Bearing EoravrythingAvowed isn't technically even out yet, and someone's already nicked its underpantsIt's not Skyrim, but it definitely seems to be following in that game's shoeless footsteps when it comes to bare bums.Image credit: Obsidian News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Feb. 17, 2025 Avowed is, as you've probably heard, the latest game to be out before it's actually out for those who're prepared to pay for an extra special edition. Naturally, this has meant plenty of folks spending the weekend just gone kicking off their adventure, or, in the case of one, managing to put out a nude mod for the game before its proper release date has even arrived.You heard me, February 18 isn't even upon us, and Eora's already awash with bare-arsed adventurers casting spells with their cracks out. By the sounds of it, though, they're probably freaking people out with their Barbie doll-esque lack of dangly bits. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. It took about two days following the start of Avowed's Premium Edition advanced access phase to kick off on Thursday for modder NoShader4U to release 'Avowed Nude', which does exactly what you'd expect it to.At 3:09 PM UK time on February 15, the world was graced with the first mod - probably of many - that'll let you appreciate the virtual human form in I'm sure purely artistically-motivated fashion, as at least 899 people currently have so far. Don't worry, your grandma definitely wouldn't be traumatised if she knew of the person you've become.There is a bit of bad news for deviants with this opening salvo of the great Avowed adult edition symphony, though. Looking at the comments, since Avowed doesn't feature any modeled genitalia benath the briefs NoShader4U's ripped off with their modding teeth, you're gonna be looking at smooth, gonad-free erogenous zones for now.There are bums though, and the early days Avowed modding community also has some different reshades of the game to offer you, in case you want to play about and see if you can make sure the sun's reflecting off of each cheek in truly cinematic fashion while you dream of Avowed one day offering the kind of Very Important Perverty nude mod experience the likes of Skyrim do. Like a J.J. Abrams lens flare, but with a very different kind of moon. There's also a mod that makes companions more effective in combat, so they can better cover your bare bum.Count yourself lucky too - not just that no one's recently checked your hard drive, but because Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 players recently had to wait a full four days or so to get a nude mod.

Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)During Sonys February 2025 State of Play presentation, the big shadow drop was Koei Tecmos Warriors: Abyss, which offers a low-budget, roguelite take on the popular Warriors hack n slash formula. The good news is that this genre hybrid feels like both halves fit perfectly togetherthe mindlessness of the combat mixed with the brief run-focused nature of roguelite action is so good that it almost feels hard to believe that the team never thought to produce something like this earlier. The bad news is that its struggles with repetition keep it from being anywhere near as addictive as roguelikes such as Dead Cells or Slay the Spire. Luckily, Warriors: Abyss still proves itself to be a worthwhile new entry in the series, but only just.Warriors: Abyss begins with you being summoned by an impish little god named Enma, the king of Hell, who was recently deposed when an ancient evil being named Gouma was released and took over the land of the dead. Eager to reclaim his throne, Enma enlists the stars of the Warriors franchise to fight off Goumas forces and ultimately send the creature back where it came from. Every now and then, Enma will pop up with a bit more of lore or some snarky quip, but theres not much more to the storyline beyond this basic setup.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Gameplay in Warriors: Abyss feels like a typical Dynasty Warriors entry with a dash of Diablo and Hades thrown in for good measure. A total run shouldnt take you any longer than a couple of hours and consists of rushing through four distinct biomes with eight levels each, with the final stages always reserved for that biomes resident boss monster.Each floor typically tasks you with killing a set number of enemies, who youll fell by the dozens as you tear through hordes with reckless abandon. After each floor, you claim treasure or summon another hero (more on this in a bit) and pick the room rewards you want to chase for the next floor.If youre remotely versed in roguelites, youll be familiar with the structure here, but thats a good thing. Warriors: Abyss may not add a lot of interesting new ideas to the traditional roguelite style, but it executes on everything quite well. The power ramp is fairly satisfying as you rapidly snag buffs and power-ups that transform your character into an army of one, while the brutality of the tough but fair difficulty can be softened through sheer persistence and playing the meta-progression elements right.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Docked)Warriors: Abyss is the kind of game where youll find yourself losing runs left and right at first, but the thrill of combat and progression is strong enough that (at least initially) you can hardly resist trying just one more run.Part of what makes each run interesting is the sheer number of potential playable characters: 100. Everyone follows the same combo attack structure of combining either heavy or light attacks to pull off flashy moves, but the interesting bits come with the character-specific abilities and buffs.One character will be granted a free instant revive once per run when they finally get overwhelmed by the enemy hordes, another might get a fixed percentage buff to their strength for each member of a specific clan they manage to collect. It can take a while to find a main or two that really gels with your playstyle, but theres no shortage of options to experiment with here.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)The bulk of the level rewards come in the form of a crack at the Crystal Sapling, a tree that lets you commune with the spirits of other warriors youve unlocked and add them to your team. Not only will the first six of these become summonable for bombastic cooldown attacks as an extension of your base combos, but each one will also grant you a wealth of stat buffs and new abilities to make your character that much more formidable.Picking the right hero at the tree can often feel a little overwhelming given how many stats and variables there are to consider, but the game helpfully summarises things by giving you a fixed power number as a rough estimate of how much that character will buff your combat abilities. This number becomes a little less useful if youre going for a very specialised build, but it nonetheless acts as a good metric to gauge overall effectiveness.When you inevitably fall in battle, youll be sent back to the Great Hall to start over from square one with a new character, though there are some ways you can fudge the odds in your favour. In the Hall of Bonded Souls, you can spend currency obtained from your run in a massive skill tree that grants you things like new characters and buffs to the experience that you gain in a run.