Tech
How Technology Allows Us to Play Board Games Online


Technological Revolution
We live in an age where we can do a great many things without ever even getting out of bed or setting foot out the front door. If we’re hungry or need home supplies, we can place an order via the phone of a grocery app, and before you know it, a delivery guy will arrive bearing pizza boxes or brown bags with your cleaning supplies inside. We can have dinner parties with friends, we can go to school or college and learn while sitting on our couches, we can meet our potential significant others and go on dates, and we can play live online games if we feel like it. There was a time, not too long ago, when wanting to do any of these things meant getting dressed (yes, pants included), gathering the belongings we needed, and stepping through the portal to the outside world; the front door.
Board games have been with us for a long time. The earliest commercially made board game (played either on the floor or on a tabletop) was called the Game of the Goose and was an entirely luck-based game with absolutely no strategy involved at all. The first instance we see of this game in history was when Francesco De Medici gifted one (it was then referred to as Gioco dell’Oca) to Philip the Second of Spain sometime between 1574 and 1587. The game quickly grew in popularity all over Europe. There are examples of slightly different versions of the same game dating from 1774 all the way to the 19th century and rules for the game have been found in languages such as French, German and Italian. The game is very simple and requires players to move their tokens to the center of the board, using clockwise turns taken according to the roll of the dice. As with most board games, some spaces have certain rules. If you were to land on the number 58, for example, you would need to begin again. Players need to score exactly 63 to win the game.
Computer and Cellphone Technology
Certainly, one of the most significant technological advances over the last few hundred years, the development of the home PC or laptop, has brought unlimited information and options into the homes of billions of people across the world. Once upon a time, computers were not hunks of metal, plastic, and circuitry but people with incredibly gifted mathematical brains who would work out incredibly complex equations. The first machine computers were so huge that they filled up whole rooms, nothing like the folio-sized machines we work on today. Thanks to computers, satellites, the internet, and other technology, we can join in the fun of playing online games from wherever we are.
Live games, such as a Dungeons and Dragons campaign, are filmed in one location and streamed all over the world. You can watch or participate in these games (most are streamed with all the players in one location, but there are exceptions) on either your laptop, cellphone, or tablet. You could be on your way to or from work and take your turn in your current campaign, or get a few chess moves in. You could play Yucatan or Hostile Hoarders while you’re relaxing in the park or catching a tan on the beach.
Audio Technology
Back in the day, films did not have any dialogue, none at all! If only the actors in the era of silent movies would have known that, one day, audio technology would be so incredible that you could hear the dealer at your poker game speaking from across the country at almost the exact same time that the words left her mouth! Audio technology makes playing games online a genuinely immersive experience. You can chat with your team about what the next best move is, formulate your strategies for taking down your enemies, or just enjoy some banter while you play. Audio technology takes the experience from being in front of your eyes to being all around you; the same way surround sound in a theatre pulls you out of your seat and straight into the movie!
Camera and Software Technology
Without camera technology, or software to film and develop live games, computer and audio technology wouldn’t matter! I wonder what the earliest photographers would have said if they had known that one day, moving pictures would be so advanced that it would be almost like looking at the scene unfolding in front of you in real life? Without video cameras or developers, the whole enterprise would go nowhere. All kinds of talented developers and videographers are working tirelessly, all over the world, to bring live games into your home whenever you want to play them.
Wrap Up
Without all these remarkable technologies and many more, we would all still have to leave the house every time we felt like playing a board game with friends or having friends leave their houses to come over to ours. The last few years have taught us how to rely on technology to feel as though we are physically surrounded by our friends even when we are not, and the board game industry would certainly survive without it, but where’s the fun in doing things the same old way? Technology allows us new ways to enjoy things we’ve been enjoying our whole lives. Which online board game will you try first?


