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My Manifesto

Alex Donn Manifesto


We are all travelers on a spaceship. And this spaceship is called Earth.

Thinking out into the eons as humanity begins to traverse the stars, whether we are on a planet or in a spaceship, humanity needs to come into balance with it's surroundings. In order to achieve this balance we need technology that supports our basic needs as well as a societal mentatlity that is curious, collaborative, and selfless by default. Imagine a world filled with people who embrace emotional intimacy, non-violence, and who's default is to help. A world full of explorers and generous souls that build each other up and help to collectively build a better, more inclusive tomorrow. 

I want to live in a world full of people who look into each other’s faces along the path of life and ask, Who are you, my friend, and how can we serve each other?This manifesto is my promise for the future. It is a set of active intentions that steer my daily interactions and every decision that flows through my actions. Nature, humanity, technology, and the values of empathy, creation, curiosity, and collaboration are the core of my decision matrix.  

I acknowledge that because I am a conscious part of the universe that I have a responsibility to help humanity move more towards long term balanced solutions to the challenges that the planet faces. And forward movement begins with action. While thinking is necessary to leveling up, results can only be achieved when we produce something physical that others can interact with. The concept of accelerated learning, collaboration, balance, and community are how  

## Vocabulary, Questions, and Decisions Show The Path
In exploring themes, personalities, and deeply reflecting on my interactions & beliefs, I have come into three primary tools that are not taught as tools: Vocabulary, Questions, and Decisions.

We walk by these tools because we believe we've seen them before and we think we know what they mean. We are also taught and repeatedly conditioned to believe that "creativity" and other abstract concepts are what we need to be focusing on, yet no one has laid out a specific process and those who cannot figure out the process are left to flounder. 

And herein is my first gift to you: These three words (words, questions, and decisions) can help us learn the power of insight AND help us come to a deeper understanding of ourselves. Even on the surface, by asking questions about shared vocabulary, questions, and decisions, we can come into a deeper understanding of our shared values & interests. 

In sharing these tools, my intent is to help accelerate learning. Try to ELI5 any word in the dictionary and see if a 5 year old understands what you are saying. Ask questions to others on a daily basis to build a shared vocabulary. Build a list of decisions that help you build a more collaborative life. The key to these three tools is to engage. Engage yourself. Engage others. We will be better because of the engagement and learning. 

* Vocabulary - What words do you think you know and which words have you learned this last week?
* Questions - What questions have you asked this last week and what questions have you learned?
* Decisions - What are critical decisions you have uncovered this last month? Have you uncovered any life changing decisions?

## Collaboration Over Competition
The days of standing by and watching others experience trauma or death need to end. The concept of competition has been twisted to the extereme where the result is  violence, physical or emotional or otherwise. This violence needs to stop. Collectively, we need to stop the creation of trauma as it pervates all aspects of our society. 

## The Balance of Nature is the Blueprint
Every being is entitled to their right to live, to live in peace, to live as they choose within their personal sphere, and to live with balance with other beings. It is when spheres intersect that we need to think deeply about the rules that govern these interactions and the consequences of those interactions. 

Nature also shows us that the concept of balance is innate within everything, living or not. When the built-in balance is disrupted, things start to get chaotic. 

## Getting to a Steady State
My ultimate goal is to help create a community of emotional role models that can help guide individuals towards a more empathic society and off of the hedonic treadmill. Ultimately, we need to reconcile where we want to be with where we actually are. 

As we travel down this path, we need to constantly ask what we have learned and question the words that describe what we think we see; these questions are the ones that will yield the deep introspection and ultimately spiritual results when explored beyond the simple answers we might have heard in a passing hallway conversation. What has been fascinating is that the words we use on a daily basis and the positive actions that are taken is what enables forward movement towards peace. 

To help you along your journey, I will leave you with questions that can help guide the discovery of your values:
* More? -- Why do you want more? and where does it stop?
* Values? -- What are your values? Do your values create positivity within you or create more want?
* Trauma? -- How do we let go of our trauma? Why do we seek to create trauma in others? 

