Abbott and Blood Centers of America are unveiling an innovative new mixed reality experience for use during blood donation. The mixed reality technology is an immersive digital experience designed to improve the blood donation process, attract new donors and motivate a younger generation to give blood. The effort intends to address the global challenge of sustaining a reliable blood supply.

"This innovative use of mixed reality is the most recent example of how Abbott is creating leading-edge technology to address a key health care need in the world – maintaining the blood supply," said Alex Carterson, divisional vice president, medical, scientific and clinical affairs, Abbott. "Not only is it an immersive and unique use of mixed reality controlled completely through eye tracking, it's a high-tech and creative way to improve the donation experience and make it more appealing for people to participate."

The mixed reality experience allows blood donation professionals to safely conduct the donation and interact with donors at every step of the process. Donors' eyes are always visible during donation to ensure constant monitoring and evaluation. Participants wear lightweight mixed reality headsets to enter a digital world but remain fully aware of their surroundings, ensuring a seamless, convenient and safe donation.

Abbott, a global leader in screening blood and plasma, is partnering with Blood Centers of America, the largest blood supplier network in the U.S., to introduce this new technology which was first showcased during CES (the Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas.

The mixed reality experience was designed based on research that natural settings are the most preferred environment as donors give blood. Participants visit a whimsical garden while listening to soothing music, planting seeds that grow into colorful trees and flowers.

The experience is currently being piloted on a limited basis at select Blood Centers of America locations nationwide.

One of the biggest challenges facing the sustainability of our nation's blood supply over the last decade is the loss of a significant portion of donors under the age of 30. On average only 3% of the U.S. population donates blood each year, and a recent poll of U.S. adults showed that only 15% of 18-to-34-year-olds donated blood in 2020.

"We're always looking for ways to cultivate the next generation of blood donors and find younger people interested in giving," said Harpreet K. Sandhu, CEO, Stanford Blood Center (Palo Alto, Calif.) and chairperson of Blood Centers of America. "Some people are hesitant to donate for a variety of reasons or just don't think about giving blood. Since the need for blood is constant, we're continually looking for smart new ways that will appeal to people who have never donated before or may be apprehensive. The mixed reality experience is a terrific way to get those people interested in participating. It adds a fun, interactive element to donation and it's easy and convenient for blood centers to use."

Mixed reality is similar to virtual reality but allows users to see the real world around them as they immerse themselves in a digital world, whereas in virtual reality, users only experience the digital world. The mixed reality journey uses Microsoft HoloLens 2, the world's first self-contained holographic computer, enabling hands-free interaction with three-dimensional digital objects and a library of applications. Donors are offered a quick tutorial on the headsets and the mixed reality world prior to use. The headsets can be adjusted for each donor's comfort and are easily integrated into the donation process.

"At Microsoft, we've seen the impact digital technologies can have in healthcare – from empowering health team collaboration and increasing clinician productivity to enhancing the patient experience," said David C. Rhew, M.D., global chief medical officer and vice president of healthcare, Microsoft. "We're pleased to see Abbott embrace mixed reality to create a positive experience for blood donors and to encourage the public to donate."

As part of the effort to launch this new technology, BCA and Abbott are asking people to pledge to donate blood now and sign up to be notified when the mixed reality experience becomes available in their local area.

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 113,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

This holiday season, most Americans (77%) would rather receive experiences over physical gifts if they could share them, according to new data from leading travel booking platform GetYourGuide. Findings show more Americans are planning to travel for the holidays this year than 2021 (52% compared to 48% last year), travel tops the list of experiences people hope to be surprised with, and yes, ugly sweaters are one of the worst gifts ever. 

"The most wonderful time of the year is upon us once again, when we can look forward to spending time with friends and family — as soon as we find the right gift, book the right flight or prepare the right dinner menu," said Caroline Berger, Head of Brand, U.S. at GetYourGuide. "While choosing the perfect gift can be a challenge, it's our goal at GetYourGuide to enable travelers to find joy in discovering authentic experiences. Perhaps as we prepare to enjoy more time with loved ones this holiday season, the best gift to unwrap isn't a box, but an unforgettable experience to share and create long-lasting memories."

Hint: Americans want to be surprised with a travel experience this holiday season

Hint: Americans want to be surprised with a travel experience this holiday season. Giving is an important part of the holidays and gifts can be a joyful thing that gets us to think deeply about loved ones' interests and needs — but not everyone gets it right. Some of the worst gifts respondents have ever received were something regifted (34%), followed by unwanted clothes, such as an ugly sweater (20%) or socks (19%). 

