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akallison93

Biometrics, Digital Identity To Save Travel | PYMNTS.com - 0 views

  • “The World Travel & Tourism Council, a London-based trade group, recently issued new recommendations in its Global Guidelines for Safe & Seamless Traveller Journey report, underscoring requirements for the swift and coordinated implementation of biometrics and digital traveler identity services.”
  • outlined several key considerations for public and private sector entities striving to collaborate on biometric verification measures. It notes that governments must work together on solutions so that data collection and sharing can be based on official documentation. It also explains the importance of establishing an industrywide consensus on privacy standards, interoperability and functionality that would make any solutions easier and more secure for users.”
  • American Airlines recently adopted a biometric health wallet app designed that allows passengers to track and verify their COVID-19 test results and documents. The solution, VeriFLY, allows consumers to leverage facial biometrics and ensure that their data matches countries’ requirements, with the app displaying a pass or fail message on their devices once the information has been processed.”
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  • That goes together with concepts like digital “immunity passports” that ride along with travelers carrying vaccination data and other encrypted personal health information.
  • but some hotel chains and management firms have looked to digital ID solutions to address consumers’ safety concerns.
  • MGM Resorts debuted a contactless check-in process that allows customers to use its mobile app to verify themselves, pay for their rooms and even receive digital keys.”
  • Biometrics are playing a huge role in new identity needs, and that function is widening.
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    Informative article on the role of Biometrics in the travel industry during Covid-19.The article explains the concept of immunity passports and what you have to do now, and what you will have to do in the future, regarding air travel. The article also briefly explains how biometrics are affecting and changing the hotel industry.
Camila Calcines

Do travel companies need to revisit mobile security choices for staff? | Tnooz - 0 views

  • large target on Android’s back because of it’s leading global market share position.
  • security was what made Blackberry the darling of IT departments everywhere.
  • Security, and the desire to penetrate corporate accounts, is also what is driving Samsung’s Knox platform,
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  • Apple holds 58% share of enterprise mobile deployments.
  • Transportation was one of the few industries where Android had the majority share.
  • American Airlines is one of the most aggressive companies in the use of tablets for its workforce
  • Samsung’s SAFE – Samsung for Enterprise – platform (which incorporates Knox) was a key reason in their decision:
  • Apple devices, while targeted about 100x less frequently than Android devices, are not immune.
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    This article talks about secure technology measures for the travel industry. The myth that Apple iOS devices are not infected with viruses is a total lie. But what is true is that Android devices are much more susceptible to malware attacks than Apple iOS devices. The big boss of security "for years…was what made Blackberry the darling of IT departments everywhere." But now what has driven new markets especially transportation is the increasing use of Android devices. American Airlines uses thousands of Android Galaxy Notes for flight attendants and in-flight entertainment devices for passengers as well as those used by the maintenance crew. Samsung's SAFE platform was a key reason the company was influenced to go through with the product because of a security issue. It's important to remember that not one device is immune and to explore an innovative and secure option when picking a device.
Alexander Suarez

Internet Security: Whom Should You Trust? - Forbes - 0 views

  • Comment Now Follow Com
  • Internet security is all about trust at a distance
  • Even with secure connections, encryption, and the various other authentication schemes there is always a way to spoof identity, provide forged documents or credentials, hold computers and servers hostage to “ransomware” or allow cyber-criminals to be whoever they want to be.
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  • he Online Trust Alliance and its Mission
  • Privacy: Especially in the European Union, there is a greater focus on the control, collection, use and sharing of consumer data. The Online Trust Alliance is working to protect consumers in this regard;
  • The organization is deeply involved in seven areas that are highly relevant to business and how companies can safely interact with customers, clients and anyone that uses the Internet, while protecting internal confidential information.
  • Anti-Malvertising: to help protect consumers and sites from malicious advertising;
  • No organization is immune to the loss or compromise of confidential and sensitive data. Consumer information, employee records, proprietary and trade secret information, and intellectual property are all available for the taking if infrastructures are not properly protected and contingency plans developed should a breach occur.
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    This article divulges into the world of internet security. It explains how with even the most secure connections there is always a possibility to spoof an identity, provide forged documents and/or allow cyber-criminals to be someone they're not.  The Online Trust Alliance or OLA, is an organization deeply involved in several areas that are highly business-relevant and in how companies should safety interact with customers, clients, and/or anyone who uses the internet while at the same time protecting their personal information.  In conclusion,  no organization is immune to a loss of personal information. Consumer information, employee records, etc are all available for the taking if not properly protected and/or a contingency plans developed in the event of. However, with the help and knowledge of the OLA,  preventing such instances from occurring can be drastically reduced .
Allen Lok