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Every unlocked character leads to some sort of permanent stat boost that applies to all characters, which creates a noticeable effect once youve built up these buffs across a few dozen character unlocks. And even though everyone begins a run at level one, all accrued levels from across their many attempts feed into a cumulative level that grants that character further permanent stat boosts. These metaprogression elements are a welcome part of the cycle, ensuring that sustained effort will result in you eventually managing a successful run.Naturally, it wouldnt be a Warriors game without a ridiculous amount of grind and thats where Warriors: Abyss is both at its best and its worst. On one hand, theres something brilliantly pleasing about a modestly difficult, but relatively mindless game where you can opt to do little else but hold down either Y or X and watch the fireworks as your character rips and tears their way through most of their foes.On the other hand, run attempts soon start to feel indistinguishable from each other regardless of which character you choose, which makes further attempts feel gradually less appealing. Warriors: Abyss is the perfect second monitor kind of game, something thats at its best when youre listening to a podcast or have a rerun of a favourite show on in the background.Captured on Nintendo Switch (Handheld/Undocked)Visually, it's rather disappointing, which contributes in a roundabout way to the grindiness of the gameplay loop becoming more apparent over time. The biomes all have a rather low-poly and unimaginative design, while the enemies are mostly generic soldiers and monsters. Given that there are sometimes literally hundreds of moving characters on the screen at once, the simplistic visuals feel like an acceptable compromise for keeping everything moving at a smooth frame rate, but even so, it doesnt make for a very visually interesting or creative experience.ConclusionWarriors: Abyss is a decent low-budget spinoff in the long-running hack n slash series, but isn't particularly inspiring. Theres tons of replayability, loads of unlockables, and a thrilling combat system that help to keep this one interesting for a while, but its paper-thin plot, repetitive gameplay, and poor visuals very much hold it back from being anything exceptional. Wed give this one a modest recommendation to fans of either roguelites, Musou games, or both, but with the caveat that you may want to wait to pick this one up on a deep sale sometime later on.Lots of build varietyTons of characters to unlock and level upCombat is simple and satisfyingAlmost nonexistent plotDrab, uninteresting visualsGrindiness and repetition really sets in after a few hoursNot Bad 6/10

As gaming platforms like Roblox and Minecraft continue to grow in popularity among young children, and with platforms like YouTube consuming hours of their daily screen time, edtech companies face challenges in capturing their attention.Polymath aims to tackle this by combining gamified mechanics inspired by these popular games with adaptive math lessons to make the learning experience more enjoyable.The educational sandbox game allows children to explore a virtual island where they can customize avatars, build using bricks and other materials, and interact with villagers. To progress in the game, kids must complete math-related questions, which ensures they remain focused on their educational goals.The startup announced on Monday its $1 million pre-seed funding round, which will help its platform reach additional markets. The raise was co-led by Blackbird Ventures and GD1. Notably, Liam Don, ClassDojos chief technology officer, is an angel investor.Image Credits:Screenshot of Polymath platform by TechCrunchSophie Silver, co-founder and CEO of Polymath, studied human learning, memory, and developmental psychology at University College London (UCL). While working as a part-time nanny during her studies, she noticed a gap in childrens mathematical abilities and realized it was becoming increasingly difficult to make lessons entertaining for them.The kids really did not enjoy maths, and so I would start to invent games, mainly with cards or dice, to try and motivate them to do their multiplication or whatever they needed to do, Sophie Silver told TechCrunch. [I realized] the way that these kids are learning is not aligned with how the brain works.Polymath uses an adaptive algorithm to personalize learning for each child based on their progress. The company analyzes childrens answers to identify the best question to ask next, recognizes knowledge gaps, and optimizes the timing of new information to prevent the kid from being overwhelmed.In addition to the core math lesson feature, there are learning opportunities inside the virtual world. For instance, if players want to build a house in the game, they need to measure the dimensions and calculate how many wood blocks they need.Image Credits:PolymathTheres a shopkeeper where you can buy things like resources from it, and sometimes that shopkeeper is unreliable and will give you the wrong price. Each block of wood costs 5 cubos (the currency in Polymath). Youre asking to buy 4, but its trying to charge you 30 cubos. Thats a critical thinking moment for the student to recognize that the price is wrong, Christian Silver, co-founder and CTO, said.Polymath offers both an at-home version and a classroom version. The classroom version allows teachers to monitor students in real-time. In this version, all players can work together in a shared space, answering questions simultaneously. If the classroom doesnt have enough devices available, Polymath has an option that calls on players to answer the next question, so every student is involved.The at-home version enables parents to manage their childs experience and receive weekly email reports about their childs progress. There is also a parent app, Polymath Relate, where parents can view detailed answers to every question their child has answered.Additionally, kids can connect with a friend on Polymath using a unique friend code. However, when playing in multiplayer mode, no chat function is available.Polymath launched in January 2023 through the Startmate accelerator in New Zealand. It has garnered thousands of users across Arizona, California, Florida, Texas, and Virginia, as well as Australia, New Zealand, and the UK.Future plans for the game include expanding the curriculum to offer more advanced learning opportunities and allowing for collaborative play, where kids can work together on problems. Additionally, Polymath plans to introduce purchasable avatar assets as a revenue stream in the future.Polymath is free to play on the web, iOS, and Android devices.

