the parent company of CNBC and NBC, which broadcasts “The Tonight Show.”Want to earn some extra money on the side? Take CNBC’s new online course How to Start a Side Hustle to learn tips to get started and strategies for success from top side hustle experts. Sign up today and use coupon code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off $97 (+taxes and fees) through April 1, 2025.
FAA Grounds Air Traffic After SpaceX Explosion Off US Coast
March 7, 2025, | 6:00 AM Est.: The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the halt of air traffic at four Florida airports on Thursday after a SpaceX rocket broke apart during a launch. The agency halted flights into Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando as a precaution due to possible debris from the explosion, according to Politico.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered the halt of air traffic at four Florida airports on Thursday after a SpaceX rocket broke apart during a launch.
The agency halted flights into Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Orlando as a precaution due to possible debris from the explosion, according to Politico.
The ground stops lasted for roughly 50 minutes, the outlet said.
Video of the explosion filmed by people in the Bahamas circulated on social media.
The video showed parts of the aircraft glowing and streaking across the night sky.
SpaceX, which was founded by Elon Musk, revealed that the eighth test of the Starship rocket, launched from Boca Chica, Texas, was disrupted during the ascent.
“The vehicle experienced a rapid unscheduled disassembly and contact was lost,” SpaceX said.
“Our team immediately began coordination with safety officials to implement pre-planned contingency responses,” the company added.
“We will review the data from today’s flight test to better understand the root cause. As always, success comes from what we learn, and today’s flight will offer additional lessons to improve Starship’s reliability.”
The “rapid unscheduled disassembly” is the second such incident from a Starship, the massive rocket that SpaceX intends to use for lunar missions and trips to Mars.
The last Starship was lost on Jan. 16, prompting the FAA to ask the firm to conduct a mishap inquiry.
The FAA lifted a launch prohibition last week, allowing the company to conduct more tests while the investigation continues.
Another mishap report will be required of the Thursday launch.
“We will conduct a thorough investigation, in coordination with the FAA, and implement corrective actions to make improvements on future Starship flight tests,” SpaceX said in a statement, per NBC News.
Contact with Starship was lost just short of 10 minutes after liftoff.
Several engines appeared to fail around 8 minutes into the flight, the same time frame in which the previous crash started to occur.
Dan Huot, the communications manager for SpaceX, said during the webcast of the launch, “It’s pretty obvious we’re not going to continue the rest of the mission today.”
SpaceX revealed that debris from the destroyed ship would fall in a designated “Debris Response Area.”
The material from the rocket is not toxic, and no significant costs to marine life or water safety are expected.
Ben Zeisloft March 7, 2025 at 6:00am: Ben Zeisloft is the editor of The Republic Sentinel, a conservative news outlet owned and operated by Christians. He is a former staff reporter for The Daily Wire and has written for The Spectator, Campus Reform, and other conservative news outlets. Ben graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School with concentrations in business economics and marketing.
OPPO Launches Find N5: The World's Thinnest Book-Style Foldable with Unprecedented Design, Battery Life, and AI-Powered Performance
Find N5 unlocks the potential of folding phones, putting tablet and laptop experiences in our hands. It's impossibly thin and light, and ColorOS 15 is precision-tuned to do more across two immersive displays, with AI-powered tools, and advanced integration with Macs. Find N5 doesn't close doors, it opens them, unfolding the potential of all your tech while keeping you connected all day and beyond.
Press Release: February 20, 2025, SINGAPORE OPPOPress Release: February 20, 2025, SINGAPORE OPPO
Billy Zhang, President of Overseas Marketing, Sales and Services of OPPO at the launch event
February 20, 2025, SINGAPORE OPPO, the world's leading smart device brand, today announced the global availability of its Find N5 flagship foldable smartphone. Delivering unrivaled experiences with its thin and light design, the largest inner screen of any book-style foldable, class-leading battery life, and next-generation AI-powered performance, Find N5 redefines foldable excellence.
OPPO Find N5 in Cosmic Black and Misty White
“Find N5 unlocks the potential of folding phones, putting tablet and laptop experiences in our hands. It’s impossibly thin and light, and ColorOS 15 is precision-tuned to do more across two immersive displays, with AI-powered tools, and advanced integration with Macs. Find N5 doesn’t close doors, it opens them, unfolding the potential of all your tech while keeping you connected all day and beyond.”
Thin, Light, and Durable
OPPO Find N5 measures just 8.93mm thin and is a featherweight 229g
Find N5 is the world's thinnest book-style foldable when closed. Measuring just 8.93mm, it's no thicker than a traditional phone, and at a featherweight 229g, it's uncompromisingly light. Premium design and a rich feel combine with flat sides to create a secure grip, with contoured metal and balanced weighting for a tailored hold like no other.
Turn Find N5 around, and OPPO's striking flagship design flourish–the Cosmos Ring–teases the Hasselblad Master Camera System within, and showcases an evolved aesthetic that elegantly rises from the aircraft-grade fibre back.
Choose between two Find N5 color options: Cosmic Black combines a classic, demure, frosted black finish with a mature, matte black metal frame, and Misty White shimmers as its rich, layered back catches the light and its silver frame glints enticingly.
Beautiful and durable, Find N5 is the world's first IPX9-rated foldable. In addition to its IPX8 water resistance, it has been tested to withstand water jets at extreme temperatures.
OPPO's Armour Shield architecture fortifies Find N5's structural integrity. The frame is crafted from a composite of 7000 series aluminium alloy, resulting in a 30% increase in strength. With ultra-durable nanocrystal glass, the cover display benefits from up to a 20% improvement in drop resistance.
Smooth and Secure: OPPO's Titanium Flexion Hinge
Find N5's Titanium Flexion Hinge is 36% more rigid despite being 26% smaller
Find N5's world-class durability extends to its Titanium Flexion Hinge, which is 26% smaller yet 36% more rigid than the previous generation, thanks to an overhauled structure and upgraded materials.
Both Find N5's hinge cover, which protects the internal folding components, and the wing plate that connects the hinge to the folding display are made of Grade 5 titanium alloy, 3D printed to achieve the perfect shape. The hinge's load-bearing components are made using Ultra-High Strength Steel (UHSS) exclusively customised by OPPO, with an industry-leading yield strength of 2000 MPa, so you can be confident Find N5 will last, even after years of folding and unfolding.
You can feel the difference; Find N5's Titanium Flexion Hinge glides smoothly as you open and close it, while the contoured, flat sides create a perfect grip. With TÜV Rheinland Reliable Folding Certification, Find N5 is tested in extreme environments for ultimate peace of mind.
Two Large Displays
Find N5 has two large, flagship-quality displays for compromise-free use whether open or closed
Despite its slender, pocketable design, Find N5's 8.12" unfolded screen is larger than some popular tablets on the market. It creates two-in-one functionality and gives you space for next-level productivity, creativity and entertainment. And with a class-leading shallow, narrow crease, it invites flow as you navigate across it, free from interruption. Find N5 is also the first smartphone to earn TÜV Rheinland's Minimized Crease Certification, further cementing its industry-leading status.