## To Infinity and Beyond
While the future is anyone's guess, I firmly believe in a bright and positive future where we have come into harmony. What we do not realize is that we are in an age of abundance and are on the cusp of a technological as well as intellectual revolution. This [TEDx Portland 2016 Talk - The incredible inventions of intuitive AI | Maurice Conti](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aR5N2Jl8k14) is a great example how close our creativity and creation are to blasting off with the help of AI.

So here's to the future 🥂

![cover](/images/pic09.jpg)


Coffee

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Good morning simulation farmers! If you'd like to grab some virtual java, please schedule here --> [http://calendly.com/alexanderdonn](http://calendly.com/alexanderdonn). 

If you love to share and/or are collaborative by nature, PLEASE reach out as I'm always happy to help connect collaborators.  

Simply being around people now-a-days is a challenge and every little bit that we can do to help forge connections can help society. It is comforting when we are being embraced – feeling heard, emotionally understood and supported by another human being - even if virtually. 

Tweet at me [@alex_donn](https://twitter.com/alex_donn) or find me on ig at [@yes_and_yes_and_yes](https://www.instagram.com/yes_and_yes_and_yes/)

Here's to new friends 🍷


2021



Augmented reality and machine learning have already started to change the way that we see and interact with the world around us in a quiet way and not for all of us, even amongst technology users. For those of you that use Snapchat and Instagram, filters are commonplace with video messages to friends using the various overlays and skin enhancing filters that use machine learning to jazz up the experience. Quite honestly, if you haven’t tried it, you need to. It’s a fun way to get a little silly. 

And for those of you who use Google’s apps, their new maps and translation apps use both augmented reality and machine learning to boost the experience. For Google Translation, machine learning assists with translation, character/object recognition, and now even runs offline. For [Google Maps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWbY5jdJnHg), the app uses machine learning to recognize buildings, knows exactly which direction you are looking (or where your phone is pointed) and is able to guide you in the right direction.

At its core, machine learning and augmented reality enables a computer to see, hear, think make decisions and move, and these capabilities are what is exciting because these abilities are the groundwork for much more complicated interactions and applications between humans and computers. 

Coming down the pipeline are advancements that take what is possible today and vault the experiences into what really seems like black magic. There is software that automatically edits and syncs video without a guiding human hand and the editing is done perfectly. Looking towards AR glasses, the glasses will blur the line between reality and the digital world by adding or [removing objects](https://twitter.com/hellokozmo/status/1125390364691640321). Pause and think about the ethical ramifications of a computer being able to alter your “reality” by removing objects that it does not want you to see. 

Advancements in hardware components such as Neural Processing Units (NPU) are also to thank for these advanced capabilities. Have you noticed that your phones now automatically place a square around faces and are even able to automatically blur out the background? The NPU is what enables facial recognition and also things like language translation on your phone.

On the software side, software advancement is enabling machine learning to run even in toasters and microwaves. Your toaster can now know what “medium” toast means to you and your fridge can hear you cough too much and recommend chicken soup without having to be plugged into a massive GPU or computer. Check out [TinyML](https://tinyml.org/home/) and [Edge Impulse](https://www.edgeimpulse.com/) for more info.  
So what are other applications, use cases, and who are some of the companies on the leading edge of this revolution? For those of you who want to check out the companies fast, here is the short list:

- [1000 Realities](http://1000realities.pl/)
- [forwardgameAR](https://www.forwardgamear.com/)
- [Krisp.AI](https://krisp.ai/)
- [Descript](https://www.descript.com/) 
- [Amazon Cart](https://www.amazon.com/b?node=21289116011)
- [Nuro.AI](https://nuro.ai/)
- [Skycatch](https://skycatch.com/)
- [Built Robotics](http://www.builtrobotics.com/)


## So what Does The Future Hold? 
[This WSJ video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HX6M4QunVmA) (from a [series called Upstream](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLqQNt9DP_BNB60qQ4z2KbRvYDnPTCK96F)) does a fantastic job of showing what is possible. While the video doesn’t go into technical details, it does cover a wide array of applications and also discusses some of the challenges. Which brings us to the point that augmented reality and machine learning is still continuing to mature. We know the machine can now see, hear, think make a decision and move and this can be seen through companies attempting full factory automation (check out for more) as well as Apple’s AR Glasses. If the [youtube videos](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjDvcM3NRq0) are anything to be believed, the Apple AR glasses could dramatically change the mobile user interface as we know it. Technically, you wouldn't need a phone anymore as the data that you want to see can simply be rendered with the AR glasses. But for now, we sit at the edge of our seats in anticipation of the future.  