TikTok, owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, has been at the center of controversy in the U.S. for four years now due to concerns about user data potentially being accessed by the Chinese government. Just this past month, the app experienced a temporary outage in the U.S. that left millions of users in suspense before it was quickly restored.TikTok returned to the App Store and Google Play Store last week.Nonetheless, TikToks future remains uncertain, and a number of investors are competing for the opportunity to purchase the app. The platforms U.S. business could have its valuation soar to upward of $60 billion, as estimated by CFRA Researchs senior vice president, Angelo Zino.TikTok ban: Whats happened so farTo fully understand this high-stakes drama, well first revisit the timeline of TikToks tumultuous relationship with the U.S. government, which resulted in various legal battles and negotiations.The drama first began in August 2020, when Trump signed an executive order to ban transactions with parent company ByteDance.A month later, Trumps administration sought to force a sale of TikToks U.S. operations to a U.S.-based company. The leading contenders included Microsoft, Oracle, and Walmart. However, a U.S. judge temporarily blocked Trumps executive order, allowing TikTok to continue operating while the legal battle unfolded.Things began to progress even more last year following the transition to the Biden administration. The U.S. House of Representatives, in an overwhelming 360-58 vote, passed the legislation against TikTok. On April 23, 2024, the Senate passed the bill.Shortly after, President Joe Biden signed the bill requiring TikTok to be sold or banned. In response, TikTok sued the U.S. government, challenging the constitutionality of the ban and arguing the app and its American users were having their First Amendment rights violated. The company has consistently denied that it poses a security threat, asserting that its data stored in the U.S. complies with all local laws.Trump has a change of heartImage Credits:Mandel Ngan (opens in a new window) / Getty ImagesOn December 27, 2024, Trump opposed the potential ban of TikTok in a court filing, stating he could find a way to keep the app in the U.S. This stance was a stark contrast to his approach during his first presidency and presented a surprising turn of events for TikTok.In January, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), commonly referred to as the TikTok ban. TikTok made a formal announcement that it would likely have to go dark on January 19.TikTok shuts down then comes back onlineAlthough TikTok indeed shut itself down in the U.S. when the act came into effect, it didnt last long. The app came back online less than 12 hours later. The platform noted, As a result of President Trumps efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.Where we are todayOn January 20, Trump signed an executive order that postponed the TikTok ban for 75 days. This extension provides the app with additional time to either sell a stake in the platform or reach an agreement with Trump. His goal is to achieve a 50-50 ownership arrangement between ByteDance and a U.S. company.No definitive deal has been reached yet for the sale of the platform, but we could find out very soon. Below is a list of the investor groups and companies rumored to be potential buyers of TikToks U.S. operations. (Surprisingly, Elon Musk is not among them.)U.S. real estate billionaire Frank McCourt.Image Credits:COLE BURSTON / Contributor (opens in a new window) / Getty ImagesThe Peoples Bid for TikTokThe Peoples Bid for TikTok is a consortium organized by Project Liberty founder Frank McCourt, who is also the former owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Investment firm Guggenheim Securities and the law firm Kirkland & Ellis are helping to assemble the bid. The main mission of The Peoples Bid to acquire TikTok is to prioritize privacy and data control, taking an open source approach.Supporters involved include: Kevin OLeary: A well-known investor and television personality who previously told Fox he was willing to buy TikTok for $20 billion. OLeary joined The Peoples Bid on January 6.Tim Berners-Lee: The inventor of the World Wide Web supports the proposal because users should have an ability to control their own data, Berners-Lee said in a statement.David Clark: A senior research scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Clark has also been named a participant. Image Credits:Dave Kotinsky / Getty ImagesAmerican Investor ConsortiumJesse Tinsley, the CEO and founder of Employer.com, is leading a consortium of American investors. Last week, Tinsley announced a $30 billion all-cash offer to acquire TikToks U.S. operations.David Baszucki: Tinsley told Bloomberg that the Roblox co-founder and CEO is a participant.Nathan McCauley: The co-founder and CEO of crypto platform Anchorage Digital has been confirmed to be participating in the consortium, Bloomberg reported. Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast): The popular YouTube creator is also a reported member of the investor group.The Oracle headquarters.Image Credits:Paul Sakuma / APOther interested partiesBobby Kotick: The former CEO of Activision is reportedly interested in buying TikTok. With his experience managing a major gaming company, his interest in the app could be driven by the potential to integrate gaming and social media.Steven Mnuchin: The former U.S. Treasury Secretary who served during President Trumps first term has reentered discussions about the potential purchase of TikTok.Oracle: The company previously made a bid for TikTok back in 2020. In front of the White House last month, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison said to Trump that 50% ownership seemed like a good deal.Walmart: The retail giant could also be eyeing TikTok to enhance its reach in e-commerce, especially considering the platforms influence on consumer shopping behavior. Walmart first expressed interest back in 2020.Microsoft: The tech giant has previously shown interest in acquiring TikTok, and Trump mentioned that the company has recently reentered the bidding to buy the app.Rumble: The YouTube alternative announced on X that it wants to acquire TikTok and serve as its cloud technology partner.Perplexity AI: The AI search engine startup submitted a bid last month, according to CNBC.

