XMPP and iDTV or how to make television a social medium

Instant Messaging (IM) has the potential to become one of the killer applications for interactive Digital Television (iDTV) [12]. However, several factors make it difficult to provide a good implementation of IM services, among which the limited resources of a set-top box and the different user experience compared to computer environments. This paper proposes the XMPP (Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol) standard as a solution for implementing IM. When we compare XMPP with other technologies, it reveals itself to be very well adapted to the specific needs of iDTV middleware platforms like the Multimedia Home Platform (MHP) [5]. Moreover, the use of XMPP doesn't limit itself to IM The flexible architecture of XMPP opens a window of opportunities like the ease of adding new interactive services. To demonstrate the possibilities of XMPP on MHP, an IM client -IM4MHP- is presented in this paper

Four scenarios for the future of medicines and social policy in 2030

The future of medicines is likely determined by an array of scientific, socioeconomic, policy, medical need, and geopolitical factors, with many uncertainties ahead. Here, we report from a scenario project, analyzing various trends, crucial and complex developments in the medicines' space. From a range of 'critical uncertainties' we derived two scenario drivers: global convergence, ranging from very high (trust and solidarity), to very low (fragmented ecosystems); and disease orientation, ranging from public health first to interceptive medicine. This resulted in four contrasting portraits of the future of medicines and social policy: deprioritizing the high-end; sustainable flow; transformative healing; and global divide. All those involved in drug discovery and development can use these for strengthening preparedness for the crucial challenges ahead

The New Urban Revival Construction of Place in Downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota

As global and local populations rise, pressure is building on urban areas to accommodate more people. In the United States, much of the urban growth has taken place on the fringe of metropolitan areas in a low density form commonly referred to as sprawl. This low density development creates stress on the environment, economy, and social fabric; therefore it is an undesirable and unsustainable form of development. The alternative to sprawl development is increasing density, but this has been a difficult task to accomplish for urban planners. Lately, many people have been returning to central cities, as young creative professionals desire to live nearby places of work and entertainment. The City of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has experienced some of this revitalization of its central city. I look at the work that city planners have recommended and implemented to transform the downtown area into a place where people want to live, work, and play. Much of this work happened after the 2002 adoption of the 2015 Downtown Plan, and my research follows this timeline through 2013. My research is directed to understanding what aspects of downtown have been altered to create an inviting place, how people’s perceptions of place changed in light of downtown development, and what signs can be seen that show revitalization in downtown Sioux Falls. Newspaper headlines and letters to the editor show that interest in downtown is increasing. A survey that was administered to downtown patrons Provides evidence that people actively use downtown and their perception of downtown is better today than in the past. Data was also collected from building permits and tax assessments on block groups to show how investments in downtown are high and that values of property are increasing. This local case study of Sioux Falls, South Dakota mirrors national trends for downtown revitalizations. This research supports the idea that revitalization can be possible or assisted by planning and creating places where people want to be

Four scenarios for the future of medicines and social policy in 2030

The future of medicines is likely determined by an array of scientific, socioeconomic, policy, medical need, and geopolitical factors, with many uncertainties ahead. Here, we report from a scenario project, analyzing various trends, crucial and complex developments in the medicines' space. From a range of 'critical uncertainties' we derived two scenario drivers: global convergence, ranging from very high (trust and solidarity), to very low (fragmented ecosystems); and disease orientation, ranging from public health first to interceptive medicine. This resulted in four contrasting portraits of the future of medicines and social policy: deprioritizing the high-end; sustainable flow; transformative healing; and global divide. All those involved in drug discovery and development can use these for strengthening preparedness for the crucial challenges ahead