Find N5's Dual Shielded Flexible Screen includes nine layers, including an industry-leading 0.1mm thin stainless steel support plate, ultra-thin glass, and a top film made of customized anti-shock elastomer material. This combination delivers a 70% increase in impact resistance.
Unfolded, Find N5 has the largest display of any book-style foldable
Find N5's two displays look brilliant while delivering advanced eye care. Showcasing content with over 400PPI clarity, gliding with a smooth 1-120Hz refresh rate, and beaming with a peak brightness of over 2000 nits when displaying HDR content, so apps, games, and movies look sensational, whether open or closed. Find N5 also combines low-flicker, 2160Hz PWM dimming that reduces fatigue caused by OLED flickering. And with OPPO Pen support across both displays, it fuels creativity too.
The Best Battery Life of Any Foldable
Find N5 features an ultra-high capacity 5600mAh OPPO Silicon-Carbon Battery
Find N5 lasts longer, delivering the best battery life of any folding phone. Made possible by its ultra-high capacity 5600mAh dual-cell battery, it sets a new bar, lasting beyond a full day and beating both folding and non-folding competition.
This breakthrough battery life is only possible with the next-gen OPPO Silicon-Carbon Battery, which features an industry-leading 10% silicon, resulting in an incredibly slim 2.1mm cell despite its class-leading capacity.
Find N5 powers up with 80W SUPERVOOCTM wired & 50W AIRVOOCTM wireless charging
With 80W SUPERVOOCTM and 50W AIRVOOCTM charging, unlike the foldable competition, Find N5 doesn't compromise on charging speed, offering hours of usage with minutes of charging. When paired with an OPPO magnetic case, Find N5 can enjoy high-speed 50W AIRVOOCTM wireless charging with the convenience of magnetic charging and mounting.
Power, Privacy and Photography
The first foldable to launch with the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform1, Find N5 boasts exceptional performance, AI-computing and efficiency. The Qualcomm® Hexagon™ NPU delivers a 45% improvement in AI performance2, while the 3nm architecture ensures Find N5's high-capacity battery lasts even longer.
Find N5 is the first foldable to feature the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Mobile Platform
Users can enjoy maximum peace of mind thanks to a dedicated security chip that delivers hardware-level security to protect on-device confidential data.
Find N5 opens up new possibilities with its Hasselblad Master Camera System. Combining an ultra-wide camera for expansive views, a wide primary camera for all-purpose shots and lossless 2x zooming, and a powerful periscope camera for far-reaching photos and videos, Find N5 is a versatile creative tool.
Find N5 combines a powerful Hasselblad Master Camera System with foldable hardware
Despite its ultra-thin profile, Find N5's periscope camera combines a high-resolution 50MP sensor with a 70mm focal length, a fast f/2.7 aperture, and OIS. Unlocking telephoto macro capture, it focuses on a subject as near as 10cm from the lens, offering tele-macro shooting for the first time on an OPPO device, so whether you're photographing food, flowers, insects, or products, Find N5 delivers a crisp picture.
One of Find Series's most loved features is Hasselblad Portrait Mode. Find N5 combines it with a photographer-favourite 70mm optical focal length for stunning, natural-looking shots of people and pets loaded with depth and detail. Pros can push the camera system even further with Hasselblad Master Mode, delivering full manual control and RAW capture, while Dolby Vision 10-bit video records rich, detailed HDR footage at up to 4K resolution, 60fps.
Ultra-Smart Big-Screen Experiences
Launching with Android 15, Find N5 will receive five years of security updates for long-lasting peace of mind and will be powered by ColorOS 15, bringing the latest generation of OPPO experiences and AI capabilities to foldables.
Find N5 brings back Boundless View, introduced on Find N3, enabling three-app, full-screen multi-tasking. It also introduces smart split screen, making two-app multi-tasking more intuitive than ever. Recognising when two apps are used in succession frequently, Find N5 suggests a two-app split view to save time and take full advantage of Find N5's 8.12" unfolded display.
With Find N5's new AI Search3, swipe down on your home screen, type in a search query or command, and Find N5 uses the power of AI to analyze countless files and settings to display the best solution.
With AI Call Summary, Find N5 can intelligently transcribe, generate summaries, and create action points based on a transcript of your calls. Whether it's groceries or a board meeting, AI Call Summary gives your memory a helping hand.
Find N5 supports seamless file transfer and remote control of your Mac with O+ Connect
And with Find N5's new dual-screen translation and interpreting feature and handy eSIM support, it's a world traveler's ultimate companion. Simply launch the Translate app, activate the Dual-Screen Interpreter, part fold your phone, and start speaking for a live translation displayed for each speaker. Find N5 breaks down language barriers in seconds.
Recorder generates a transcript and a summary of recordings, while the AI Assistant for Notes restructures and streamlines content corrects spelling, grammar, and tone, and it can intelligently expand or shorten notes. Documents, meanwhile, takes existing documents (text, spreadsheets, and presentations), can summarize them in seven languages, and translate or rewrite them in a range of styles.
OPPO AI ToolBox's advanced language tools include AI Summary, AI Speak, and AI Writer, streamlining reading and writing for the Find N5, whether browsing the web or writing a message.
Whether you're editing photos captured on Find N5 or an image you've been sent, OPPO AI makes photo editing easier than ever. AI Eraser recognizes and removes objects and people in moments, AI Clarity Enhance upgrades low-resolution pictures, transforming them into ultra-high-definition, 4K resolution images, AI Unblur refocuses blurry action shots, and AI Reflection Remover removes glare in moments.
ColorOS 15 also introduces Circle to Search with Google4. Just circle to search anything on your phone, without switching apps. And with the Google Gemini5 app, your AI assistant from Google, you can get help learning in new ways, writing emails, planning events, and more.
Next-Level Cross-OS Support
With O+ Connect for Mac, Find N5 supports seamless file transfer and remote control of your Mac
OPPO bridges the gap between MacOS computers and Find N5.
With the O+ Connect app for Mac installed, seamlessly share photos, videos and files with super fast speed across devices. O+ Connect even supports remote access, so you can easily pull files from your computer to your Find N5 remotely, or take control of your Mac interface when on the go and your Mac is miles away.
Touch to Share, introduced on Find X8 Series, also delivers one-touch sharing and receiving from iOS and iPadOS devices with your ColorOS smartphone.
OPPO's Global Commitment
Find N5 marks a new phase in OPPO's global expansion. With over 700 million users across 70 markets, OPPO ranks fourth in global smartphone shipments for 2024, while 60% of its shipments come from markets outside of Mainland China. OPPO is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for premium devices, spanning both traditional bar phones and foldable models. With the launch of Find X8 and Find N5, OPPO demonstrates a renewed commitment to its dual-flagship strategy for global markets.
OPPO will also continue its collaboration with Discovery Channel, introducing Make Your Moment, a campaign that celebrates its customers at a global and local level.
1 Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm, Snapdragon, and Qualcomm Hexagon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.
2 Compared to the previous generation chipset.
3 AI Search is not available at launch and will be updated via OTA. Its functionality may vary by region due to local laws and cloud capabilities, and it will only support English.