Bambu Lab has called for Stratasys patent infringement lawsuits to be dismissed in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division. However, it agrees that the case can continue to be considered in the Austin division of the Western District of Texas, where a parallel lawsuit was filed last year.The complaints, initially filed in the Eastern District in August 2024, allege that the Shenzhen-based desktop 3D printing leader infringed on ten patents owned by Stratasys, an Israeli industrial additive manufacturing OEM. The features named in the lawsuit relate to elements common to many FDM 3D printers, including purge towers, heated build platforms, tool head force detection, and networking capabilities.Stratasys allegations focus on the sale, importation, and distribution of allegedly patent-infringing 3D printers in the United States. Bambu Lab argued that the parent company is not responsible for these actions. Instead, it points to its US-based subsidiary, Bambu Lab USA, which was not named in the original lawsuit filed in the Marshall Division.The Chinese firm has filed a motion to dismiss, arguing that the case is invalid under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19. It contends that any party considered a primary participant in the allegations must be included as a defendant. Bambu also alleges that the Eastern District of Texas is an improper venue for the suit because Bambu Lab USA has no business operations in this jurisdiction, meaning the case should not continue there.The defendants have indicated their willingness to allow Stratasys to pursue its claims in the Western District, where Bambu Lab USA was listed as a defendant in September 2024.A Stratasys Fortus 450mc (left) and a Bambu Lab X1C (right). Image by 3D Printing industry.Stratasys vs Bambu Lab: the legal battle so farStratasys has accused Bambu Lab of patent infringements involving its X1C, X1E, P1S, P1P, A1, and A1 Mini 3D printer models. The company is seeking a jury trial to obtain an official ruling that Bambu has violated its patents. Additionally, Stratasys has requested financial compensation for the infringements, a court order preventing future violations, reimbursement for attorney fees, and other related costs.Given the widespread use of the patents in question, the lawsuit raises questions about how a pro-Stratasys ruling could impact other manufacturers.Alan Laquer, a patent litigator at Knobbe Martens, previously told 3D Printing Industry that a Stratasys victory would not automatically invalidate 3D printing patents from other OEMs who can plead their case in court. However, he noted that battle-tested patents are viewed as more powerful tools in future disputes. On the other hand, success for Bambu Lab would mean Stratasys couldnt use those patents against anyone else.Last October, Stratasys dropped charges against two named defendants in the dispute. Court documents indicated that Beijing Tiertime Technology Co., Ltd. and Beijing Yinhua Laser Rapid Prototyping and Mould Technology Co. Ltd had been removed from the case. Both defendants represent the company Tiertime, Chinas first 3D printer manufacturer. It is unclear why Tiertime was named as a defendant in the first place, with the OEM having no clear affiliation with Bambu Lab. Interestingly, both companies had previously engaged in a tit-for-tat legal battle regarding patent infringements. Stratasys sued Afinia, Tiertimes US distributor and partner, in 2013. Afinia responded in 2015 by suing uCRobotics, the Chinese distributor of MakerBot 3D printers, for allegedly infringing its 3D printing patents. Makerbot was a subsidiary of Stratasys between 2013 and 2022 when it merged with Ultimaker.The Bambu Lab X1-Carbon 3D printer. Image via Bambu Lab.Bambu Lab files motion to dismiss in Texas Marshall DivisionBambu Lab filed its motion to dismiss the lawsuit in December last year, with Stratasys responding soon after. The Israel-based company argued that as the plaintiff and Master of the Complaint, it has the right to choose which defendants to sue. It justified the decision to omit Bambu Lab USA, claiming they are not required to sue every related company and can pursue claims against just the parent company and affiliates.Stratasys alleges that Bambu Lab is seeking to rewrite the allegations in Plaintiffs Complaint to cast non-party BambuLab USA as the primary participant in the infringement. Stratasys also argued that Bambu Lab misrepresented the Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 19. The firm claimed that BambuLab USA is not a required party because its absence would neither prevent the court from granting full relief to the existing parties nor cause significant harm to the missing defendants. Stratasys maintains that it is only seeking relief from Bambu Lab, which can be held accountable without involving its US subsidiary.The plaintiff also challenges Bambu Labs dispute over the Eastern District location. It argues that venue rules cannot be used to dismiss the case and that more evidence is needed before a final decision can be made. Ultimately, the firm requested that the defendants motion be rejected and the case move forward in the Eastern District.Last month, Bambu Lab responded by repeating their arguments and countering Stratasys claims. It emphasized that its US subsidiary is a key player in 3D printer sales in North America and that their omission makes the lawsuit incomplete. The defendants claimed that the ruling could harm Bambu Lab USAs business without offering them the chance to defend themselves.This new legal document also pointed to the Fifth Circuit Court ruling in Dernick v. Bralorne Resources Ltd. and Freeman v. Northwest Acceptance Corp. According to Bambu Labs response, these cases confirm that when a subsidiary is the primary participant in the alleged wrongdoing, it must be included in the lawsuit. Bambu requested that the Eastern District case be dropped and that Stratasys be allowed to continue its lawsuit in the Western District of Texas, where all indispensable parties are named.The Stratasys booth at Formnext 2024. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.3D printing patent infringement lawsuitsPatent infringement battles are common in the additive manufacturing industry. Last year, 3D printer manufacturer Markforged settled a patent lawsuit filed by Continuous Composites. This dispute, which originated in 2021, relates to allegations that Markforged infringed on several patents held by Continuous Composites.In April 2024, a jury ruled against Markforged, ordering the Massachusetts-based company to pay $17.34 million in damages. As part of the Settlement and Patent License Agreement, Markforged agreed to pay $18 million upfront, with additional payments of $1 million in 2025, $2 million in 2026, and $4 million in 2027.Earlier this month, Spokane-based law firm Lee & Hayes PC alleged that Continuous Composites owes it more than $7 million in legal fees relating to this case. The composite 3D printing firm, on the other hand, insists its financial obligations do not exceed $3 million.Lee & Hayes stated that it was unaware of the final settlement amount until reading a Markforged press release. According to the firm, Continuous Composites acknowledged receiving $18 million but refused to pay the alleged $7.2 million owed. In response, Continuous Composites filed a counterclaim, citing an email in which Lee & Hayes had allegedly agreed to accept $3 million as a full and final payment.Elsewhere, 3D printed military drone manufacturer Firestorm Labs filed a lawsuit against its competitor RapidFlight earlier this year. In the intellectual property dispute, RapidFlight is alleged to have falsely accused San Diego-based Firestorms 3D printed Tempest drone of infringing on two patents.Filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, Firestorm has requested a jury trial to confirm its innocence. The USAF-contracted drone maker argues that its competitor resorted to legal action after falling behind on technology capabilities, performance, and price. According to Firestorm, this led RapidFlight to use unsupported threats in an attempt to bully Firestorm out of the industry.Who won the 2024 3D Printing Industry Awards?Subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry newsletter to keep up with the latest 3D printing news.You can also follow us on LinkedIn, and subscribe to the 3D Printing Industry Youtube channel to access more exclusive content.Featured image shows the Bambu Lab X1-Carbon 3D printer. Image via Bambu Lab.

Jyvskyl University Campus | Nico SaiehThe Jyvskyl University campus is a pivotal example of Alvar Aaltos contribution to Finnish modernism. It represents a synthesis of functional design, material sensitivity, and deep contextual awareness. Commissioned during the post-war expansion of Finnish educational institutions, the universitys development reflects broader societal shifts, where architecture was called upon to facilitate new educational paradigms. Aaltos involvement in the project was both a professional and personal endeavor, as Jyvskyl was the city where he spent his formative years.Jyvskyl University Building Technical InformationArchitects1-12: Alvar AaltoLocation: Jyvskyl, FinlandProject Year: 1951 1971Photographs: Nico SaiehWe should work for simple, good, undecorated things things which are in harmony with the human being and organically suited to the little man in the street. Alvar Aalto 13Jyvskyl University Building PhotographsFacade | Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico Saieh Nico SaiehJyvskyl University Campus Architectural IntentEducational architecture was a crucial aspect of Aaltos work, evident in earlier projects such as the Viipuri Library (19271935) and the Baker House at MIT (19471948). These projects laid the groundwork for his approach to university buildings, where the balance between individual study, communal learning, and engagement with nature shaped his architectural philosophy. The Jyvskyl University campus embodies these principles, integrating modernist ideals with a uniquely Finnish sensibility.Aaltos design for Jyvskyl University sought to harmonize built form with its natural surroundings. The university is situated within a gently undulating landscape, a factor that Aalto embraced rather than resisted. His approach to campus planning was characterized by fluiditycreating a dialogue between enclosed academic spaces and the open landscape. Unlike rigid, symmetrical university layouts, Aaltos design fosters a sense of organic progression, where buildings are interwoven with the terrain, allowing for intuitive circulation and visual connectivity.Spatial Organization and Design PrinciplesOne of the most compelling aspects of Jyvskyl University is its site planning, which prioritizes pedestrian movement and fosters an environment conducive to academic collaboration. Buildings are arranged to encourage spontaneous interaction among students and faculty, reinforcing Aaltos belief that architecture should support human behavior rather than dictate it.Circulation is orchestrated through meandering pathways and subtly differentiated spaces, avoiding the rigid axial compositions often found in institutional architecture. The spatial hierarchy ensures that while the university is unified as a whole, individual buildings retain their autonomy. This nuanced approach to planning aligns with Aaltos broader philosophyan architecture that is both cohesive and adaptable.Aaltos material palette at Jyvskyl University reflects his lifelong pursuit of a humanized