CTA Foundation, IBM, Local Motors Collaborate on How to Create Accessible, Self-Driving Vehicles

Series of workshops and hackathons to help personalize the transportation experience

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   Las Vegas, NV, January 6, 2016 - Today the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™  Foundation announced an alliance with IBM and Local Motors to help create the world's most accessible, self-driving vehicle. The CTA Foundation, a public foundation with the mission to link seniors and people with disabilities with technologies to enhance their lives, announced the innovative partnership at CES® 2017 - the global stage for innovation, owned and produced by CTA - running Jan. 5-8 in Las Vegas, NV.

   To begin identifying new innovations in accessible transportation, the CTA Foundation, IBM and Local Motors will launch a series of workshops and hackathons throughout 2017 to reach innovators of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. The Local Motors Olli - the first self-driving cognitive vehicle, already equipped with some of the world's most advanced vehicle technology - will serve as the foundation of the initiative. Built to include IBM Watson Internet of Things for automotive, the Olli improves the passenger experience and allows for natural interaction with the vehicle.

   "Our goal is to explore new ways to improve access to transportation and personalize the experience to each person's unique abilities," said Ruoyi Zhou, director of accessibility research, IBM. "IBM has been committed to developing accessibility technology solutions to help people with disabilities for over 100 years. And by working with the CTA Foundation and Local Motors, we can further advance the role technology plays in transportation so everyone can stay more connected with friends, family and their community."     By calling on students and seasoned developers to apply the advanced cognitive computing capabilities of IBM Watson, Local Motors can create seamless interactions between the vehicle and passengers in an adaptive and immersive environment. Examples of how the Olli may be more accessible include:

• Understanding sign language and communicating back via text
• Adapting light and videos for users with photosensitive epilepsy
• Simplifying the language for those with cognitive disabilities
• Using Image recognition to describe what is outside of the vehicle for blind or visually impaired passengers

    "Through the power of cognitive computing, the Internet of Things (IoT) and accessibility technology, this initiative will significantly improve the lives of persons with disabilities and the growing aging population," said Stephen Ewell, executive director of the CTA Foundation. "CTA's member companies are already using connected mobile devices, sensors and cognitive systems to change our lives for the better - whether that means an improvement to our everyday lives or a game-changing disruptive innovation. And we invite others in the tech industry to join us in helping ensure these critical accessibility and transportation solutions come to life."

    This effort represents an extension of IBM's recent collaboration with the CTA Foundation which produced the Outthink Aging study. The research revealed that meeting the needs of a growing aging population will require new technologies, partnerships, ideas and business models. Today, one billion people experience some form of disability - and by 2050, people aged 60 and older will account for 22 percent of the global population. But better access to transportation helps improve independence and the quality of life for seniors and people who suffer from cognitive, vision, memory or physical challenges.

Self-driving Car

About CES:
   CES is the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technology. It has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for almost 50 years-the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace. As the largest hands-on event of its kind, CES features all aspects of the industry. And because it is owned and produced by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™ - formerly the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®- the technology trade association representing the $287 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, it attracts the world's business leaders and pioneering thinkers to a forum where the industry's most relevant issues are addressed. Check out CES video highlights. Follow CES online at www.CESweb.org and on social.

 About Consumer Technology Association:
   Consumer Technology Association (CTA)™, is the trade association representing the $292 billion U.S. consumer technology industry, which supports more than 15 million U.S. jobs. More than 2,200 companies - 80 percent are small businesses and startups; others are among the world's best known brands - enjoy the benefits of CTA membership including policy advocacy, market research, technical education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. The Consumer Technology Association also owns and produces CES® - the world's gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Profits from CES are reinvested into CTA's industry services.

  About CTA Foundation:
   The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) Foundation is a public, national foundation affiliated with the Consumer Technology Association. It was established with the mission to link seniors and people with disabilities with technologies to enhance their lives. The Foundation is focused on strategic support of programs to impact these communities and has launched its first series of grants in 2012. It also serves to facilitate dialog between industry, consumers, government, advocacy groups and other key stakeholders around important issues. For more information on the CTA Foundation please visit CTAFoundation.tech.

Zennoa SRQ: Energy, Weigthloss, Anti-Aging

Zennoa has come out with its second product: SRQ.

While the first product, Core Care, boosted cell wall health with Omegas, SRQ works inside the cell to give more energy, assist in weight loss and anti-aging.

A new video about SRQ tells about three different people.

Sarah is a businesswoman and mother. SRQ has salacia reticulata which allows Sarah to concentrate longer, have healthy sugar absorption and steady energy without a crash.

Joe is a runner and is preparing for a marathon. SRQ has amino acids which stimulate his metabolism, fight oxidation, and recover faster from hard workouts. He runs further and harder.

Yuko is older and her body doesn't produce as much Co-Q10 as it used to. SRQ has the enzyme Co-Q10 which has antioxidant properties, provides healthy heart function, and reduces the appearance of aging.

I've been taking SRQ for over a week.  I find I have more energy. I don't nod off in the afternoon like I used to. Also, my appetite has decreased.  I just don't feel like eating as much. And I find I can say "No" to a second helping. My body seems to be going through a cleanse. I guess this is a benefit,  too.  -- John Fisher

SRQ was developed by scientists at the Institute of Applied Biochemistry in Japan. It works by targeting the power house of the cell, the energy center of the body, the mitochondria.  When the mitochondria run better, the rest of the body runs better too, says the video.

See the video.



For more information about Zennoa SRQ, click here.

Zennoa SRQ

For more information about Zennoa SRQ, click here. 

CRUNCHY RAINBOW PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES

From the kitchen of Heather Daniels

Rainbow Peanut Butter Cookies

If you’re like me, and are human, occasionally you enjoy a treat. Especially during the Holiday Season. 

These are especially healthy with all those delicious oats and natural peanut butter… then it goes down from there as you add the sugar, butter and chocolate. But come on, we all need to live a little! What’s the point of life if we can’t be happy too? Cookies make me happy. For a few minutes… and then I feel sick. Then I eat some more and drink some milk and that helps.

I love peanut butter. It’s one of those things that are ingrained in me, as though it’s in my genes. But, if you’re one of the unfortunate few that need an epipen after eating peanuts, you could always substitute the peanut butter with almond butter. I needed a peanut butter cookie recipe that also had chocolate chips. And since I’m also a huge fan of oatmeal, it also had to include those to help me feel like it was a healthier option for me and the kiddos.

I found a few recipes online, but none that included all of this goodness, so I came up with this recipe. It was an instant hit. While you’re eating them, add some to a plate to deliver to friends. If you don’t have any friends, you may need to make more cookies to share.

I hope you enjoy it!

- Heather

CRUNCHY RAINBOW PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES                 

Ingredients

1/2 cup softened butter

1/2 cup white sugar

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 egg

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup rolled oatmeal

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup rainbow candy-coated mini chocolate chips

Multi-colored sprinkles (optional)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth. Stir in the

peanut butter, vanilla and egg until well blended. Through a sifter over the bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt then sift into bowl; stir just until moistened. Mix in the oatmeal, chocolate chips and rainbow sprinkles until evenly distributed. Add by heaping teaspoonful onto lightly greased cookie sheets. (If you want to add a little extra pizzazz add some candy sprinkles to the tops of each cookie.)

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool on the cookie sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool completely. Enjoy with a large glass of milk to dip the cookies!

Prep:  15 minutes (unless you’re like me and let kiddos help… then it may take a little longer)

Cook time:  About 10 to 12 minutes

Makes about 40 cookies (or 35 if you sneak some samples before they’re baked), 106 calories each (they are cookies; live a little!)