FPA NOVA report October 2022

Technology

Tolling, HOV rules have changed for I-66 Express Lanes

Originally published on Sep 23, 2022

Your free ride on the new Interstate 66 Express Lanes is coming to an end.

On Saturday, Sept. 24 tolling and high occupancy vehicle rules will kick in for the for the new, nine-mile stretch of I-66 Express Lanes between U.S. 29 in Gainesville and Va. 28 in Centreville. The lanes opened to traffic on Sept. 10.

The Express Lanes will be remaining free to any vehicles carrying at least two passengers. The HOV rules will change to require three passengers when the rest of the Express Lanes open, which is expected to happen in December.

To drive in the new lanes, drivers will need to have an E-Z Pass Flex device adhered to their windshields. Vehicles with two or more occupants can set the device to HOV for a free ride. Those who are driving in the lanes alone should take their device off HOV to pay the toll.

This western-most section of the Express Lanes opened ahead of

schedule and in advance of the remaining 13 miles of 66 Express Lanes, which will stretch from Va. 28 in Centreville to I-495 (Capital Beltway).

Other things drivers need to know about the new Express Lanes:

• Once tolling and HOV rules go into effect, drivers will see their individual toll price on electronic signs in advance of choosing to enter the lanes

• Tolls for the 66 Express Lanes will be based on traffic volumes and speed in order to manage demand for the lanes and keep traffic moving

• Passenger vehicles such as cars, SUVs, minivans, and pickup trucks will pay the same toll rate

• Larger vehicles and large trucks are allowed to use the 66 Express Lanes, but will pay a higher rate

• Motorcycles can use the lanes for free

• Drivers can pay their tolls using an E-ZPass transponder or by using one of the other payment options available through I-66 EMP such as paying online at https://ride66express.com/using-the-lanes/bill ing-and-customer-service/, by calling 833-643-2867, or in person at the 66 Express Lanes Customer Service Center in Manassas

• Payment options other than E-ZPass will incur administrative fees

• More information can be found at Ride66Express.com

the full article at: https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/tolling-hov-rules-begin-saturday-for-i-66-express-lanes/ article_4e5c29f0-3b75-11ed-b8ea-173333ffda46.html

Adobe “Future of Creativity” Study: Emoji Aid Inclusivity; Empower Creative Self-Expression

Originally published on September 13, 2022

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Today, Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) released its U.S. Emoji Trend Report, part of Adobe’s “Future of Creativity” Study, looking at the vital role and impact of emoji in digital communication. The report finds that 91% of U.S. emoji users agree emoji make it easier to express themselves and 71% agree inclusive emoji can help spark positive conversations about cultural and social issues. The majority of U.S. emoji users agree we should strive for more inclusive emoji representation (83%), which is in line with the release of Unicode 15.0, which will introduce new emoji including the maracas, flute, khanda, hair pick, pink heart and folding hand fan. “Emoji have become a favorite form of creative self-expression for people everywhere,” said Kamile Demir, computer scientist at Adobe and Adobe representative on the Unicode Emoji Subcommittee. “As a member of the Unicode Consortium, we recog nize the potential for emoji to promote inclusivity, spark cultural conversations and even positively impact mental health.”

Originally published May 31, 2022

Among the report’s additional findings: emoji don’t always mean what users think they do and are always changing; emoji have become a hallmark of American dating culture; and emoji use at work improves efficiency, boosts creativity and builds stronger relationships. There is a gulf in how users view emoji across different states.

“As a visual form of communication, emoji help fill the emotional gaps when representing ourselves online and help us communicate our personal identities, thoughts and feelings in ways words often cannot,” said Paul D. Hunt, typeface designer and font developer at Adobe. “With new emoji-themed templates in Adobe Express and support for emoji in Photoshop and IIlustrator creators can express themselves across language barriers and cultures.”

The report explored when, why and how Americans are using emoji to advance self-expression and identity; diversity, equity and inclusion; dating and relationships; workplace communications and more. This fun, fast and friendly form of digital communication has transformed the way Americans express themselves and continues to push the boundaries on how U.S. emoji users bridge conversations across age, race, culture and beyond.