4 Internet connection and compatible operating system required. Availability may vary by device, country, and language.
5 Google, Android and Gemini are trademarks of Google LLC.About OPPO
OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone - "Smiley Face" - in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services. OPPO has footprints in more than 70 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.
Theo Edwards for YAME DigitalOPPO Find N5 Review - The Best Foldable There Is!
OPPO Find N5 Unboxing & Review. The world's thinnest book-style foldable and the first foldable to have the SD 8 Elite 7 core version. Full review with all the Pros and Cons including battery life and charge times.
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Africa’s Self-Powered Car Shocks Engineers Worldwide
Initially, many declared it impossible. Scientists scoffed, corporations ignored it, and even those with malicious intent attempted to silence him. Yet, Maxwell Chikumbutso, a self-taught inventor from Zimbabwe, remained resolute. He has now unveiled a technology that could revolutionize the globe and disrupt various industries in the process! Introducing the Kaiyi Saith, an electric car that requires no charging, offers an unlimited range, emits zero emissions, and can even power your home. But that’s just the beginning.
Theo Edwards for YAME Digital
Chikumbutso (c), President Mnangagwa (r)
Maxwell Chikumbutso technological breakthrough
Initially, many declared it impossible. Scientists scoffed, corporations ignored it, and even those with malicious intent attempted to silence him. Yet, Maxwell Chikumbutso, a self-taught inventor from Zimbabwe, remained resolute. He has now unveiled a technology that could revolutionize the globe and disrupt various industries in the process! Introducing the Kaiyi Saith, an electric car that requires no charging, offers an unlimited range, emits zero emissions, and can even power your home. But that’s just the beginning.
“On the afternoon of January 28, 2025, President Mnangagwa met with Zimbabwean inventor Maxwell Sangulani Chikumbutso, who visited the State House in Harare.”
An inventor, entrepreneur, and the founder of Saith Technologies and Saith Motors. He has developed the world's first cars that do not require fuel, recharging or any external input. The Saith FEV is a self-powering electric vehicle that operates entirely on radio waves.
Chikumbutso explained that radio frequencies are measured in nanovolts, which are less than a volt. However, he has found a way to harness this energy by creating 70 percent of the components needed for microsonic energy. His innovative components allow radio frequencies to be converted into pure, usable energy, making this invention the first of its kind in the world.
Born in Zimbabwe, Chikumbutso dropped out of school at 14 and started inventing gadgets in the 1990s. He is best known for developing a green energy technology that converts radio frequencies into electricity. His most notable claimed inventions include a free energy vehicle that allegedly requires no fuel or recharging, a green power generator using radio frequencies, a helicopter that can run on multiple fuel types, and a self-powered television.
The President of Zimbabwe, Mr. Mnangagwa, has expressed his personal support for the Zimbabwean inventor and innovator, Mr. Maxwell Chikumbutso, in his endeavors. His company, Saith Technologies, is reportedly aiming to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Theo Edwards for YAME Digital
China Beats Starlink to Hi-res Space-ground Laser Communication
China has achieved a breakthrough in satellite-to-ground laser communications that could pave the way for 6G and other applications including remote sensing with ultra-high resolution and next-generation satellite positioning technology. While China focuses on advancing its technology and renewing its infrastructure at home, the rest of the world is asleep or busy sponsoring wars with taxpayers' money.
TheStar | China beats Starlink to hi-res space-ground laser transmission at 6G standard
Commercial satellite company sets 100Gbps speed record – 10 times faster than its previous feat less than a year earlier. — SCMP
China has achieved a breakthrough in satellite-to-ground laser communications that could pave the way for 6G and other applications including remote sensing with ultra-high resolution and next-generation satellite positioning technology.
While China focuses on advancing its technology and renewing its infrastructure at home, the rest of the world is asleep or busy sponsoring wars with taxpayers' money.China beats Starlink to hi-res space-ground laser transmission at 6G standard
China has achieved a breakthrough in satellite-to-ground laser communications that could pave the way for 6G and other applications including remote sensing with ultra-high resolution and next-generation satellite positioning technology.
Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co, which owns Jilin-1, the world’s largest sub-metre commercial remote sensing satellite constellation, said it achieved a 100 gigabit per second ultra-high-speed image data transmission rate in testing last weekend.
The feat – 10 times the speed of its previous record – was accomplished between a truck-mounted ground station and one of the 117 satellites that currently make up the Jilin-1 constellation, the company said.
According to Wang Hanghang, the company’s head of laser communication ground station technology, the development puts Chang Guang Satellite ahead of Elon Musk’s Starlink.
“Musk’s Starlink has revealed its laser inter-satellite communication system but hasn’t deployed laser satellite-to-ground communication yet. We think they might have the technology, but we’ve already started large-scale deployment,” he said.
“We plan to deploy these laser communication units across all satellites in the Jilin-1 constellation to improve their efficiency, with a goal of networking 300 satellites by 2027.”
Wang added that the breakthrough “lays the foundation for the deployment and efficient operation of China’s satellite infrastructure, including navigation, 6G internet, and remote sensing applications”.
While the cost of upgrading ground stations is high, satellite communication offers low cost and wide coverage, making it an “important direction” for the development of 6G, he said. “Laser communication will also be a necessary technology by then.”
Xi Jinping | President of the People's Republic of China
As satellites have achieved higher spatial and temporal resolutions, the volume of data they generate is growing exponentially, creating a bottleneck for the traditional microwave data transmission bandwidth.
Recognizing the looming problem, Chang Guang shifted its focus in early 2020 to laser communications technology, a field that has seen several noteworthy strides in recent years.
In 2022, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) achieved a landmark 100Gbps laser transmission, followed by NASA’s TeraByte InfraRed Delivery (TBIRD) system – also built by MIT – that set a record of 200Gbps in 2023.
The TBIRD payload is tiny – just three 10cm (4in) cubes that together are about the size of a tissue box – while its receiving station is part of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
The payload weight of China’s larger, heavier system is about 20kg (44lb) and instead of an observatory, the ground receiving unit is truck-based, making it mobile – an option that could lead to faster applications.
The Chang Guang-developed laser communication terminal, which is about the size of a backpack and supports both inter-satellite and space-to-Earth data transmission, was included in the payload of a satellite that left Earth in June 2023.
The Jilin-1 02A02 satellite selected for the trial was part of the record-breaking mission that saw a single rocket carry 41 satellites into orbit to join the Chinese constellation.
On the ground, the mobile set-up of the vehicle-mounted laser communication station means it can avoid atmospheric disruptions, such as extreme weather and turbulence, enhancing the reliability and stability of space-to-earth data transmission.
“We plan to establish multiple receiving stations across China to improve the efficiency of remote sensing image data acquisition,” Wang said.
The previous record achieved by the system was a 10Gbps space-to-earth data transfer in October 2023. By January last year, the company had conducted China’s first 100Gbps inter-satellite transmission, between the 02A01 and 02A02 platforms.
The team overcame numerous technical challenges to achieve the latest breakthrough, including atmospheric turbulence, high-speed relative motion errors, and precision beam tracking.