While most Americans find gifted experiences one of the best surprises, 90% say they usually receive physical gifts they may or may not like. When it comes to experiences, what they would most enjoy includes: Surprise travel (63%), Tickets to a concert or show (50%), An outdoor activity, such as skiing, boating or hiking (43%), Food tour or cooking class (36%), Wine or beer tasting (31%), Or a trip to the museum (29%).

But most respondents weren't picky — 96% said they would gladly take any of these experiences. 

When it comes to buying gifts, those we are closest to appear to pose the biggest challenge. The majority (87%) of respondents said family members were the hardest to shop for, especially their parents (36%), partner/spouse (29%) and siblings (14%). Gen Z (50%) are the most likely to say their parents are the hardest to shop for, compared to Millennials (35%) and Gen X (28%). Women (34%) are more likely to say their partner or spouse is the hardest person to shop for than men (24%).

Holiday gift shopping is once again likely to look different than years past. Between continued supply chain issues, rising prices, shipping delays, and more, Americans are gearing up for a challenging holiday season. The good news is, in the same way the best things in life aren't things, the best gifts for the holidays don't need to be things. 

"At GetYourGuide, we believe the greatest gifts to give are stories to share and memories to last a lifetime. I'll never forget when I visited Robben Island, where Mandela was once imprisoned. The tour was given by a former prisoner who was in the prison for 20 years. He shared his personal experience with us – it was simply a special and life-changing moment and a story I'll tell for years to come," comments Jean-Gabriel Duveau, Vice President of Brand & Partnerships at GetYourGuide.

With GetYourGuide, travelers in the U.S. are able to choose from a wide selection of unforgettable experiences vetted by local experts. The platform provides easy access to the world's most sought-after, one-of-a-kind experiences, including tickets to awe-inspiring attractions, exclusive discovery tours, exhilarating outdoor activities, local food immersions and other memories to last a lifetime.

Thanksgiving Day and the day before Christmas are generally the busiest travel days in the U.S., and this year, with decreasing travel restrictions and health concerns, four out of five (80%) respondents say they will travel during the holiday season. Last year, only half (52%) said they were able to travel for the holidays.

While there is high desire, holiday travelers are making their travel arrangements later than usual this year. Only one in three (30%) has booked their holiday travel to date, which is a significant decrease from almost two in three (58%) at the same time in 2021. Out of those who have not booked anything yet, 32% still plan to book holiday travel. 

This year, Americans are also hoping to spend less on their holiday travels than in 2021. Despite rising airline ticket prices, 42% spent or plan to spend under $500 on their holiday-related travel plans as opposed to 32% last year.

California is a state in western United States known for technological advancement. Many people think this only applies to Silicon Valley and San Francisco, but it isn't so. For example, some drones are used for hunting and taking pictures of the most beautiful places in California, like Yosemite National Park.

California has many advanced drones. While drones for military purposes in the state have been a topic of discussion, many use drones for personal or commercial purposes. The state authorities have passed new legislation regarding drone use. Interestingly, leading social media platforms, such as Facebook, have introduced new guidelines in their forum that allow users to acquire and fly personal drones in designated areas.

For decades the US has been known for its innovation- the invention of the drone is no exception. California's drone industry is big business. There are drones flown in deserts and mountains. Drones fly from Watsonville to Big Sur. Interestingly, Californians have used high-tech, advanced drones for only a few years (relative to their invention). Undoubtedly, the world has slowly been taken over by this technology. The technology introduced gadgets like advanced drones which overfly mountains, forests and lurk underwater.

Yes, drone technology is creating a new era in aviation, flying people and cargo to remote parts of the world. And the best part is: you can use your smartphone to control the gadgets. Little wonder, drone use has been encouraged by the US FAA; the institution intends to offer more guidelines in the future. Advanced drones can be operated indoors and outdoors with relative ease. California's advanced drones can take crisp, high-quality pictures. The drones are designed and built to face rough terrain. They come in different sizes and shapes, offering loads of options. Many types of drones exist in California (such as the DJI Matrice Air); they can be used with different applications. Others are used in search, rescue, and police work.