AP IMPACT: Recession, tech kill middle-class jobs - Yahoo! News - 0 views

  • Year after year, the software that runs computers and an array of other machines and devices becomes more sophisticated and powerful and capable of doing more efficiently tasks that humans have always done
  • I have never seen a period where computers demonstrated as many skills and abilities as they have over the past seven years.
  • Whole employment categories, from secretaries to travel agents, are starting to disappear
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  • Overall, though, technology is eliminating far more jobs than it is creating.
  • Now, that same efficiency is being unleashed in the service economy
  • Technology is eliminating jobs in office buildings, retail establishments and other businesses consumers deal with every day
  • The uncomfortable truth is technology is killing jobs with the help of ordinary consumers by enabling them to quickly do tasks that workers used to do full time, for salaries.
  • Technology is used by companies to run leaner and smarter in good times and bad
  • They realize they don't have to re-hire the humans when business improves, or at least not as many.
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    This is a multi-part series by AP News on how the fast pace of technology is wiping out millions of jobs globally. Technology use is in every economical sector and nobody is immune from job losses. It is terrify to think that our world has become so automated and reliant on technological use. While there are many pros on technology use such as being more efficient, accurate, cost savings, speed and others, it has no doubt taking a toll on the economy as a whole. In the hospitality industry, a few quick examples that come to mind include online travel reservations, IPads taking over the jobs of waiters and waitress or our favorite machine the Smart Bar. These advances are unique but we are slowly moving away from human interaction. The point is while we are taking advantage of technology to improve business operations we must keep in mind that in the hospitality field we are about proving as service to others that should be as individual as possible. It will be interesting to see if this series leads to suggestions on possible future applications of technology that would revitalize the job economy or create new possibilities.
anonymous

Investing in the IT That Makes a Competitive Difference - 0 views

  • To better understand when and where IT confers competitive advantage in today’s economy, we studied all publicly traded U.S. companies in all industries from the 1960s through 2005, looking at relevant performance indicators from each (including sales, earnings, profitability, and market capitalization) and found some striking patterns:
  • Most industries have historically been fairly immune from this kind of Schumpeterian competition. However, our findings show that the internet and enterprise IT are now accelerating competition within traditional industries in the broader U.S. economy. Why? Not because more products are becoming digital but because more processes are
  • One interpretation of our findings might be that IT is, indeed, inducing the intensified competition we’ve documented—but that the change in dynamics is only temporary.
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  • To survive, or better yet thrive, in this more competitive environment, the mantra for any CEO should be, “Deploy, innovate, and propagate”: First, deploy a consistent technology platform.
  • As corporate IT facilitates the implementation and monitoring of processes, the value of simply carrying out rote instructions will fall while the value of inventing better methods will rise.
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    This article talks about how accelerated competition has coincided with an increase in the quantity and quality of IT investment. A lot of companies have change the operating model that they have with the Internet and enterprise software. I learned that the link between competition and technology has become much stronger. In 2008 it was projected that the worldwide enterprise software revenue would approach $190 billion. We learn that it is not easy for most companies to deploy enterprise IT successfully. The technologies themselves are complicated to configure and test, and changing people's behavior and attitudes toward technology is even more challenging. The IT has changed dramatically for a long time and it is still growing and developing.
croja081

How the hospitality industry will profit from the IoT | Network World - 0 views

  • But IoT is more significant than just adding connectivity to existing products or services. In fact, it is about changing the way products and services deliver value. In the process, products are becoming services, and services are becoming more intelligent.
  • The hospitality industry is not immune to this evolution, and, in fact, it is well positioned to benefit from IoT. That’s because the industry is poised to improve the customer experience while simultaneously reducing costs.
  • Many hotels already use IoT to control in-room thermostats.
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  • Intelligent sensors, though, can help detect occupancy.
  • One big opportunity: using the phone’s speaker for paging.
  • One more proposed change to in-room phones: one-way video.
  • Some hotels, such as Hilton, are experimenting with connected, Bluetooth door locks so that a guest can use their smartphone as a key.
  • Too much automation can be detrimental. For example, high-end restaurants are unlikely to move to automated server-bots anytime soon. However, people do value and appreciate efficiency. When hospitality more closely embraces IoT, hotels can improve the guest experience and lower costs, and when done right, they can avoid interfering negatively in a guest’s stay.
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    The Internet of Things (IoT) is and will continue to be a huge part of the hospitality/tourism industry. Hotels are barely scratching the surface of what this network can accomplish at full capacity as we still have some places that still manually put in data onto their software. With IoT, we are taking control of many aspects of the day to day operations of a hotel. From using key cards on your phone via Bluetooth, sensors checking out if there is anyone in the room, and other neat futures; hotels are optimizing so they can focus more on customer service and other pressing matters. My opinion though on the matter, which is one that is reflected at the end of the article, is we can't have too much reliance on IoT. If the system fails is obviously the worst part, but could happen to jobs on the property. Would staff get retrained or let go? Do we get to a point where the hotel can run on its own? Obviously, these are questions that might be way in the future, but with the rapid growth of this network, it might be time to think about it.
denisedantas