The achievement of a 100Gbps transmission rate from a satellite to Earth “is equivalent to transmitting 10 full-length movies in just one second. It’s like upgrading a single-lane highway to thousands of lanes”, Wang said.
According to the company’s official report, the application possibilities are extensive, spanning disaster monitoring, national defense, smart cities, environmental protection, and emergency response, in addition to 6G satellite internet.
The latest achievement marks a significant step forward for China’s satellite communication capabilities, solidifying its position in the global space technology race, it said. – South China Morning Post
By Zhang Tong for TheStar
Huawei’s Tri-Foldable Mate XT Sparks National Pride in China Despite Expensive Price
Huawei Mate XT: The New Revolution in The Mobile World. Chinese citizens have taken to social media to express pride in how Huawei has developed the Mate XT tri-foldable smartphone and, second, in claiming it can challenge Apple even with the current US sanctions. However, the cost of the device has been criticized for being too expensive at $2,800, which even real Huawei enthusiasts are complaining about.
By Jose Enrico | Published Sep 11, 2024 11:02AM EDT
Huawei Technology Mate XT
However, the cost of the device has been criticized for being too expensive at $2,800, which even real Huawei enthusiasts are complaining about.
Huawei Mate XT: The New Revolution in The Mobile World. Chinese citizens have taken to social media to express pride in how Huawei has developed the Mate XT tri-foldable smartphone.
By Jose Enrico | Published Sep 11, 2024 11:02AM EDTChinese citizens have taken to social media to express pride in how Huawei has been able to come up with the Mate XT tri-foldable smartphone and, second, in claiming it can challenge Apple even with the current US sanctions.
However, the cost of the device has been criticized for being too expensive and it costs $2,800 which even real Huawei enthusiasts are complaining about.
Before this happened, the Mate XT reached 3 million pre-orders in China alone.
(Photo : Huawei/YouTube) | Huawei Mate XT, the newest tri-foldable phone has an absurd pricing at $2,800. Despite that, Chinese buyers believe it can "out-innovate" Apple's iPhone 16Just imagine buying more than three iPhone 16 phones. You now get the gist of the Mate XT's pricing, according to BGR.
Huawei launched the Mate XT on Tuesday as the tri-foldable phone in the industry while Apple introduced the AI iPhone 16 models on the same day.
The timing of this has also attracted attention, Huawei's new device has become a symbol of technology strength against US sanctions for many Chinese users.
Interestingly, the Mate XT is believed to be launched on September 20 the same as the iPhone 16. Nonetheless, there are actions that suggest that the Mate XT will be launched only in China, which will only serve to deepen the people's pride in domestic electronics.
Nationalism Drives Huawei Support on Social Media
Purchases of Huawei's new telephone model skyrocketed and when this was posted to Weibo, the Chinese micro-blogging site, people could only shower the company with praises.
Posts like "Apple didn't drop, but Huawei has indeed come back" and "Change is coming nothing can stop it, and the US sanctions are useless" depict some satisfaction from the Chinese users.
At one time, virality hit Apple's employee's apparent visit to a Huawei store to see the Mate XT launch becoming the no. 2 trending topic on Weibo for over 13 and half hours. This video was watched 91 million times and more than 6,600 comments were placed.
Yahoo reports that this has created a buzz around the release of the Huawei Mate XT and it is seen as a return of Huawei to the 5G smartphone market after the successful release of its Mate 60 series phones and the Pura series of phones also have home-made chips.
These milestones are described as the triumphs over US sanctions which have withheld Huawei's access to the kind of US chips and technology since 2019.
Huawei vs. Apple: A Battle for Technological Supremacy
However, many people are not happy with the price of the Mate XT, which is about $2,800 without taking into consideration some individuals quite like Elon Musk.
The basic version is 19,999 yuan, while others with greater storage are within the bracket of 23,999 yuan ($3,300).
Out of 9,200 participants of the Weibo poll regarding the Mate XT, only 966 are willing to buy the phone, Moreover, more than 4,700 mentioned the high price as an issue.
"No matter how much I like the product, the price tag just sounds crazy to me. Maybe Huawei isn't really targeting people like me," a Huawei loyalist surnamed Xu commented.
US Sanctions on Huawei
As we know, Washington has a beef with Beijing when it comes to technology. The US admin aims to curb China's development. Most importantly, it wants to restrict the latter's dominance in the military.
Huawei has been struggling to keep up with the restrictions since a few years ago, making it harder for the company to acquire US-made chips. Despite this, the smartphone maker did not cave in, trusting its local semiconductors.
The Most Exciting Rumors About Samsung's New Foldable Phones
The tech giant is expected to introduce the newest iterations of its foldable lineup, the Z Flip6 and the Z Fold6. Both Z Fold and Z Flip will utilize Samsung’s Galaxy AI model.
Here are some of the biggest rumors out there about the phones’ expected new features:
The tech giant is expected to introduce the newest iterations of its foldable lineup, the Z Flip6 and the Z Fold6
By Pauline Vu, Senior Reporter | Mon, July 8, 2024 at 2:25 AM EDT· 4 min readSamsung will unveil its newest products at its summer Unpacked event on July 10, streaming live from Paris. The tech giant is expected to introduce the newest iterations of its foldable lineup, the Z Flip6 and the Z Fold6.
Here are some of the biggest rumors out there about the phones’ expected new features:
Artificial Intelligence
Back in January, Samsung made a big splash by introducing the Galaxy S24 lineup as its first AI phone, and the company promises that will continue with the new foldables.
"The introduction of Galaxy AI on the Galaxy S24 series was only the start," Won-joon Choi, Samsung's executive vice president of mobile business, wrote in a recent blog post. "To deliver a completely new and unique AI experience, we will further optimize the Galaxy AI experience for the upcoming foldable devices."
Both the Z Fold and Z Flip will utilize Samsung’s Galaxy AI model, which supports features such as a “Live Translate” tool for real-time translations for the S24 phones. A potential AI feature specific to the foldables could be real-time translation — using both halves of the phone.
Galaxy Z Flip6
While the Z Flip6 isn’t expected to have as many design changes as the Z Fold6, it’s still rumored to have a larger cover screen (the screen that’s visible when the device is folded and closed) of 3.9 inches, compared with 3.4 inches for the Z Fold5; a heftier design to accommodate a larger battery; and a less visible screen crease.
Expected new colors are Light Blue, Mint, Silver Shadow, and Yellow, while additional exclusive colors may include White, Peach, Crafted Black, and Lavender.
One of the biggest rumored changes is an upgraded 50MP main camera, up from 12MP. The Z Flip6 will also have an improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset to provide better performance and longer battery life.
Both the Z Flip6 and the Z Fold6 will likely use "Ironflex" technology that will improve the durability of its internal foldable screens.
Rumors have the Galaxy Z Flip 6 starting at $1,100 for the 256GB model, which would be a $100 bump up from the Z Flip 5's $1,000 starting price.
Galaxy Z Fold6
The Galaxy Z Fold6, which folds vertically like a book, will see a significant design change to bring it more in line with the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s more angular appearance. The Z Fold6 should be thinner and lighter, thanks to a possible titanium frame, and will have a larger cover screen of 60.2mm, up from 57.4mm. It should also have an Ironflex screen.
