tool

Zarkon Group Real Estate Builders & Developers > Blog > tool

Tag: tool

Zaha Hadid Architects’ New AI Tool Takes You From Sketch to Rendering With a Click
CategoriesArchitecture

Zaha Hadid Architects’ New AI Tool Takes You From Sketch to Rendering With a Click

By Zarkon Group,

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.  

2022 was the year AI broke through to mainstream attention. But 2023 might be the year deep learning technology begins to really change how architects work.

It should come as no surprise to anyone that Zaha Hadid Architects is behind LookX, a digital tool that allows architects to put AI to work in a meaningful way. Dubbed “the Midjourney for Architecture” by Dezeen, LookX is a software program that can take a wide variety of inputs — anything from a detailed sketch to a group of squiggly lines — and instantly transform them into high-end architectural renderings. Zaha Hadid designer Tim Fu made headlines with a Gehry-esque rendering created from a crumpled piece of paper.

Unlike Midjourney — or any other AI tool for that many — LookX was specifically trained on an architecture dataset called ArchiNet. The fact that LookX has been trained on this data sets it apart from other tools and allows its outputs to be of real use to architects.

“Because it’s trained specifically on architecture models, it has a lot more capabilities in producing finished results and resolved geometry, as opposed to what you would typically get from Midjourney or DALL-E or Stable Diffusion,” Fu told Dezeen.

In short, the program is able to quickly grasp different architectural typologies, distinguishing residential structures from commercial or public buildings. It can also fill in details that really make sense and could be useful in later phases of the design process. These outputs, in other words, are not simply impressionistic digital sketches of buildings. Their utility extends beyond the initial “wow” factor.

The LookX platform includes three sections: Generator, Model Training and Sharing Community. This last section, the social dimension, allows different models to cross-pollinate, enabling sparks of innovation to fly in unexpected directions.

In addition, the image generation is split into Render Mode, where the machine re-interprets sketches into architectural form, and Explore Mode, which allows for flexible customization. Even Render mode is more flexible than one might think; users can upload reference images to give the program visual guidelines. Something is reassuring about these features; they make it clear that using LookX does not mean handing over creative control to the machine!

As LookX is a deep learning program, its generating capabilities are constantly improving the more that it is used. That might sound eerie but it is true; the power of these kinds of programs lies in their ability to learn.

There is a certain significance to the fact that Zaha Hadid Architects is the firm to release this tool. The late Dame Zaha Hadid was well-known for her loose and impressionistic sketches. She had the remarkable ability to think in terms of large shapes and curves and then translate these general ideas into real-life buildings.

LookX will allow more architects to work like Hadid, beginning with the big picture. As a brainstorming tool, this is very exciting. We can’t wait to see what buildings result from this technology!

The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.  



Reference

A tool that predicts employee flight risk
CategoriesSustainable News

A tool that predicts employee flight risk

By Zarkon Group,

The cost of employee turnover is difficult to quantify, but one estimate from Gallup suggests that voluntary employee turnover costs US businesses $1 trillion (around €915 billion) per year. And, according to payroll firm Remote, turnover rates have increased by nine per cent in the UK and US since 2019.  

While the importance of talent retention is well understood, it can be difficult for HR departments to be proactive in holding onto their most valuable employees. By using algorithms to analyse masses of data, startup HR Signal is making it easy for companies to predict the chances that any employee will leave in the near future.  

The startup’s software assigns each employee a ‘Retention Risk’ score that represents the likelihood that they will voluntarily leave their role in the next 90 days. This score is based on information on the current job market and patterns in career progression taken from millions of anonymised CVs. This is then supplemented by salary information and other forms of public data. So far, the startup has harvested data on over 50,000 job positions across all sectors.     

If an employee’s Retention Risk score exceeds a certain level, they are automatically flagged to the HR team. The software then provides a step-by-step suggested workflow so that companies can plan suitable interventions and record the outcomes.  

Using additional data about tenure trends both inside and outside the company, HR Signal’s platform also highlights potential promotion opportunities to encourage employee development – thereby increasing worker satisfaction and corresponding retention rates.

In the archive, Springwise has spotted many other innovations looking to improve employee well-being and boost retention, including workplace digital counselling services and smart greening solutions for the office.

Written By: Matilda Cox

Reference

An AI tool makes it easy for students to take notes from video
CategoriesSustainable News

An AI tool makes it easy for students to take notes from video

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: As anyone who has tried to learn from videos knows, it can be difficult to search, extract, and summarise important information – all while bouncing back and forth between the video player and a note-taking app. In response to this, Hari Subramonyam, a research professor at Stanford and two colleagues, Yining Cao from the University of California, San Diego, and Eytan Adar at the University of Michigan, have developed a new app called VideoSticker which uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help students take notes from video lessons.

The app uses AI to automatically identify and trim objects out of video lessons and place them into a note-taking area. In addition to capturing images, VideoSticker also pulls in key text, aligning it with the imagery. This way, students can easily manipulate images and text and supplement those elements with their own explanations. As a result, the app turns the passive experience of watching a video into an active one, helping students to better engage with the material and retain information.

A preliminary user test of VideoSticker’s effectiveness was conducted using 10 graduate and undergraduate students. During the test, the students completed a 75- to 90-minute note-taking session of a biology class. The researchers reported positive feedback from participants, with particular praise to VideoSticker’s flexibility in navigating between notes and video content.

Next up, the team will partner with other educators to further evaluate and improve VideoSticker before making the tool fully available commercially.

With more and more people turning to videos for educational content, apps like VideoSticker could help to make the learning process easier and more efficient. Other education-based innovations we have spotted recently include an edtech app that lets students upload maths problems through their phone, as well as a platform for students with learning differences and a tool that identifies struggling readers sooner.  