Adobe Leads Transition of Video Production to the Cloud

Originally published on September 8, 2022

Adobe (Nasdaq:ADBE) is unveiling the world’s first cloud-based collaboration solution for shooting content on virtual sets. Thanks to a new integration between Adobe Camera to Cloud powered by Frame.io, and Mo-Sys, an award-winning manufacturer of virtual production solutions, video professionals can now see their visual effects scenes come to life in Frame.io as they’re being shot on set. By partnering with Mo-Sys, Adobe aims to bring instant collaboration and the speed of virtual production to more filmmakers, taking it beyond the big-budget productions afforded by few In addition, Adobe is unveiling new integrations that extend Camera to Cloud to even more cameras, along with new versions of Premiere Pro and After Effects that make it faster and easier for video professionals to collaborate.

“Adobe has been at the forefront of delivering cloud-based video solutions that enable collaboration and dramatically faster creative workflows,” said Scott Belsky, chief product officer and EVP of Creative Cloud. “With Premiere Pro, Frame.io and Camera to Cloud, we’re connecting the entire video creation process from camera capture to final delivery, allowing customers to collaborate in new ways, from anywhere.” Camera to Cloud, which ignited the transition from disk drive to cloud-based workflows, has fundamentally changed the way video is created and has already been used on over 4,200 productions. With Camera to Cloud, traditional production crews, post-production teams and key stakeholders can now get instant access to footage as soon as it is shot, no matter where they are. This will allow editors to start cutting shows and movies while they are still being shot.

“Camera to Cloud has changed the way we think about dailies and editorial. The immediate review capability and seamless integration into Premiere Pro have improved our process and allowed us to work even faster,” said Alex Regalado, head of post at Duplass Brothers Productions. “For the first time, it feels like indie filmmaking is comparable to big-budget pro ductions, and we can’t imagine a production without it.”

THROWBACK ARTICLE

Where Does Online Video Go From Here?

Originally published on October 13, 2014

I’ve spent more than a decade shooting, producing, and developing original content for TV and the web, and have seen both evolve in fascinating ways. In recent years, it’s become obvious that digital video has matured to a place where it can stand as a true peer of traditional media. The milestones speak for themselves: Netflix became the first non-TV network to win an Emmy; HuffPost Live, the first live-streaming online news network, launched; and “Gangnam Style” became the first YouTube video ever to reach a billion views.

And while there can be little doubt that all these developments are positive, it’s brought us to an interesting — and I would argue pivotal — moment in our evolution. For so long, the online video industry’s rallying cry was “We’re the same as TV!” Today, if you judge based on caliber of stars and creators, audience size or advertiser deals, many of the boxes can be checked off. We’ve knocked the proverbial chip off of our shoulders and have proven digital is far more than just the kid brother to the TV industry.

My fear, however, is that as we come closer and closer to this goal, we risk losing sight of what makes online video great in its own right and instead revert to defining our success on TV’s terms. Evidence of this is apparent in the recent discussions about where original web content should go from here (scripted! long-form!), most of which borrow a little too closely from the TV playbook. When series make the transition from web to TV, we trumpet it as a success, but setting these standards up as the pinnacle of our evolution misses the point and denies the video industry an opportunity to be something different — and potentially better — than TV. The bottom line is that it’s time to think about how we can maintain our own identity and capitalize on the possibilities that are unique to this medium.

Those of us who are producing content for the web have the ultimate creative freedom, and yet, there is always the temptation to default to what’s been done before, as opposed to taking the road less traveled. Episode length is perhaps one of the best arenas for this — the web isn’t subject to the same time constraints as TV, so why should we aspire to fit our content into traditional 30- or 60- minute slots? Why not let the content dictate length? Episodes now range anywhere from three to five minutes for Epic Rap Battles from Maker Studios, six to eight minutes for Disney’s kid-friendly Muppets Drive-On, up to fifteen minutes for AOL’s Emmy-nominated Park Bench, or twenty to thirty minutes for AOL’s docu-series Connected or the Yahoo! comedy Other Space — we can let the story determine how long any given episode is, not an arbitrary pre-determined length.

View the full article at: https://techcrunch.com/2014/10/03/where-does-online-video-go-from-here/

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Crucial X6 Portable SSD

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SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD

The rugged SanDisk® Extreme Portable SSD delivers high-speed transfers with up to 550MB/s read speeds.7 This makes it perfect for saving and editing hi-res photos and videos. With an IP55 rating, it also stands up to rain, splashes, spills, and dust.

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OWC Envoy Pro Elektron SSD

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Toshiba Canvio Advance 1TB Portable External Hard Drive (staff recommended)

Toshiba’s Canvio Advance portable hard drive allows creators to do what they do best–anywhere their lives take them–offering high storage capacity, quick access to your stored content and the time-tested reliable performance they need.

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