SMART CITY FANATIC

It's time for transport to become truly smart, mobile and connected. Thankfully, the UK Parliament agrees! On September 9, 2020, the UK government released a response to the Smart Data Review from the previous year. "Smart Data's next moves. Open Banking, which predated it by about a decade, was mentioned as an example of how to "put consumers and SMEs in charge of their data and enable innovation." The primary motivator being legislation to support and assist in its adoption. Transport is mentioned specifically in relation to "legislating to require participation." The authors make it very clear that they want to "mandate corporate involvement in Smart Data programmes across the economy" through law. Data within various accounts of any method of transportation can be linked using "bottom-up" ways to open and smart transport data. However, a "top-down" mandate requiring participation from the entire industry speeds up adopt...

  Jillian Bullock : Inspirational Influencer!  Definitely a name to watch. Jillian kindly sat down with us and answered some questions. A real pleasure.    1: Tell us about your latest projects: I recently launched my health, fitness and wellness Youtube channel called Mind, Body, Spirit Connection where I give people advice, tips, and information on how they can get in the best physical, mental, spiritual, and sexual condition in their lives regardless of their age.   I am also in development on a new film I wrote and will produce and direct. It’s called Rebirth and involves boxing.     2: What turns a victim into a victor? It’s all about mindset. Learning how to build resilience. Channeling positive energy by being around positive, productive people. Reading books and watching videos on success, victorhood, happiness, health, and wellness. Letting go of excuses. Not having a pity party every chance you get. Having gratitude for what...

 Aesthetics count. Be your Best Self. Take CHARGE of your appearance, as YOU want it. In the age of tech and business development, there is no barrier to defying age and honing body, face, mind and soul.  And in that spirit? We turned to one of our favourite, upcoming, influencer names.  Cheryl Cavanaugh kindly gave us some time to sit down and talk about the things that matter. Here we go! 1: How did you become an influencer? I didn’t choose the Influencer life, the influencer life chose me!  I have always had a passion for makeup.  My Mom was a cosmetologist.  While scrolling on Instagram one day I came across a line of cream makeup that looked very interesting.   Being 55 with changing skin, I was intrigued.  I bought a few of the makeup items and immediately fell in love.  I wanted the whole line, but I didn’t want to pay full price…so I inquired about becoming an artist for the makeup.   I found out there were no minimums for sal...

 I attended Jean Paul's new show in London at the weekend. What is the connection to cities, tech, culture and other things we talk about here? Well: 1: LAW! I was hosted by one of London's top Barristers. Freya. She's an inspiration. Makes law accessible:  ; is highly creative, kind, compassionate, talented and beautiful. Seriously. Walk into any room, in the world, with Freya? Every man goes to war for her attention. Each woman looks on in admiration. An aura of magic. And just the greatest privilege to meet her and talk craft, tech, law, creativity and anything else.   2: LAW  #2:  Gaultier has a unique style. You cannot copy that. Or rather, one could do so, but face potential derision as derivative? And yet, the man himself notes his own influences, through the show. Yes, Jean Paul's is an inimitable 'look'.  But even that has its origins in cinema and other artforms preceding his work. Madonna's cone bra is iconic and defines an age. And yet, if you...

  ROSIE LYON: A NAME TO WATCH!  I had the privilege of sitting down with this inspirational young person to chat tech, pastoral care, futurism and drive! Here we go.. 1: Is the traditional high street Bank 'dead' or at least, in danger of extinction? Can it be resurrected, in either event? I do think as the years go on everything is changing. A lot of the banks are closing down their branches and moving to providing all the support you can do from a branch online. I think Covid-19 had a big impact on this.  However, it is so important to keep branches where we can. Safe spaces provided by a few high street banks allow sufferers and survivors of domestic abuse to seek help. It also allows them a safe space to make phone calls and arrange whatever they need to. I would encourage high street banks to rethink this when they discuss closures, it could save someone’s life.  2: Tell us about the domestic violence drive. Where was the impetus? How is it progressing? And what...

Last week. There was a little thing called a train strike.  The bad news? I could not visit the ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS SUMMER EXHIBITION!  The good to great news? I had a friend who ran to my aid and attended in my absence. Her name is SARAH GRAY.   We have been friends for around a decade, now. Sarah once hosted me for tea, after I attended the MILIPOL conference in Paris. I was struck by her kindness, generosity, talent, beauty and vision.  Now based in London, Ms Gray is what one might term a polymath. Good at and interested in, everything!   A fantastic mother of two great kids; businesswoman; designer; photographer and activist.  There is an old school, glacial, Grace Kelly like glamour to Sarah. But also, a compassionate, comforting aura.  A supernatural quality.   It occurred to me that, though it is indeed necessary to reach out and meet new 'influencers' via Instagram etc? I have an army of inspirational content creators, readied to m...

  Put simply... 1: It is whatever YOU want or need it to be. 2: Anything one can do in reality, done in virtual spaces and then linked up.  3: It is an interactive and 3-D world. Digital assets as substitute dress rehearsals for real world counterparts! 4: Yes, you need an 'avatar' name / role/ character. No, that is not an end in itself but merely means TO an end! 5: Yes: it is indeed, connected to 'crypto' and block chain currencies. No, one need not play with those tools in order to engage with said metaverse.  6: Is it web-3? Sure it is! As in, more interactive than web 1 (the basic internet circa dial up days) and web 2 (social media etc). Now? web 3: one can as good as live online! Short of actually eating, drinking, living etc. But ANYTHING ELSE? And i mean ANYTHING..is up for grabs! 7: It is indeed, an artistic platform. Bands can perform there! And yes, one can make money. That said? is that, in effect ANY different to the oldest websites, platforms, shares, et...

  Simple answer: the future is NOW. HERE. 1: Watch every current affairs talking point. If people are angry /annoyed/concerned? Chances are, tech has a solution! 2: Watch every tech company initiative. The ones that trend. Also, the ones that don't yet! 3: Check Linkedin : Pulse, especially, and its twitter pitches are legendary! 4: Pitch, baby, pitch! If you THINK you have 'that' idea for a tech start up to fly? Chances are, you might! 5: Check the social medias: what topics are trending? Chances are, at least one holds the key to the next app/pitch etc? 6: Consider YOUR personal experience. What are YIU lacking or missing in life and how can tech maybe help with that? 7: Survey the market! Which tech start-ups are growing and flying, vs which are tanking / stalling? Therein, lies a clue to what the future might hold and how you factor in  said.  8: Watch your competition. Whatever it is that they do, now? YOU must do, better, TOMOWRROW 9: Take a look at the following li...

 YES! And why not?  We have ALL read, with great interest, the news of the Google developer who left the empire. Why? Well. they think that the search engine has developed an AI which is now, prima facie 'sentient'. But so what? Seriously. Let's think about this, for one second.  1: It is just one person, leaving Google, saying things. Now, if there were a worldwide exodus of employees and contractors, abandoning ship? I might be worried. I'm not.  2: Now. That is not to say that anyone stating 'Google developed sentient AI' is, um, mad/delusional/wrong. Not in the slightest! But what I am saying, if I am saying anything at all , is: 3: GOOD! Seriously. I hope it IS sentient. Because if so, we just made a leap forward and yet, an inevitable one, which has been coming, for some time.  4: See, thing is? ALL AI is in, its way 'sentient'. As in: capable of thought, independence, initiative, agenda. It is just a tool. A method, rather than aim. The whole po...