Written By: Katrina Lane

8th September 2022

Email: harihars@stanford.edu

Website: ed.stanford.edu/faculty/harihars

Reference

An educational tool for farmers doubles as an online marketplace
CategoriesSustainable News

An educational tool for farmers doubles as an online marketplace

By Zarkon Group,

Spotted: Digitisation has impacted every corner of our global economy, but one sector that remains largely un-digitised is the world’s oldest: agriculture. Farmers are the bedrock of the €6 trillion agriculture and food trade market, yet they make the least profit of all the main players in the food value chain. Moreover, many farmers still use the same techniques as their ancestors and lack access to the information they need to implement profit-boosting innovations. A new platform, Wikifarmer, is attempting to tackle these challenges.

Wikifarmer seeks to improve the lot of farmers in two ways. The platform is an international online resource for agricultural information and technological developments. The library offers thousands of user-generated articles, all for free, covering a huge diversity of topics, including the latest technology information and guidelines for best practices around the world. The Wikifarmer team provides localised translations of articles into 15 languages.

The platform also acts as a global farmer’s market. For shoppers, this marketplace provides a direct link to food producers in every region. With purchases covered by a money-back guarantee, shoppers can search a long list of products and contact the company itself for personalised quotes for specific requests or high-volume orders.

For farmers, the marketplace represents a welcome simplification of the food supply chain. Selling directly to consumers means that farmers can avoid commissions paid to the multitude of intermediaries they must normally deal with. So far, around 30,000 products have been listed on the site, and more than 5,000 customers have bought products directly from farmers.

From clean energy for off-grid communities to safe herbicide development, agtech is a hot area of innovation. Springwise has previously covered other innovations that aim to connect farmers directly to marketplaces, such as one focused on smallholder farmers in Ghana.

Written by: Keely Khoury

1st August 2022

Email: info@wikifarmer.com

Website: wikifarmer.com

Reference

An App for Everyone: Spaces Is the Conceptual Design Tool Architects Always Needed
CategoriesArchitecture

An App for Everyone: Spaces Is the Conceptual Design Tool Architects Always Needed

By Zarkon Group,

The key to a successful architectural project is the development of a strong conceptual model. Conceptual design is the foundation of architecture and oftentimes, determines the future success of a project. Architects are forever in search of reliable and effective design tools that will aid in bringing their ideas to life. However, finding the right tool isn’t always easy. Many applications available today are complicated, costly and don’t always align with the designer’s working rhythm. For the average on-the-go architect, reliable and straightforward tools are key. Thankfully, Cerulean Labs has delivered just what every architect is after: the Spaces iPad app.

Cerulean Labs comprises a global team that is dedicated to improving the conceptual stage of architecture. Back in October of 2021, the company released Spaces: a parametric conceptual design tool made for the iPad. Today, the brand celebrates its continual effort in improving the conceptual design stage with a new and improved version of the app: Spaces version 2.

This updated application has recently hit the market and boasts a comprehensive list of tools fit for architects of all levels and experiences. Spaces version 2 comes complete with improved editing tools, increased 2D viewing options, new sun studies, new sketching capabilities and additional workflow integration options. This application is well and truly built for the masses.

The Spaces version 2 app boasts an easy-to-use yet comprehensive set of design tools. The app merges old-school drawing techniques with modern-day computing technologies into a user-friendly interface. Its clean and clutter-free layout makes it especially useful for those designers who are constantly on the move.

The new digital sketchbook feature lets users swiftly document their ideas whenever — and wherever — they come to mind. The sketchbook encompasses new technologies, such as the Apple pencil, and allows designers to test their ideas out by sketching and note-taking. Moreover, users can send snapshots of their models directly to the sketchbook and trace them using the Apple pencil. This app celebrates architecture’s oldest and most useful tools – a simple pencil and paper.

The improved interface allows users to switch their screen between the Sketch and Modeling modes with ease.

Another fresh addition to Spaces version 2 is the sun study feature. Recognizing how invaluable solar analysis is to the conceptual design process, Cerulean Labs has developed a tool that allows users to specify the exact location and time of day for their model, and instantly see how shadows cast by their project might impact neighboring buildings. Users can impose an animated sun study directly onto their models in real-time, helping them to better understand how their design responds to its surroundings.

Additionally, Spaces version 2 has introduced IFC and OBJ exporting, which means that models can be exported and furthered in a secondary BIM tool. Moreover, the new space planning feature allows users to manage design briefs, create reports and develop project concepts directly on the app. The improved export options and new space planning features ensure that all models come out professional and presentable. In addition, users can import key site data to their design, thus producing a more precise and site-specific model.

Cerulean Labs is committed to growing and developing its Spaces app. iPads are continuing to dominate the AEC world and professional applications like Spaces version 2 offer increasingly powerful platforms to sketch, model and manage conceptual projects. The spaces app is available in both free and paid versions, with a new subscription recently becoming available: the Spaces Pro. Priced at $75 USD per month, the Spaces Pro subscription offers unlimited projects and comes with new and improved export features, reporting tools and modeling capabilities. The application can be downloaded via the Apple App Store and subscriptions can be managed directly through the Spaces website. 

Spaces by Cerulean Labs demonstrates the vast capabilities of iPad use in parametric conceptual design. The application offers great depth and flexibility, all the while remaining transportable and accessible. It celebrates traditional design tools while implementing the best modern-day technologies out there. The result is a brilliantly straightforward application suitable for all architects and designers.

Cerulean Labs is currently offering an extended free trial for the app, allowing users to try it out for 3 whole months — click here to find out more and download it (offer ends June 30th). To learn more about the Spaces application and all its offerings, check out the Spaces website.

Reference