Tech
Why You Should Consider a Used or Refurbished Transformer


In case you didn’t know, there is a shortage of transformers being caused by a shortage of raw materials. As a result, lead times for obtaining a new transformer are long.
It can take from 30 weeks to well over a year to acquire a new dry type transformer, so if you happen to need one, it’s recommended to buy one as soon as possible.
However, even if you order one now, you’ll still have to wait a while for it to arrive. In the meantime, you might want to consider buying a used or refurbished transformer. You can always resell it when your new transformer arrives.
If you’ve never looked into used and refurbished transformers, here’s why you should make this consideration.
Used transformers can be obtained quickly
If speed is essential for you to get moving, then buying a used transformer will help you get what you need fast. You might not be able to find exactly what you want, but that’s okay because at least you’ll have something while you look for or order the transformer you really want.
Utility companies across the United States are running out of transformers, and even they are having to wait to get new ones. If you can’t wait for your local utility company to get a transformer for you, you’ll have to source it yourself.
If you happen to be under any kind of pressure to install a transformer, time is of the essence, and you’ll be surprised at just how much a used transformer can help.
Used and refurbished transformers are cost-effective
Reports say that new transformers have risen in price by close to five times what they were prior to the shortage, and that’s going to put a dent in your bank account. However, when you buy a used or refurbished transformer, you’ll pay significantly less.
Refurbished transformers can be as good as new
Depending on what manufacturer you buy a refurbished transformer from, it could be as good as new. It all depends on the craftsmanship provided by the manufacturer. Some people don’t refurbish units properly or thoroughly, and others use cheap materials, like thin insulation that wears out too quickly. You want to avoid this situation at all costs because that will only make your transformer fail.
To get a dependable refurbished transformer, research the company you’re considering buying from to make sure they use the right materials and processes to restore their units to fully functioning, long-lasting transformers.
The downside to buying used transformers
Although a reputable manufacturer can refurbish a transformer and make it work like new, the same can’t be said for a used transformer. When you buy used, it’s a gamble and you never know what you’ll get until you have it installed and start using it for a while.
That doesn’t mean all used transformers are bad, but you have to consider why someone would sell a transformer in the first place, especially during a shortage. It’s possible and even likely that most people selling at this time have simply bought a replacement that is an upgrade, but that still means you’ll be getting an older unit.
Even when someone is selling it for honest reasons, you can’t guarantee it will work perfectly for any length of time. And if you don’t open it up to see how it’s insulated, you could end up with an exploded transformer when you least expect.
The downside to buying refurbished transformers
Unlike used transformers, refurbished units aren’t as much of a gamble, but there is a downside. If you have to spend several thousands of dollars on a refurbished transformer, that’s several thousand dollars less that you have to spend on a new transformer when one becomes available.
If you happen to have the extra cash available, get a refurbished unit to use until your new transformer arrives. Then you can sell the refurbished one and recover some of your costs. However, if you don’t have that extra cash flow, then you might be stuck using a refurbished one long-term.
That may or may not turn out well for you, so this is why it’s crucial to always buy from a reputable manufacturer who goes the extra mile to ensure their refurbished units are properly restored.
Don’t put off buying a transformer
If you need a transformer now, don’t put it off by holding out for a new one. If you wait for supply levels to return to normal, you might be waiting a while because experts say the shortage won’t end anytime soon. Get a used or refurbished transformer now, and then sell it after you get the new one you really want.
Tech
A Comprehensive Guide to Bubble Chart Design Principles and Best Practices


An excellent mode of visualizing data in the digital world, the bubble chart can bring depth to your data-driven stories. Throughout time, experts have developed various design principles and best practices to augment their data storytelling using these multifaceted charts.
In this article, we explore the bubble chart design principles, their relevance, key components, effective strategies for designing, and best practices for enhancing their display.
Understanding Bubble Chart Design Principles



Bubble charts, an intriguing variant of the scatter plots, use circles to showcase data in a two-dimensional plot. They incorporate a third data dimension through bubble size, which provides an excellent way to present three variables on a single plot.
A bubble chart is thus a multi-variable graph that might contribute valuable insights into often complex datasets.
The bubble chart’s design principles are based on the fundamentals of visual perception, data visualization, and design aesthetics. Each circle’s size signifies a specific metric, and the spatial positioning of the bubbles gives the other two metrics. Innovation in presentation and accuracy in representation is vital to bubble chart design.
The choice of scale is crucial in bubble charts. To create an accurate and effective chart, it’s important to always bear in mind that our eyes perceive areas and not diameters. Hence the design should cater to this perception.
Irrespective of whether you use bubble charts for academic research or data-driven storytelling, understanding its design principles will significantly improve your presentation and interpretation of data.
Key Components of a Bubble Chart