Additionally, both the main and cover screens could reach up to 2600 nits of brightness (up from 1,750 in the previous iteration).
The Z Fold6 will likely have an improved Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, an increase in RAM up to 16GB, and a slightly larger 4,600mAh battery (up from 4,400mAh).
The rumored new color offerings are Navy, Pink, and Silver Shadow.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 stands on a table. What changes will the company unveil for the Galaxy Z Fold6? (Photo by Christoph Dernbach/picture alliance via Getty Images) (dpa/picture alliance via Getty I)
One thing that's not expected to change from the Z Fold5: the camera specs, which will stay at 50MP for the main camera, 12MP ultrawide, and 10MP telephoto.
One of the more intriguing rumors about the Z Fold6 is that Samsung may offer different versions of it, such as a cheaper version or even a premium model that would potentially be called the Galaxy Z Fold6 Ultra.
The base 256GB model is rumored to start at $1,899, a $100 increase from the Z Fold 5's starting price.
Galaxy Watch 7, Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Buds
Samsung is also expected to unveil an update to its smartwatch lineup with the Galaxy Watch 7, which will have new health features, a sleeker design, and a new processor. There might also be a high-end Galaxy Watch Ultra so Samsung can compete with the Apple Watch Ultra.
The company may also introduce the new Galaxy Buds 3 with improved sound quality and battery life, as the current Buds 2 Pro is already two years old.
Rumors have it that Samsung may also launch its first smart ring, the Galaxy Ring, at Unpacked. The company teased the ring at its event back in January. The Galaxy Ring is expected to have health-monitoring features, and sleep tracking tools and would integrate with the Samsung ecosystem. It may be priced between $300 and $350.
Will these rumors pan out? Tune in to Samsung’s presentation to find out.
This article was written by a Currently Media editorial contributor and was produced in part with the assistance of artificial intelligence. The statements in this article don’t reflect the positions, strategies or opinions of AT&T.“Samsung Official Launch”
Samsung Galaxy Unpacked July 2024: Official Livestream | Replay
Biodiesel From Date-seeds Powers Bus Transport Initiative
Oman's significant consumption of dates led to a surplus of waste generated from the seeds. Traditionally used for coffee, an innovative idea sparked a determined seven-year research and development process, resulting in successful biodiesel production from date kernels. The biofuel revolution in Oman stands as a shining example of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance in the face of daunting challenges. Dr. Al Haj's pioneering work exemplifies the transformative power of research and development in addressing pressing environmental issues and shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
Oman Observer | Business Economy
Oman Observer | Business Economy: Date-seeds powers bus transport initiative
Oman's significant consumption of dates led to a surplus of waste generated from the seeds. Traditionally used for coffee, an innovative idea sparked a determined seven-year research and development process, resulting in successful biodiesel production from date kernels.
The biofuel revolution in Oman stands as a shining example of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance in the face of daunting challenges. Dr. Al Haj's pioneering work exemplifies the transformative power of research and development in addressing pressing environmental issues and shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
A Mwasalat bus in Oman is powered entirely by biodiesel derived from waste date Kernels.
Jomar Mendoza for Oman Observer | Business Economy | MUSCAT, MAY 13A groundbreaking initiative is revolutionizing the way people think about energy production and waste management. Dr. Lamya al-Haj, an Associate Professor at the College of Science at Sultan Qaboos University, has spearheaded a remarkable project to transform waste date seeds into biodiesel, paving the way for a more sustainable future for the Middle East region.
Gaining traction, the World Economic Forum (WEF) recently featured a video of Dr. Al Haj’s work. In the featured video, the journey toward biofuel production from date kernels began in 2015 when Dr. Al Haj and her team recognized the vast potential of utilizing the oil content in date seeds to create biodiesel.
With Oman being a significant consumer of dates, there was an abundance of waste generated from the seeds, which were traditionally used for coffee. This innovative idea sparked a seven-year-long research and development process, culminating in successful biodiesel production from date kernels.
"The date seeds were used for coffee as coffee beans. We thought, can we utilize the oil content in the seeds to convert that into biodiesel because it has about 9 to 15% of oil in the seeds? And that's what sparked the idea in the very beginning," Dr. Al Haj explained.
The first tangible outcome of this groundbreaking research was the launch of a Mwasalat bus in Oman powered entirely by biodiesel derived from waste date kernels. This achievement marked a significant milestone, showcasing the potential for renewable energy solutions to replace traditional fossil fuels in the transportation sector.
"For me, it was a personal achievement because I wanted to drive home the point that research can go from the lab to the road, and it's a very strong message to send to our youth, to our students, to our society, that research should be focused on real problems in our countries and the world," Dr. Al Haj expressed.
Beyond the environmental benefits of reducing waste and carbon emissions, the biofuel production project in Oman carries wide-ranging social and economic implications. By creating a demand for date kernels as a raw material for biodiesel production, the project has the potential to generate new sources of income for farmers and create job opportunities in the agricultural sector.
"So this is going to create jobs for the farmers because instead of them throwing the seeds on in the farming industry, now they're going to be part of the solution for the collection," Dr Al Haj highlighted.
The biofuel revolution in Oman stands as a shining example of innovation, collaboration, and perseverance in the face of daunting challenges. Dr Al Haj's pioneering work exemplifies the transformative power of research and development in addressing pressing environmental issues and shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future for generations to come.
Solar Eclipse 2024
On Monday, droves of people donned protective eyewear and headed outdoors to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse. In the United States, the sun was fully covered across 15 states along the “path of totality.” For 49 states, a partial eclipse was visible.
Yahoo News Photo Staff and Neia Balao | Updated Mon, April 8, 2024 at 6:36 PM EDT
35 photos that show the rare astronomical event in all of its glory
Yahoo News Photo Staff and Neia Balao | Updated Mon, April 8, 2024 at 6:36 PM EDT
On Monday, droves of people donned protective eyewear and headed outdoors to catch a glimpse of the total solar eclipse.
Yurem Rodriquez watches as the moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas, on Monday. (Eric Gay/AP)
In the United States, the sun was fully covered across 15 states along the “path of totality.” For 49 states, a partial eclipse was visible. The partial eclipse began near Mazatlan, Mexico, at 12:51 p.m. ET and crossed the U.S. at 1:27 p.m. CT. The partial eclipse ends in Caribou, Maine at 4:40 p.m. ET.
This event marked the last opportunity to catch a total solar eclipse in the continental U.S. for approximately 20 years.
These are some photos of the total solar eclipse in all of its glory.
