Experts Matter. Find Yours.

Based on research, the collaboration and communication skills required to play successfully are extremely high. Even though people do not associate computer games as being a physical skill, the dexterity and hand-eye coordination required to play well require a very high level of intellect and physical ability. Of course, not everyone plays that well, but it does indicate that esports is a little different than some games that are more “mindless” or “relaxing” in nature.

It may be useful to use physical sports or any other extracurricular activity as a mental reference when thinking of how to deal with certain issues. For example, soccer is a sport that is great for socializing and team building, but if one is placing a 10-year-old in a game with other adults, there would be a lot of extra things one would want to consider. Like any social activity, one would want to be mindful of who the child is playing with, how much they are playing and how they are playing. For example, are they being respectful? And what kind of language is being used during the game?

Esports is an umbrella term that is used for competitive computer gaming that usually, but not always, happens in teams. However, similar to books or movies, the content of the games vastly differs. Some games are very violent, some are not. Some have very realistic graphics, some are very fantasy-like and playful. It is thus hard, especially as a parent, to make blanket decisions when it comes to esports, you may have to take things case by case.

It was a venture into the unknown, leveraging the emerging potential of Linux and commodity hardware to build something that was both accessible and powerful. This experience taught me the importance of embracing risk and the value of resilience. There were technical hurdles, skepticism from peers and the daunting task of venturing beyond established norms. Also, the Linux supercomputer project was not just about the technology. It was about building a community around an idea.

It enriches the palette of methodologies and technologies at our disposal, enabling us to tackle more ambitious projects with greater efficiency and creativity. By integrating these AI systems into our research and educational programs, we're not just enhancing our ability to process and analyze data. We're also empowering students and researchers with the means to innovate and explore new horizons in data science without being hindered by the technical complexities that once acted as barriers.

It’s important to be aware of how AI decisions are made, the potential biases in AI systems and the ethical considerations of AI use. Additionally, developing data literacy is crucial, as it enables individuals to evaluate AI outputs and understand the importance of data quality and biases. A basic grasp of AI and machine learning concepts — even without programming skills — can demystify AI technologies and reveal their potential applications. Staying informed about AI advancements across various sectors can also inspire innovative ideas and foster interdisciplinary collaborations.

While it’s natural to harbor concerns about the rapid progression of AI, allowing fear to dominate the discourse would be a disservice to the potential benefits these technologies can offer. Instead, this moment calls for proactive engagement with AI and an investment in understanding its inner workings, limitations and the ethical dilemmas it presents. By advocating for responsible AI development, emphasizing education and promoting transparency, we can foster an environment where AI serves as a tool for societal advancement. This approach ensures that we remain at the helm of AI's trajectory, steering it toward outcomes that uplift humanity rather than scenarios that fuel dystopian fears.

Following the Princess of Wales apologising "for any confusion" after she said she edited a Mother's Day photograph of her and her children we have an expert available to comment.Professor Abdul Sadka is an expert in imaging and image analytics/processing at Aston University https://research.aston.ac.uk/en/persons/abdul-sadkaHe said: “Although the Princess has admitted manipulation of the photo it still leaves two questions to be answered; how did the news agencies suspect image manipulation to the point that made them decide to retract it, and what part of the photo did undergo the tampering?“From all the discourse I read about it so far though, none of the articles really touch on what the manipulation was all about and where in the photo news agencies think this was done. Is it in the positioning of the hands, for example George’s, or is it in the cropping and application of colours (some news agencies are lenient with this sort of manipulation on their published imagery).“So, perceptually speaking, there is no certainty on what part of the image editing was done and how, but technically speaking the question would be: Is that a deepfake? that is an image that purports the royals to be having this sort of gathering in this sort of setting when they haven’t.“To provide a definitive response to that question you would have to analyse the image at low level (using low level image analytics). However that still leaves unanswered - what was the basis behind the decision to “kill/retract” the image when they first raised the suspicion of image manipulation?”Professor Abdul Hamid Sadka is professor of Visual Media Technologies Director, Aston Digital Futures InstituteTo speak to Professor Sadka contact Nicola Jones Press and Communications Manager, College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Aston University, Mobile: (+44)7825 342091 or n.jones6aston.ac.uk

“There are two ways out of this, however,” said Albert. “The first is that the West, mainly the U.S., does not continue to arm Ukraine. If this becomes the new normal, then Ukraine will not be able to keep up against Russia and will eventually fall through a war of attrition being waged by Russia.” “The second, less likely but far more threatening scenario, is that Russia expands the war to other states in the area or inadvertently hits a NATO-member state with either kinetic or massive cyberattacks. It may draw NATO into the war directly. In this case, Ukraine takes the advantage, but the war expands to something not seen since World War II.”

“What alarms me is we don’t have sufficient services and supports for adults. We just don’t have them. When people ask for services, support and resources, there’s no place to point them to unless they are children.”