modernism. Brick and timber dominate the construction, their tactile qualities counteracting the sterility often associated with modernist institutions. These materials also establish a strong connection with the Finnish vernacular, grounding the university within its cultural and climatic context.Another hallmark of the design is the use of natural light. Aalto masterfully manipulates daylight through carefully placed clerestory windows, skylights, and strategically oriented facades. This approach not only enhances the spatial experience but also reduces the reliance on artificial lightinga forward-thinking strategy that aligns with contemporary sustainability concerns.Analysis of Functional and Experiential AspectsThe experiential qualities of Aaltos architecture are deeply rooted in understanding human scale and sensory engagement. Spaces within the Jyvskyl University campus are designed to be immersive, offering a range of environments that cater to different modes of learning and socialization. The seamless integration of interior and exterior spaces fosters a dynamic learning environment, where students can easily transition between enclosed study areas and open courtyards.Aaltos attention to acoustics further enhances the user experience. Using timber in lecture halls and library spaces helps create a warm and sonically balanced atmosphere, minimizing harsh reverberations while maintaining clarity of speech. This meticulous approach underscores Aaltos commitment to designing spaces that do not merely function efficiently but also resonate on a deeply human level.Compared to Aaltos Otaniemi campus for the Helsinki University of Technology, Jyvskyl presents a more intimate and regionally integrated approach. While Otaniemis scale reflects a more formalized modernist campus plan, Jyvskyls composition is more responsive to its natural topography. This contrast highlights Aaltos adaptability, demonstrating his ability to craft architectural responses that align with programmatic demands and environmental conditions.Legacy and Influence on Contemporary ArchitectureThe Jyvskyl University campus remains one of Aaltos most significant educational projects in Finland and the broader discourse of modern university architecture. It is a model for campus designs that prioritize user experience, contextual integration, and material authenticity.The enduring appeal of Aaltos educational buildings lies in their ability to foster meaningful interactions between students, faculty, and their environment. Unlike the sterile, monolithic campuses that became prevalent in the latter half of the 20th century, Aaltos designs offer a compelling alternative rooted in flexibility, warmth, and a deep understanding of place.The challenge of preserving Aaltos architecture while adapting it to contemporary educational needs is a pressing concern. As universities expand and incorporate new technologies, questions arise about how best to integrate modern interventions without compromising the integrity of Aaltos original vision.Efforts to conserve the Jyvskyl University buildings have primarily succeeded in maintaining their architectural essence, but the pressures of increasing student populations and evolving pedagogical methodologies necessitate thoughtful interventions. The key lies in preserving Aaltos fundamental principlesnatural light, material honesty, and fluid spatial organizationwhile allowing for functional upgrades that ensure long-term relevance.Jyvskyl University Campus PlansSite Plan | Alvar AaltoFloor Plan | Alvar AaltoAuditorium Section | Alvar AaltoElevation | Alvar AaltoJyvskyl University Campus Image GalleryAbout Alvar AaltoAlvar Aalto (18981976) was a Finnish architect and designer renowned for his humanistic approach to modernism. His work seamlessly blended functionalism with organic forms, natural materials, and a deep sensitivity to the surrounding environment. Aaltos architectural legacy includes masterpieces such as the Paimio Sanatorium, Viipuri Library, and Finlandia Hall and groundbreaking furniture designs like the iconic Paimio Chair. His work in educational architecture, exemplified by the Jyvskyl and Otaniemi campuses, continues to influence contemporary design, emphasizing the integration of nature, light, and human-centered spaces.Credits and Additional NotesClient: Jyvskyl College of Education (later the University of Jyvskyl)Main Building (19541956): Features a fan-shaped assembly hall, a rectangular wing for administrative and teaching spaces, and a high staircase hall connecting these sections.Library (19541955): Originally designed to serve the Colleges needs, it includes a reading room with a distinctive long, pyramid-shaped roof window.Student Refectory Lozzi (19521953): Served as the dining area for students, featuring large windows overlooking the terrace and pine-covered hillside.Staff Refectory Lyhty (19521953): Originally a dining space for professors and teachers, nit is ow used for events and conferences.Student Hall of Residence Naatti (19521953) Initially accommodated 160 students; later repurposed for teaching and office spaces.Practice School (19521953): A three-story building for teacher training, now referred to as Building X.Gymnasiums and Swimming Pool (19541955): Facilities for physical education, with the swimming pool later expanded and now known as AaltoAlvari aquatic centre.Staff Residential Building (19541955): Initially housing for staff, now serving as the universitys science museum.Student Union Building Ilokivi (19641965): Included a restaurant and offices; the interior has undergone significant changes over time.Sports Sciences Faculty Building (19691971): A white-rendered building reflecting Aaltos later design style, contrasting with the red-brick structures of the original campus.

Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #4, Maasai(2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik Nilsen. All images Charles Gaines, courtesy the artist and Hauser & Wirth, shared with permissionCharles Gaines Maps the Meanings of Ancient Baobab Trees in Meticulous ChartsFebruary 17, 2025Grace EbertSince the 1970s, Charles Gaines (previously) has been charting the sprawling, unpredictable forms of trees onto numbered grids. He began with walnut trees in 1975, which he photographed while barren and then plotted onto hand-drawn graph paper. A leader in the Conceptual Art movement, Gaines works ask viewers to explore the relationships between what something appears to be and what it means as it shifts from one context to the next. He also argues for a greater divide between subjectivity and aesthetics, instead emphasizing cultures immense role in shaping our experiences.Detail of Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #4, Maasai (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik NilsenIn his ongoing Numbers and Trees series, Gaines continues to chart differences. During a 2023 visit to Tanzania, the artist photographed majestic baobabs, which form the basis for a collection of triptychs that entwine the magnificent specimens with colorfully numbered grids. Gnarled trunks and spindly offshoots both layer atop and are masked by Gaines sequences, all viewed through sheets of plexiglass.The baobab is known as the tree of life for its longevity, myriad roles in preserving the savanna ecosystem, and ability to host entire habitats within its canopies. The specimens are often associated with folklore and myth and in the era of climate disaster, are some of the casualties of unrelenting drought. Depending on location, epoch, and community, the trees can serve a wide array of purposes and hold a multitude of symbolism.Icons of the African continent, baobabs also connect to histories of colonialism and slavery. In this context, theyre distorted and mediated by both Gaines organizing principles and the acrylic panes. What you bring to the image, adds to the image, the artist says.Numbers and Trees, The Tanzania Baobabs is on view from February 19 to May 24 at Hauser & Wirth West Hollywood.Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #7, Makonde (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Keith LubowDetail of Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #7, Makonde (2024), 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Keith LubowNumbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #3, Tongwe (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik NilsenDetail of Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #3, Tongwe (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik NilsenNumbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #2, Zanaki (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Keith LubowDetail of Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #2, Zanaki (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Keith LubowNumbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #5, Rangi (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik NilsenDetail of Numbers and Trees: Tanzania Series 1, Baobab, Tree #5, Rangi (2024), acrylic sheet, acrylic paint, photograph, 3 parts, 95 x 132 1/4 x 5 3/4 inches. Photo by Fredrik NilsenNext article

Open source software has a number of benefits over commercial products, not least the fact that it can be downloaded for free. This means anyone can analyse the code and, assuming they have the right hardware and software environment configured, they can start using the open source code immediately.With artificial intelligence (AI), there are two parts to being open. The source code for the AI engine itself can be downloaded from a repository, inspected and run on suitable hardware just like other open source code. But open also applies to the data model, which means it is entirely feasible for someone to run a local AI model that has already been trained.In other words, with the right hardware, a developer is free to download an AI model, disconnect the target hardware from the internet and run it locally without the risk of query data being leaked to a cloud-based AI service.And since it is open source, the AI model can be installed locally so it does not incur the costs associated with cloud-hosted AI models, which are generally charged based on the volume of queries measured in tokens submitted to the AI engine.All software needs to be licenced. Commercial products are increasingly changed on a subscription basis and, in the case of large language models (LLMs), the cost correlates to the amount of usage, based on the volume of tokens submitted to the LLM and the hardware consumed in terms of hours of graphics processing unit (GPU) time used by the model when it is queried.Like all open source software, an LLM that is open source is subject to the terms and conditions of the licensing scheme used. Some of these licences put restrictions on how the software is used but, generally, there are no licence fees associated with running an open model locally.However, there is a charge if the open model is run on public cloud infrastructure or accessed as a cloud service, which is usually calculated based on the volume of tokens submitted to the LLM programmatically using application programming interfaces (APIs).Beyond the fact that they can be downloaded and deployed on-premise without additional cost, their openness helps to progress the development of the model in a similar way to how the open source community is able to improve projects.Just like other open source projects, an AI model that is open source can be checked by anyone. This should help to improve its quality and remove bugs and go some way to tackling bias, when the source data on which a model is trained is not diverse enough. The following podcast explores AI models further.Download this podcast which covers the different AI models available.Most AI models offer free or low-cost access via the web to enable people to work directly with the AI system. Programmatic access via APIs is often charged based on the volume of tokens submitted to the model as input data, such as the number of words in a natural language query. There can also be a charge for output tokens, which is a measure of the data produced by the model when it responds to a query.Several open source large language models offer smaller versions, known as small language models. These are trained using less data, which means they offer adequ\ate performance on modest hardware. However, they may be limited in what they can achieve given that an SLM is not trained on the vast knowledge based required by an LLM. Examples include:DeepSeek-tiny, DistilBERT from Hugging Face.Gemma from Google Ministral from Mistral.Phi-mini from Microsoft.TinyLlama from Meta.Since it is open source, an open model can be downloaded from its open source repository (repo) on GitHub. The repository generally contains different builds for target systems such as distributions of Linux, Windows and MacOS.However, while this approach is how developers tend to use open source code, it can be a very involved process and a data scientist may just want to try the latest, greatest model, without having to get into the somewhat arduous process of getting the model up and running.Step in Hugging Face, an AI platform where people who want to experiment with AI models can research what is available and test them on datasets all from one place. There is a free version, but Hugging Face also provides an enterprise subscription and various pricing for AI model developers for hosting and running their models.Another option is Ollama, an open source, command-line tool that provides a relatively