How the hospitality industry will profit from the IoT | Network World - 0 views

  • The hospitality industry is not immune to this evolution, and, in fact, it is well positioned to benefit from IoT. That’s because the industry is poised to improve the customer experience while simultaneously reducing costs.
  • Many hotels already use IoT to control in-room thermostats.
  • When hospitality more closely embraces IoT, hotels can improve the guest experience and lower costs, and when done right, they can avoid interfering negatively in a guest’s stay.
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    This article talks about how IoT (Internet of Things) can be effective and efficient on hotels operations. It mentions many ways that the hotel can improve the guest experience while lowering the costs. Many hotels are already using IoT. I believe that all hotels should use IoT to improve customer satisfaction while reducing the costs. That shows how telecommunications can advantage the hospitality industry.
sydneywolfson

Cloud computing 101: Advantages and disadvantages - 0 views

  • cloud computing is the delivery of on-demand computing resources – everything from applications to data centers
  • Worldwide access means teams can collaborate from widespread locations.
  • Hardware failures do not result in data loss because of networked backups.
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  • “utility” pay structure means users pay only for the resources they use.
  • Service providers regularly update offerings to give users the most up-to-date technology.
  • Cloud-based applications and data are accessible from virtually any internet-connected device.
  • Downtime: This may be one of the worst disadvantages of cloud computing. No cloud provider, even the very best, would claim immunity to service outages. Cloud computing systems are internet based, which means access is fully dependent on internet connection.
  • Cloud computing disadvantages – security and privacy:
  • emote access is the user’s responsibility and, in any case, no system is perfectly secure.
  • Cloud computing disadvantages – vulnerability to attack: In cloud computing, every component is potentially accessible from the internet.
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    This article talked about the advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing. Some advantages include the accessibility, savings, security, the world-wide access, the data backups, etc. The disadvantages mentioned were the vulnerability to attack, meaning hackers can potentially access your data from the internet. Also, since cloud computing depends on the internet, there can be issues when the wifi is working properly.
shawndab

Philips partners with Nowatch to create cortisol monitor to help people control stressf... - 0 views

  • Nowatch, a new contender in the expanding biometric fitness tracker market has developed a wearable device, in partnership with Philips, which measures cortisol levels and alerts users about their stress load up to 60 minutes in advance.
  • an interchangeable gemstone – but they can measure metrics such as temperature, breath rate, heart rate, movement, blood oxygen and sleep, in addition to stress – with the goal being “complete mind and body wellbeing”.
  • Coining the term “awareable” to describe Nowatc
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  • According to the American Institute of Stress, stress can degrade your immune system, damage your body's ability to fight infection, rewire the brain and impact gut health.
  • It employs biosensing (a devices used to detect a substance) through electrodermal activity (EDA). This process measures changes in conductivity produced in the skin by the sweat glands.
  • Cortisol helps regulate sleep cycles, blood pressure and blood sugar levels, but those with higher levels risk developing mental and physical health problems.
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    These new biometric devices will help consumers monitor their cortisol levels and reduce their stress. They are called "awareables" because you can not tell the time with them but you can become more aware of your body's wellbeing. The interchangeable faces look like gemstones and would be great retail for a hotel spa.
nathaliro

The Future of Technology in Hospitality is Green | Hospitality Technology - 2 views

  • the fact that millennials (those born roughly between 1982 and 1996), are going to be the largest generation in the country’s history (at 83.1 million).
  • Simple math tells us that the buying power at large is mainly in their hands.
  • According to Forbes, millennials consider social responsibility and environmental friendliness when making their purchases, so brands have to rise to these significant expectations millennials have when it comes to spending their money.
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  • he hospitality industry is also one known for producing exorbitant amounts of waste.
  • In order to make more green, here are some of the tactics within the headlines of late that are being used to keep up with the sustainable practices to woo this generation, and those others to come.
  • Thanks to technology, hotels have been making strides to becoming more environmentally friendly without breaking the bank.
    • Angelica Saez
       