Understanding the key components of a bubble chart not only simplifies its interpretation but also aids in creating effective and accurate charts. Each bubble in the chart is defined by three data points: the X-coordinate, the Y-coordinate, and the size.
With the position along the horizontal and vertical axes, we describe the first two dimensions of the data. These positions often represent specific values for two distinct variables. They commonly show correlations or relationships between these two data points.
Bubble size contributes to the third data dimension. The size of each bubble is determined by the value of the third variable. This adds depth to the data, recommending the magnitude of a specific metric under study.
Color and bubble size, another two components, often function as visual cues, guiding viewers to find meaning in the presented information. Designing an effective bubble chart requires careful planning and execution.
Best Practices for Enhancing Bubble Chart Display
While designing a bubble chart is one thing, continually improving and enhancing its display is another essential aspect. The chart should be straightforward and intuitive to read, decipher, and understand.
To enhance the bubble chart display, consider adjusting the size and color of bubbles for contrast and clarity. Maintain a meaningful pattern or sequence with the display of bubbles for an easier and quicker grasp of information.
Regularly update bubble charts based on new data to maintain relevancy. Ensure simple and uncluttered design to enhance the focus on information and data trends rather than design elements.
Most importantly, always keep your audience in mind. A complicated bubble chart might be great for a data scientist, but it might not be suitable for your clients or the public.
Overall, bubble charts serve as powerful tools for data visualization, provided one understands and follows their design principles and best practices. They display complex and voluminous data while offering easy interpretation and comprehension of the visualized information.
Tech
Is There an App to Make Someone Smile?


Photos in which people are smiling always evoke a lot of positive emotions. A serious face is not always appropriate, for example, during holidays, you always want to take positive pictures. But there are people whose smiles may appear too constrained or unnatural, and some may even be shy to smile.
If such a person is in a photo, and you want to improve it a bit, you can do it with the help of special applications. We have chosen three of the best ones to tell you how you can do this. By the way, they work on both the Android and iOS operating systems.
Retouchme
A very convenient and user-friendly application that can make even the grumpiest person smile. At the same time, everything will look very natural because a professional retoucher will work on the photo, not artificial intelligence. Using the app is very easy:
- Download and open it.
- Upload the photo you want to edit.
- Select the “Face” section.
- Choose the smile adding function.
You’ll have to wait for a while as real people will do the work manually. But the result is worth it – it will look natural, and no one will guess that the photo has been edited. You can see how to edit a smile and learn the functionality of the program at this link: Retouchme.com/service/smile-editor. Now, let’s move on!
YouCam Makeup
This application works on a different principle – based on artificial intelligence. It identifies the boundaries and parts of the face, highlights the lips, and then processes them as needed. You can add a smile to a person’s face with a single click, and the result will be highly expressive. Another option is to use a special slider that allows you to adjust the intensity of the smile.
The app is also convenient because it offers many additional features for photo editing. For example, along with the smile, you can retouch the cheeks to give them a rosy hue, and add a mischievous twinkle to the eyes.
Overall, this app produces a natural result, which is why it’s among the top three that you can easily use for your purposes.
Facelab
Try this app to get the most natural smile that artificial intelligence can create. Here, control is done through a slider, so you can adjust the smile’s intensity yourself. This control is very convenient because you’re not limited to what the app provides; you can fine-tune the result as you like.
This app is also useful because you can simultaneously edit the fullness of the lips, the color of the teeth, and many other details to make the photo look natural and better than the original.
Which one to choose: an app with professional retouchers or AI?
The choice here depends on what’s more important to you. You should choose apps with professional retouchers if you:
- Want the editing to be completely seamless.
- Expect a maximally natural result.
- Want a smile that suits you perfectly and looks organic.
Artificial intelligence has its advantages. You should choose it if speed is important to you (AI processes much faster, and you won’t have to wait) or if you want to have more control over how the smile looks in the photo.
In general, any of these apps will make your life easier if you’re smiling with downturned corners, look sad, or if someone else in the photo doesn’t fit in due to a lack of a smile. You can use them regularly, as they won’t degrade the photo quality, and then share your work with others on social media.
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