People use their cellphones as the sky darkens during a total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico, on Monday. (Fernando Llano/AP)
The diamond ring effect is seen as the moon eclipses the sun in Fort Worth, Texas, on Monday. (Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Tawhid Rana, of Midland, Mich., holds his daughter Thia as she views the sun through a telescope at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis on Monday. (Michael Conroy/AP)
People observe the solar eclipse, in Torreon, Mexico. (Daniel Becerril/Reuters)
The solar eclipse is seen above the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on Monday. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Children attend the eclipse viewing at Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Scott Gable for Yahoo News)
People look out toward Lake Erie and the horizon during a total solar eclipse under cloudy conditions at Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum in Dunkirk, N.Y. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters)
Senate pages wear eclipse glasses as they view the moon partially covering the sun during a total solar eclipse, in front of the U.S. Senate on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Brandon/AP)
People watch the partial solar eclipse as they gather on the observation deck of Edge at Hudson Yards in New York City. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
The moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Eagle Pass, Texas. (Eric Gay/AP)
Couples to be wed exchange rings just before totality during a solar eclipse at a mass wedding ceremony at Trenton Community Park, in Trenton, Ohio. (Jon Cherry/AP)
Amerika Garcia uses a pair of protective lenses to look at the sun during a total solar eclipse in Piedras Negras, Mexico. (Sergio Flores for Yahoo News)
The moon partially covers the sun during a total solar eclipse, as seen from Mazatlan, Mexico. (Fernando Llano/AP)
Joe and Ric Solis use special glasses as they prepare to watch a total solar eclipse in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Eric Gay/AP)
Clouds part as a partial eclipse crosses over a church steeple in Manor, Texas. (Charles Rex Arbogast/AP)
Wendy and Richard Erhard watch the solar eclipse from the John F. Kennedy Memorial Overlook in Cleburne County, Ark. (Brad Vest for Yahoo News)
A kid watches the eclipse from the beach in Mazatlan, Mexico. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
A total solar eclipse is seen from Mazatlan, Mexico. (Henry Romero/Reuters)
People use special protective glasses to observe a total solar eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico. (Henry Romero/Reuters)
A person uses two sets of glasses to see the eclipse in Mazatlan, Mexico. (Hector Vivas/Getty Images)
People gather under overcast skies ahead of a total solar eclipse in Niagara Falls, Canada. (Matt Rourke/AP)
Some of the 309 people who gathered to break the Guinness world record for the largest group of people dressed as the sun pose while boarding a sightseeing boat before the total solar eclipse in Niagara Falls, Canada. (Kyaw Soe Oo/Reuters)
Adrian Plaza, 9, tests his eclipse glasses ahead of a partial solar eclipse in Queens, N.Y. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters)
Glasses that are being used to see the eclipse in Torreon, Mexico. (Getty Images)
People stand next to bubbles as they assemble to view a total solar eclipse in Eagle Pass, Texas. (Christian Monterrosa/Reuters)
People dance next to representations of the Earth, sun and moon at Saluki Stadium, ahead of a total solar eclipse, in Carbondale, Ill. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
Tourists sleep next to the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Brendan McDermid/Reuters)
Junior Espejo looks through eclipse glasses being handed out by NASA in Houlton, Maine. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
People are set up at Niagara Falls State Park ahead of a total solar eclipse across North America, in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
Members of the media set up at Niagara Falls State Park in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images)
A family poses for a photo with a large eclipse glasses display in front of the pagoda at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Indianapolis. (Michael Conroy/AP)
Judah Terlep, 4, wears a mask with solar eclipse glasses, in Carbondale, Ill. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
People at Niagara Falls State Park watch Niagara Falls and the rainbow ahead of a solar eclipse to take place later in the day, in Niagara Falls, N.Y. (Soren Larson/Reuters)
A man holding a solar eclipse T-shirt poses for a photo at Niagara Falls State Park in Niagara Falls, Canada. (Mert Alper Dervis/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Related — The next total solar eclipse in the U.S
There are several other total solar eclipses scattered between April 8, 2024, and August 12, 2045. However, the 2045 solar eclipse will be the next one visible across most of the contiguous United States, according to NationalEclipse.com. Only three states are in the path of totality for a solar eclipse in 2044.
Viewers in what is called 'the path of totality' will see the moon completely block the sun—one of the most spectacular things anyone can see in their lifetime.
A woman in Florida claims she went on a shooting spree after being told to do so by God because of the total solar eclipse
Taylon Nichelle Celestine
Woman Says God Told Her to Shoot Interstate Drivers Because of the Eclipse, Fla. Police Say
I never thought I’d be 46 and having a baby on my own — but here I am
In the aftermath of our breakup, it hit me: Not having a child would be the greatest regret of my life. ... If I was waiting for the right man to come along before I did it, well, I might just find myself out of time.
Credit Source: TODAY.com
Surprise, I’m pregnant! Here’s how it all happened
Oct. 28, 2022, 12:52 AM AEDT
Embarking on this pregnancy journey by myself hasn't been easy, but I have no regrets. Courtesy Isha Sesay
TODAY.com will be following along on Isha Sesay’s pregnancy journey. For more of her story, be sure to check back here for periodic updates from Isha.
If you’d told the 16-year-old me that at 46, I’d be divorced, single, and having a baby on my own — by choice! — I’d have shuddered and firmly said “no!” Back then, I had very definite ideas about the future course my personal life would take, and it didn’t look like this. I imagined something way more straightforward and dare I say it, conventional.
I’ve been blessed to build the career of my dreams over decades as a journalist — 13 years on air for CNN International, traveling the world to cover global events and interviewing presidents, movie stars, and world leaders. I published a book, became a UN Goodwill Ambassador, and started a nonprofit to help empower African girls, but in my quiet moments the one thing I wanted the most, to become a mother, remained out of reach.
A brief marriage to a kind man didn’t result in children, and then the year I turned 40, my mum had a catastrophic stroke, leaving me no emotional space to contemplate anything other than caring for her. Six years went by and a few months ago I found myself in a subpar relationship with a man who took about 12 hours to reply to all my texts, among other red flags. It was then, in the aftermath of our inevitable breakup, that it hit me: Not having a child would be the greatest regret of my life. And with my biological clock ticking down, if I was waiting for the right man to come along before I did it, well, I might just find myself out of time.
In the aftermath of our breakup, it hit me: Not having a child would be the greatest regret of my life. ... If I was waiting for the right man to come along before I did it, well, I might just find myself out of time.
So, I decided to take control of my life and settle on the bravest and scariest decision I have ever made: to have a baby on my own. I had many long conversations with myself and tried to get to grips with questions about what it would mean to not have the support of a partner, both emotionally and financially. How would I handle society’s questions? What would be a single parent means for my child? I still don’t have all the answers, but I decided to take the leap because I refuse to let fear, social conventions, or judgment hold me back from seeking this joy.
The process hasn’t been easy. The endless array of meetings with various doctors has also required a battery of blood tests, pelvic exams, bruising injections, nausea-inducing medication, and an unexpected fibroid surgery. But perhaps most challenging of all has been the emotional dimension of this journey, especially surrounding my choice of a sperm donor. The decision asked of me to confront questions surrounding the importance of the race, ethnicity, religion, and educational background of my child’s father. Essentially, it forced me to re-examine my own upbringing, values, and worldview. But harder still was the task of trying to tease clues from the questionnaires that would tell me whether a donor was a good man. Did he have a moral compass? Was he truly kind, empathetic, and open-minded? Ultimately, I made a decision — entirely on my own — and I have no regrets.