      It is important to work with different companies to help you establish different ways technology to go green. There are different ways to help the technology to go green for your business.
  • For example, more LED lighting throughout their facilities with sensors can help keep costs down while reducing energy waste.
  • Through the use of an intelligent camera, smart scales and AI-based smart meter technology, Winnow Vision analyses ingredients during food preparation, as well as plates returned to the kitchen, to assess which food items are most wasted and in what quantities.
  • Cruises Also Taking a Stand with Tech
  • the cruise line is implementing technology to help reduce its ecological impact including clean LNG as fuel on its new ships, installing an Advanced Emission Purification system on most of its fleet, making progress with its program to eliminate single-use plastics, and is increasing its number of ships that are zero landfill capable
  • Hotels Continue to Innovate
  • According to the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) trend survey released earlier this year, supporting sustainable initiatives remains important to the lodging industry as a whole.
  • This tells us that hotels need to continue to innovate and the future of technology in hospitality has to be green, or those brands that do not adopt to these emerging standards face being left behind.
  • it’s hard to ignore the fact that the pace of technology is moving faster than ever before.
  • From the excess food that is thrown out each year, to the overuse of plastics, water and energy – there are many brands in hospitality that are taking the right steps to becoming more sustainable. After all, if they don’t get on the green bandwagon, they risk losing the largest generation of buyers in history.
    • Angelica Saez
       
      When your business goes green it is good for the environment and your business.
  • InterContinental Hotels Group® (IHG®) announced a partnership with technology company Winnow to help its hotels automatically track, measure and reduce food waste for more sustainable and efficient restaurant and bar operations.
  • The technology group Wärtsilä also announced that it will supply and install an Auto Gasification solution for the ‘Regal Princess’, a Princess Cruises vessel. This technology will enable the safe disposal of waste from the ship through a self-fueling thermal decomposition unit, thereby significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It will also lessen the requirement to offload waste at shore facilities.
  • In the case of the Andaz London Liverpool Street hotel, a project with Quimera Energy Efficiency kicked off in 2016 and within a year 21% of electricity and 27.1% of gas consumption was saved. This translates in 500.000kg of CO2 emissions saved and was achieved using the methodology of Monitor & Save, including the Bopstem technology provided by Wisestate which is an IoT solution for HVAC control and automation, without suffering guest comfort.
  • St. Regis Atlanta integrated green tech into its 10th anniversary redesign (a trend that keeps popping up in headlines), leveraging services from Mode:Green to take advantage of the opportunity and make it a smart building system.
  • Another big announcement made by MSC Cruises shows its commitment to becoming the first major neutral cruise company in 2020. Starting on January 1, 2020, MSC Cruises will buy enough credits from companies that absorb carbon dioxide to offset all of the carbon emissions from its 17 ships throughout the year. MSC said that it is committed to reduce emissions as technology progresses with an ultimate target of zero emissions. The company intends to invest and work with shipyards and research institutes to achieve this goal. 
  • While Carnival Corporation, which holds the tag as the world’s largest leisure travel company, is partnering with leaders from the maritime and engineering industries to pilot the world's first fuel cell system designed to power large passenger vessels.
  • Linen and towel reuse programs are nearly universal among properties, and a majority of hotels across all segments have implemented a water savings program.
  • Consumers have way more transparency when making buying decisions and with the right information at their fingertips at all times, the hospitality industry is not immune to the imperative of creating a quality consumer experience.
  • This builds up a bank of data which in turn informs buying decisions, shapes menus and hones food preparation techniques.
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    This article emphasizes how imperative it is for hospitality businesses to stay on the cutting edge of technology as a part of their business design and strategy if they want to survive in today's competitive market and remain in it, in the near future. The author expresses that today's hospitality market is being driven by Millennials' "the largest generation in the country's history" who patronize businesses that are socially and environmentally responsible. Armed with this information to capture their targeted market, more and more hotels are now incorporating from inception within their physical blueprint infrastructure that is environmentally sustainable and cost-effective. As well as obtaining Green certifications and implementing sustainable software to reduce waste and minimize leakages. This concept has also been adopted by cruise ship operators to reduce environmental impact through the use of technology.
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    The current innovation trends of hospitality prove that this industry is steadily developing with more sustainable tactics.Hotels are implementing more energy saving products to reducing energy waste. Cruise corporations are partnering with industries to find solutions in powering vessels with cell technology rather than emission cruising.
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    -As technology advances consumers are being more transparent with their buying decisions. -Buying power lies on millennials who are roughly 83.1 million. -Millenials consider social responsibility and environmental friendliness when making their purchases. -Sustainable practices include censored lighting/temperature. -Cruise ships have installed a purification system to reduce its ecological impact, have decreased the use of single use plastics, and have increased the number of ships that are zero landfill capable. -Linen and towel reuse programs and water savings programs are nearly universal among properties.
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    This article introduces the different initiatives that the hospitality industry is taking with regard to technology in order to align with their target market or a large segment of their market. As being perceived, millennials are sought to be the largest generation in the country's history which leads companies to infer that they have a massive amount of buying power in their hands. Hospitality companies are now making strides to become more environmentally conscious. Some of these initiatives is incorporating LED lights throughout the facilities to reduce energy waste and cut down on costs. Another initiative is incorporating new systems in the guest rooms that enhance the stay while keeping it green like systems that adjust temperatures in the rooms, remotely powered shades, etc. Other companies are even using systems as a tool to help track, measure, and reduce food waste for more sustainable and effective restaurant/bar operations. It is no secret that technology is ever-evolving, and it will continue to develop as new features are discovered.
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    Article discusses millennials as the largest generation in U.S. history, and the speed at which technology progresses. In addition to paying attention to millennials' purchasing decisions, other industries must also meet their financial expectations. Many brands are taking steps to become more sustainable in the hospitality industry despite its reputation for producing massive amounts of waste.
mmoutsatsos