Yes, drone technology is creating a new era in aviation, flying people and cargo to remote parts of the world. And the best part is: you can use your smartphone to control the gadgets. Little wonder, drone use has been encouraged by the US FAA; the institution intends to offer more guidelines in the future. Advanced drones can be operated indoors and outdoors with relative ease. California's advanced drones can take crisp, high-quality pictures. The drones are designed and built to face rough terrain. They come in different sizes and shapes, offering loads of options. Many types of drones exist in California (such as the DJI Matrice Air); they can be used with different applications. Others are used in search, rescue, and police work.

Over time, drones have become affordable to many; they're an effective tool for safety, environmental awareness, and land survey. You will find drones on public display in different areas. Engineers hope to advance this technology even further. Drones have recently become a subject of burning discussion amongst educators, the police and citizens. Many advanced drones are used in various places across the nation, California included. As noted, drones are used for surveillance and security purposes. The gadgets are equipped with high-resolution cameras that take images of objects with a high resolution of 20 megapixels.

The advanced drones are launched by remote control and fly at the height of 2 meters above the ground. A thermographic device can be attached to these drones. Thus, the devices can detect heat signatures and identify objects. Further, drones often capture images and videos of criminals. They are used in the field during investigations and in general surveillance. The police use drones to monitor suspicious activities and make arrests. The gadgets are easy to fly yet powerful enough to take pictures even in challenging environments.

The Advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2015, or the AUAS Act, created a national framework for safely integrating unmanned aerial systems into the US airspace. The Act aims to increase safety and help the economy by developing a long-term plan for integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into American airspace. Thus, drones play an essential role in many industries today.

The Advanced Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2015, or the AUAS Act, created a national framework for safely integrating unmanned aerial systems into the US airspace. The Act aims to increase safety and help the economy by developing a long-term plan for integrating unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into American airspace. Thus, drones play an essential role in many industries today.

California's drone pilots will soon be able to take to the skies without fear of getting shot down. The state legislature just passed a bill that makes it legal for hobbyists to fly small drones within line-of-sight. You won't need a pilot's license or a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) licence; you don't even need a drone. In this scenario, drones are likely to become gadgets for household use.

Global game company Gravity will launch a Closed Beta of the PC / Mobile game 'Ragnarok Begins' for 5 days from October 14th in U.S and Canada.

'Ragnarok Begins' is Ragnarok IP's first side-scrolling MMORPG title, and it is a multi-platform game that supports PC and mobile. Ragnarok Begins has the unique operability and hitting feels of a PC game.

In the case of the game method, you can feel a different experience with side-scrolling play and non-targeting battle methods that were not seen in the existing Ragnarok IP, and you can play with excitement, and joy of growing through core content.

In the graphics, you can feel the cuteness of Ragnarok IP, and the unique charm of Ragnarok Begins is that the regional characteristics and major elements are interpreted according to the side-scrolling play environment. In the domestic Closed Beta launched from September 1 to 7, 2021, it was finished with favorable reviews from most users.

This North American Closed Beta will open from October 14th (4:00 PM western US time) to 18th. Gravity offers a wealth of benefits through three types of events to commemorate the North American Closed beta. During the periods, 10 random users with Perfect daily log-in will receive E-gift card worth $50. A level achievement mission event will be held in which two users who have achieved Base Level 50 or higher will receive an E-gift card worth $500 as a gift through a raffle. In addition, a pre-registration event will be held in which 10 users who have pre-registered on the official Ragnarok Begins website will be randomly selected and given an E-gift card worth $50.

Gravity Co., Ltd. Established in April 2000, during the early stages of the Korean online gaming industry, Gravity has been leading the golden age of online and mobile games, Gravity is the only game company in Korea that is directly listed on the NASDAQ.

As of June 30, 2021, the global cumulative number of accounts of Ragnarok IP, Gravity's flagship IP, exceeded about 120 million. It has also been selected as the "second most beloved Korean game abroad" for the past three consecutive years (Global K Trend wave 2021)

Gravity currently has a strong global network with its subsidiaries "Gravity Neocyon (Korea), overseas branches "Gravity's Communications (Taiwan), Gravity Game Link (Indonesia), Gravity Interactive (USA), Gravity Game Arise (Japan), Gravity Game Tech (Thailand), Gravity Game Hub(Singapore), and Gravity Game Vision(Hong Kong)", Gravity, along with the branch, is expanding its awareness and influence around the world by conducting a global publishing business that discovers and distributes Ragnarok IP games as well as games of various platforms and genres. It is also expanding its content business by advancing into the fields of animation, IPTV, and webtoons as well as various Ragnarok Goods, and conducting various brand collaborations.