Getting pregnant forced me to ask tough questions about myself, my values, and my own upbringing. Courtesy Isha Sesay
My first IVF attempt was unsuccessful, and I cried for days afterward, before I could find the strength to start the process all over again a few months later. But with each passing day, I grew more fearful and anxious about my chances of being able to successfully carry a child. Those feelings only intensified when my doctor decided to halt my second attempt mid-cycle because my body was responding negatively to the medication. With two failed attempts to my name, I approached my third embryo transfer with relatively low expectations. In the two weeks that followed the procedure, my mind raced uncontrollably and I battled the urge to take an early pregnancy test. The day before I was scheduled to return to the clinic, I finally caved in and bought a home test because I couldn’t bear a repeat of the hours-long wait before the clinic called with the results. The next morning I got up long before the sun was up, anxiously headed to my bathroom, and opened the box. The minutes ticked by and I cycled through a myriad of emotions. When the word “pregnant” flashed up on the tiny screen, I screamed and fell to my knees before bursting into tears.
Even though many weeks have gone by since then and my belly is growing larger by the day, whenever I say the words, “I am pregnant,” it is with no small measure of amazement. I am elated, emotional, terrified, but above all thankful. My pregnancy journey is just beginning, but so far I can tell you that in addition to great joy, it has also brought unenviable amounts of nausea, fatigue, food aversions, sound sensitivity, and an ongoing battle with my hormones. In the weeks ahead, I plan to share more of my life-changing experience in the hope that if there is anyone out there being held back from chasing their heart’s desire — no matter what it is — maybe my story will spark something in them and provide the little nudge they need to go for it.
Source: This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Gladys West: The Hidden Figure Who Helped Invent GPS
In the early 60s, West took part in an award-winning study that proved “the regularity of Pluto’s motion relative to Neptune”, according to a 2018 press release by the US air force. In 1979, she received a commendation for her hard work from her departmental head. She then became project manager for the Seasat radar altimetry project; Seasat was the first satellite that could monitor the oceans. She oversaw a team of five people. She programmed an IBM 7030 Stretch computer, which was significantly faster than other machines at the time, to provide calculations for an accurate geodetic Earth model. This detailed mathematical model of the shape of the Earth was a building block for what would become the GPS orbit.
Credit Source: Aamna Mohdin is a community affairs correspondent for the Guardian. Twitter @aamnamohdin
Growing up on a farm in Virginia during segregation, West knew education would be her means of escape. But she didn’t know her quiet work on a naval base would change lives around the world
By Aamna Mohdin (A community affairs correspondent for the Guardian. Twitter @aamnamohdin)
Black lives
Gladys West knew from a young age that she didn’t want to be a farmer. But the mathematician, born in 1930 in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, still had to help harvest crops on her family’s small farm. The hard work started before daybreak and lasted well into the blistering heat of the afternoon. She hated the dirt but, while she worked, she kept her mind on the building behind the trees at the end of the farm. It was her school, and even then she knew it would be her ticket to freedom.
“I was gonna get an education and I was going to get out of there. I wasn’t going to be stuck there all my life,” West, 89, says firmly, on Zoom in her home in Virginia.
What she could not have guessed was that this focus would shatter the perceptions of black women of the time and even lead to the invention of one of our most widely used inventions – GPS, the global positioning system.
The red schoolhouse, as West’s elementary school was known, was a three-mile walk away, through the woods and over streams. The seven-year groups, who were all black, were taught in one room, but West quickly stood out.
Her parents tried to save some money to send her to college, but unexpected bills kept hitting the fund. If West was going to go to college, she needed to find a way to pay for it herself. She tried to put money aside but became frustrated at how little progress she was making. Then a teacher announced that the state was going to give a college scholarship to the two top students from her year. It was her golden opportunity.
“I started doing everything so that I would be at the top,” West says. “And sure enough, when I graduated from high school, I got one.” The scholarship allowed West to attend Virginia State College, a historically black university.
She didn’t have much time to celebrate. While her tuition was paid, she needed money for room and board. Her parents could help for the first year, but she would need to find funding for the others. She confided in her maths teacher who, after seeing her potential, offered her a part-time job babysitting.
She quickly learned that, while she had been the best in her rural school, she had to put in work to keep up with students from bigger cities. “I was so dedicated that I didn’t care about missing the fun. But now I look back and I should have,” she says before laughing.
She decided to major in mathematics because it was a well-respected subject. It was largely studied by men, but she didn’t take much notice of them. “I knew deep in my heart that nothing was getting in my way.”
After graduating, she became a teacher, saving money for graduate school. She returned to the university a few years later and earned a master’s in mathematics. She briefly took on another teaching position after graduating. Then she was offered a job at a naval base in Dahlgren, Virginia. This made her only the second black woman to be hired to work as a programmer at the base. And she was one of only four black employees.
West at work in the Dahlgren naval base in 1981
When she started her job, the navy was bringing in computers. She was hired to do programming and coding for the huge machines. She felt proud that she got the job, but knew the hard work had just begun. Despite her intellectual abilities and career success, West had long wrestled with the feeling that she was inferior. It was this feeling, deeply ingrained and felt, she thinks, by many African Americans, that drove her to work as hard as she could.
She still remembers her first day. The military base was grey, and people were mingling before starting work, laughing and drinking coffee. She met the man who would become her husband, Ira West – but refused to be distracted and at first, largely ignored him. “I just got there and I was a serious woman. I didn’t have time to be playing around,” she says.
Her white colleagues were friendly and respectful but initially didn’t socialise with her outside the office – something she tried not to let get to her. “You know how you know that kind of thing is going on, but you won’t let it take advantage of you? I started to think to myself that I’ll be a role model as the black me, as West, to be the best I can be, doing my work and getting recognition for my work,” she says.
The naval base was its own world, so it felt isolating at times. While West’s office was not racially segregated, a fierce civil-rights battle was unfolding across the country, particularly in the south, partly focusing on segregation. Outside the base, there were sit-ins to desegregate restaurants and places of transport. Her friends from college were deeply involved. West and her husband “supported what they were doing … and kept our eyes on what was developing”.
West was conflicted. She supported the peaceful protests, but was told that she couldn’t participate because of her government work. So she decided to focus on a quieter revolution, one she could continue inside the base. She visited the demonstrations and came back determined to commit herself to her work. She hoped that, by doing it to the best of her ability, she could chip away at the stigma black people faced. “They hadn’t worked with us, they don’t know [black people] except to work in the homes and yards, and so you gotta show them who you really are,” she explains. “We tried to do our part by being a role model as a black person: be respectful, do your work and contribute while all this is going on.”
West did just that. She quickly climbed the ranks and gained the admiration and respect of her colleagues. The work was hard and she had to deal with large datasets. “You had to be particular. You can learn the process, but then you have to really make sure you create the process just right, so everything would come out all right,” she says.