The Rich World's Electronic Waste, Dumped in Ghana - Bloomberg - 0 views

  • the Agbogbloshie dump, a wasteland dotted with burning mounds of trash in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
  • Up to 10,000 workers wade through tons of discarded goods as part of an enormous, informal recycling process, in what has become one of the world’s largest destinations for used electronic goods.#lazy-img-360452765:before{padding-top:66.70212765957447%;}
  • Burns, back problems, and infected wounds
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  • respiratory problems, chronic nausea, and debilitating headaches
  • —brought on by the hazardous working environment and toxic air pollution.
  • smashing up old computers and televisions in search of valuable parts and burning insulated cables to recover copper.
  • The Agbogbloshie dump is a result of the world’s increasing demand for electronic equipment as consumers continually upgrade their devices and throw out the older ones.
  • The e-waste problem could expand into a global health crisis,
  • significant proportion of this electronic waste is sent, often illegally, from the West to developing countries across Africa and Asia.
  • Around 50 million tons of electronic waste, or e-waste, is being thrown away each year, according to a report published this year by the United Nations.
  • figure is projected to double by 2050.
  • only 20 percent of e-waste is thought to be recycled appropriately.
  • The rest “ends up in landfill, or is disposed of by informal workers in poor conditions,” the UN found.
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  • “E-waste is a growing global challenge that poses a serious threat to the environment and human health worldwide,”
  • In Ghana, the waste arrives via the Port of Tema, 20 miles to the east of the Agbogbloshie dump.
  • They are often labeled as secondhand consumer products, health experts said, so they are not strictly considered waste.
  • “There are skin diseases and ailments [at Agbogbloshie], but the worst problem here is respiratory illnesses, because the amount of pollution here is so high,”
  • the quality of air is terrible
  • “The workers can’t do anything about it because they have to earn a living, so it’s a trade-off. They earn money but their health suffers.”
  • These health risks are entering the food chain. The Agbogbloshie area is home to one of the largest food markets in Accra, and haggard livestock roam freely and graze on the dumpsite.
  • Agbogbloshie contained some of the most hazardous chemicals on earth.
  • One egg hatched by a free-range chicken in Agbogbloshie exceeded European Food Safety Authority limits on chlorinated dioxins, which can cause cancer and damage the immune system, 220 times over.
  • about 80,000 men, women, and children subsist from the Agbogbloshie dump, living either on-site or in the adjacent slum.
  • Ghana imports about 150,000 tons of secondhand electronics a year,
  • an international treaty that since 1989 has forbidden developed nations from carrying out unauthorized dumping of e-waste in less developed countries.
  • It is very important the issue of waste export to developing countries such as Africa and other countries in transition should be looked at critically.”
  • The German development agency GIZ is in the midst of delivering a €5 million ($5.5 million) project to build a sustainable, efficient recycling system at Agbogbloshie, as well as a health clinic and football pitch for workers.
  • But as the world’s appetite for electronics keeps growing, preventing the illegal dumping of electronic waste and the devastating impact it has on places like Agbogbloshie will prove an even greater challenge.
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    The effects of electronic waste dumping in the Agbogbloshie dump in Accra, the capital of Ghana. It also talks about the health issues workers suffer from working there, and the problem is predicted to get much worse than it already is.
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