## Augmented Reality + Machine Learning Gaming w/ ForwardGame SCOAAR. 
"SCOAAR" is an [augmented reality version of air hockey](https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/scoaar/id1416690914) on steroids and got its big debut during Apple’s recent product launch back in 2019. You use your phone to control the air hockey paddle and essentially turn your living room into a massive air hockey table that is viewable from any angle with any number of participants. A fun in-game easter egg is that you can throw fireballs with a flick of the wrist. Check out the video here:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr0Otffr16o](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr0Otffr16o)

## Augmented Reality Platform w/ 1000 Realities. 
1000 Realities is a platform that enables developers to create augmented reality applications like Google Maps AR by providing the underling software that enables the creation of a [digital twin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_twin) through photos only. These applications can be an indoor navigation app, heavy machinery training app, or even a massive multiplayer game. The base application enables users to create a digital replica of their current environment so that digital assets can then be dropped in. 

## AI Assisted Video w/ GoPro QuikStories / Descript / rawshorts. 
[GoPro](https://community.gopro.com/t5/en/Getting-Started-with-Stories/ta-p/394340) did a great job with their app that helps users quickly create a summary video from a collection of other videos. If you're looking for a quick way to pump out content, this app works well. Another solution with much more control is [Descript](https://www.descript.com/). It's key feature is that it transcribes what you say into text and then you can cut out entire portions of the video by simply deleting the text. Finally, [rawshorts](https://www.rawshorts.com/) is kind of the reverse of the first two. This app takes your text and adds video to the text. This solution would enable you to create videos much faster by eliminating barriers like people, lighting, and audio. 

## Realtime Audio Noise Filtering w/ Krisp. 
The [Krisp app](https://krisp.ai/) uses machine learning to remove annoying background noise in real time during your voice calls. This includes paper rustles, chair screeches, and even wind noise. This is perhaps one of the most functional applications of machine learning. And for those that are curious, the technical problem they solved is called the “[cocktail party problem](https://www.technologyreview.com/2015/04/29/168316/deep-learning-machine-solves-the-cocktail-party-problem/).” 

## Amazon Dash Cart. 
These [carts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnST9R5DBlk) from [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/b?node=21289116011) have built in cameras with machine learning that identify the items you toss into your cart in real time. There is no need to interact with a cashier or worry about double checking the receipt anymore because the cart already knows what you grabbed and your credit card is charged as soon as you walk out of the store.   

## Autonomous Grocery Store w/ [Nuro](https://nuro.ai/). 
The next level beyond grocery carts is to jam a grocery store into an autonomous vehicle and have it self drive around neighborhoods like the ice cream man use to do. The best part is that these autonomous vehicles can be summoned via an app. [Food deserts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Food_desert) might literally be a thing of the past. 
 
## Autonomous Construction Surveillance & Vehicles. 
Two companies that are on the bleeding edge regarding work site surveillance and construction robots are [SkyCatch](https://skycatch.com/) and [Built Robotics](http://www.builtrobotics.com/). SkyCatch [recently teamed](https://blog.skycatch.com/big-data-little-drones-how-uavs-are-changing-the-world-of-ai) with NVIDIA and Komatsu for a project to predict worksite patterns and analysis to enable work estimations and situational awareness (think large construction vehicles not running over humans). Built Robotics has automated construction machinery, starting with a bulldozer. If the job of clearing a job site and building the frame of a building could be automated, humanity could really benefit from this. 