At the house that she and her husband built between 1976 and 1979
In the early 60s, West took part in an award-winning study that proved “the regularity of Pluto’s motion relative to Neptune”, according to a 2018 press release by the US air force. In 1979, she received a commendation for her hard work from her departmental head. She then became project manager for the Seasat radar altimetry project; Seasat was the first satellite that could monitor the oceans. She oversaw a team of five people. She programmed an IBM 7030 Stretch computer, which was significantly faster than other machines at the time, to provide calculations for an accurate geodetic Earth model. This detailed mathematical model of the shape of the Earth was a building block for what would become the GPS orbit.
While her team laid the groundwork for GPS, West took every opportunity the base gave her. She went to classes in the evening and gained another master’s degree in public administration, this time from the University of Oklahoma.
In 1998, aged 68, after spending more than four decades at the base, West knew it was time to retire, but she was terrified at the thought of not working. So after retirement, she intended to focus on her Ph.D. But then she had a stroke.
“I was just sitting there working on the computer and all of a sudden I started spinning around,” West says. As soon as she left the hospital, she started working on her recovery. “I never stopped one moment just to feel sorry for myself and say: ‘Oh boy, I’d never make it.’ I just said: ‘What’s next?’”
She would eventually finish her dissertation and gain her PhD in public administration and policy affairs in 2000 at the age of 70.
Looking back, West says she didn’t know she was revolutionising technology across the world. “You never think that anything you are doing militarily is going to be that exciting. We never thought about it being transferred to civilian life, so that was a pleasant surprise.”
West’s contributions went unrecognised not just by herself, but others too. Her 42-year career at the navy base was largely unremarked. But years later, she sent a short autobiography to a sorority function. To her surprise, her sorority sisters were blown away. “I just thought it was my work, and we’d never talk to our friends about work. I just never thought about it. I didn’t brag about what I was working on,” West says. “But to see other people so excited about it, that was amazing.”
With her husband, Ira
Her sorority sisters weren’t the only ones that were excited. West soon started to get recognition as one of the “hidden figures” for her contribution to the development of GPS. In 2018, West was inducted into the US air force hall of fame. Her work has at last been written into history. She knows it’s a feat that is rare for black women.
“We always get pushed to the back because we are not usually the ones that are writing the book of the past. It was always them writing and they wrote about people they thought were acceptable. And now we’re getting a little bit more desire to pull up everyone else that’s made a difference.”
When West watched the film Hidden Figures, a drama about a trio of African American female mathematicians working for Nasa, she finally felt seen. “I really loved the movie and I didn’t know that that was going on with them. But they were doing something similar,” she says. It made her realise there were probably many hidden groups of black women making important scientific contributions across the world.
“I felt proud of myself as a woman, knowing that I can do what I can do. But as a black woman, that’s another level where you have to prove to a society that hasn’t accepted you for what you are. What I did was keep trying to prove that I was as good as you are,” she said. “There is no difference in the work we can do.”
She is appreciative of all the protesters that have come together in recent months to march for Black Lives Matter. “I’m hoping that, from that, we become better people, closer to the reality of who we really are, and the world becomes more united than it is now,” West says.
She hopes the call for justice on the street translates into concrete proposals that support more women and black people in science and mathematics. She wants more to be done to encourage underrepresented groups through scholarships and tailored training programmes.
But while West is incredibly proud of the work she did in helping develop GPS, she doesn’t use it herself – preferring to stick to paper maps. “I’m a doer, hands-on kind of person. If I can see the road and see where it turns and see where it went, I am more sure.”
Credit Source: The Guardian
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International Women's Day - March 8, 2021
Rise WindsorEssex- Omolade Williams as a woman entrepreneur and women in STEM. Read about Omolade's entrepreneurial journey and dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
Omolade Williams
A woman entrepreneur and women in STEM
On Day 3 of #InternationalWomensDay – feature Omolade Williams!
Omolade's entrepreneurial journey and dedication to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:
As a British Born African, I migrated to Canada from the United Kingdom under the Ontario PNP Skilled Workers program. I was educated in the UK at a Master’s level with other professional certifications; predominantly in Information Systems and Business.
Unfortunately, after landing in Windsor I was unsuccessful in gaining employment in my profession. I since retrained as a skill trades Millwright to earn above the minimum wage. My previous work experiences span charitable organizations, government, local councils, businesses, and corporations; mostly in the UK.
As a black female immigrant to Canada, the challenges to finding professional employment are magnified, particularly with the question often put by employers, “Do you have Canadian experience/qualifications?”.
I was blessed to have been born, bred, educated, and 'lived' my education and opportunities in the UK. My son, and others with whom I’ve crossed paths, may not have been as fortunate as me prior to arriving in Canada, hence the birth of my initiative: Beneficent Learning Access (BLAccess).
BLAccess aims to bridge the gap between employers and professional immigrant employees through education focused on culture, diversity, and inclusion. Challenges exist for both employers and employees to understand each other.
I am inspired by current challenges endured by the underrepresented, marginalized immigrants and black professionals; as a consequence, relish nothing more than seeing potential where others do not and bringing it to life.
I’m taking a very active role in promoting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Technology; and generally workplace inclusivity. In addition, I’m one of WEtech Alliance’s business advisors; I sit on Windsor Hackforge and The Windsor Women Working With Immigrant Women (W5) Board of Directors; I am also a startup member for a couple of local organizations. Finally, I am the Chapter Lead for the Canadian Learning Codes for Girls and Mentor for Black Boys Code, Windsor Chapter.
Banking, Real Estate & Technology, Headquartered in Rwanda
Mara’s technology ventures capitalizes on the rapidly growing smartphone and internet markets creating a suite of platforms that are tailored locally.
Why Africa? “The Lion Awakes: Adventures in Africa’s Economic Miracle” by Ashish J. Thakkar is the true story of today’s Africa, one often overshadowed by the dire headlines. Traveling from his ancestral home in Uganda, East Africa, to the booming economy and (if chaotic) new democracies of West Africa, and down to the “Silicon Savannahs” of Kenya and Rwanda, Ashish J. Thakkar shows us an Africa that few Westerners are aware exists.
Mara Group & Mara Foundation
Africa Reach – An African company with investments and operations in 25 countries across the continent
Established in 1996, Mara has grown from a small computer hardware trading firm in East Africa to a multi-sector group with investments and operations spanning 25 African countries and 3 continents.
Why Africa? “The Lion Awakes: Adventures in Africa’s Economic Miracle” by Ashish J. Thakkar is the true story of today’s Africa, one often overshadowed by the dire headlines. Traveling from his ancestral home in Uganda, East Africa, to the booming economy and (if chaotic) new democracies of West Africa, and down to the “Silicon Savannahs” of Kenya and Rwanda, Ashish J. Thakkar shows us an Africa that few Westerners are aware exists.
Mara’s technology ventures capitalizes on the rapidly growing smartphone and internet markets creating a suite of platforms that are tailored locally.
“The rise of the African Middle Class is expected to fuel consumption growth. This will provide a considerable opportunity to invest and meet the burgeoning demand. McKinsey projects that, by the year 2030, the top 18 cities in sub-Saharan Africa will have a combined spending power of $1.3 trillion. Africa’s retail banking sector is projected to grow 40 percent by 2020” ~The Realities of Africa. Learn More.