easy way to download and run LLMs. For a full graphical user interface to interact with LLMs, it is necessary to run an AI platform such as Open WebUI, an open source project available on GitHub.Cyber security leaders have raised concerns over the ease with which employees can access popular LLMs, which presents a data leakage risk. Among the widely reported leaks is Samsung Electronics use of ChatGPT to help developers debug code. The code in effect, Samsung Electronics intellectual property was uploaded into the ChatGPT public LLM and effectively became subsumed into the model.The tech giant quickly took steps to ban the use of ChatGPT, but the growth in so-called copilots and the rise of agentic AI have the potential to leak data. Software providers deploying agentic technology will often claim they keep a customers private data entirely separate, which means such data is not used to train the AI model. But unless it is indeed trained with the latest thinking, shortcuts, best practices and mistakes, the model will quickly become stale and out of date.An AI model that is open can be run in a secure sandbox, either on-premise or hosted in a secure public cloud. But this model represents a snapshot of the AI model the developer released, and similar to AI in enterprise software, it will quickly go out of date and become irrelevant.However, whatever information is fed into it remains within the confines of the model, which allows organisations willing to invest the resources needed to retrain the model using this information. In effect, new enterprise content and structured data can be used to teach the AI model the specifics of how the business operates.There are YouTube videos demonstrating that an LLM such as the Chinese DeepSeek-R1 model can run on an Nvidia Jetson Nano embedded edge device or even a Raspberry Pi, using a suitable adapter and a relatively modern GPU card. Assuming the GPU is supported, it also needs plenty of video memory (VRAM). This is because for best performance, the LLM needs to run in memory on the GPU.Inference requires less memory and less GPU cores, but the more processing power and VRAM available, the faster the model is able to respond, as a measure of tokens it can process per second. For training LLMs, the number of GPU cores and VRAM requirements go up significantly, which equates to extremely costly on-premise AI servers. Even if the GPUs are run in the public cloud with metered usage, there is no getting away from the high costs needed to run inference workloads continuously.Nevertheless, the sheer capacity of compute power available from the hyperscalers means that it may be cost effective to upload training data to an open LLM model hosted in a public cloud.As its name suggests, a large language model is large. LLMs require huge datasets for training and immense farms of powerful servers for training. Even if an AI model is open source, the sheer cost of the hardware means that only those organisations that are prepared to make upfront investments in hardware or reserve GPU capacity in the public cloud have the means to operationalise LLMs fully.But not everyone needs an LLM and that is why there is so much interest in models that can run on much cheaper hardware. These so-called small language models (SLM) are less compute intensive, and some will even run on edge devices, smartphones and personal computers (see box).Read more about AI modelsThe Amazon Nova family of GenAI models boasts faster speeds and lower costs, and caters to needs from text and image generation to video creation and multimodal application.Gartner expert Nicholle Lindner explains how companies like Klarna are leveraging AI to drive new revenue, and what businesses need to consider when embracing the technology.Tech giant Google is becoming more assertive with its AI releases by introducing new experimental versions of Gemini and a low-end model.

AvowedObsidianDespite arriving in early access last week, Avowed is now going to be officially out tomorrow, Tuesday, February 18, for everyone else, including Xbox Game Pass subscribers who wont have to shell out separately to grab it, as is Microsofts eternal strategy.As someone who has already put in 60 hours into Avowed, even before early access, I have a few warnings in regard to expectation setting, as since release, I have seen a lot of criticism about it doesnt have enough Elder Scrolls-like features in various ways. I dont think that negates the quality of the game, but heres what to expect before you get in there.No Stealing Mechanics There is no portion of the game dedicated to thievery, if thats your thing. You simply go into anywhere, take anything, even in from of NPCs, and its yours.No Lockpicking System This may be a positive for people who hate those minigames, but either you find a key or you simply hold down a button to use lockpicks in your inventory to open a door (buy lockpicks at vendors whenever you can or else youll run out).AvowedObsidianMORE FOR YOUNo Attacking Normal NPCs You cant just go be a mass murderer in this game, and theres no guards will attack you, you get a bounty system here. There are of course decisions to execute or let some NPCs go during quests.No Cutting-Edge NPCs This is a smaller budget game, so no, you are not going to have the latest in mo-cap NPC tech during conversations, nor is it even as good as recent Starfield convos, even when thats a Bethesda weakpoint. This should be understandable.No Upgrades Through Skill Use This uses a much more traditional point-based upgrade system and you will not move up skill trees through frequent use of a skill like in Skyrim.No Guilds Or Factions There are no official join up mechanics with specific guilds or factions to give you bonuses like cool gear or unique questlines. You can choose sides through decisions, especially later in the game, but its not the same thing.No Full Open World There is not some giant, singular open world here, as it is divided into biome zones that you fast travel between. Each of those is very explorable, however.AvowedObsidianI am not saying all of this to say Avowed is a bad game. I think Avowed is quite a good game. But I do think expectations need to be managed that this is not going to carryover every single system from Elder Scrolls games as a somewhat slimmed-down version of the concept. I would also argue that there are quality of life changes that are more than welcome here, like no stamina use on sprinting, far more carry weight with less items contributing, and the ability to send items directly to your stash from anywhere. I also do not miss those lockpicking minigames, personally.I think a lot of people will have a ton of fun with Avowed, just know what youre getting into. I will have some tips and advice tomorrow to get you started.Follow me , and .Pick up my sci-fi novels the and

InvincibleAmazonFans are excited that Invincible is back for its third season without an interminably long wait like we saw for season 2. But while the show is putting up solid viewership numbers, from what we can tell, its not enough to hold off another recent Amazon powerhouse from taking back the top spot in Amazon Prime Videos Top 10 list.That would be Beast Games, which has now finally crowned its winner. Its the massive millions-of-dollars game show hosted by the famed YouTuber Mr. Beast, known forgiving away millions of dollars, among other things.While social media decried the series and critics rated it extremely low (13% on Rotten Tomatoes), that has been a total disconnect with Mr. Beasts massive audience, 363 million YouTube subscribers, which have made the show a clear hit on Amazon to the point where yes, it is very likely it will get a season 2, even if that announcement has not been made yet. No doubt Amazon is okay with giving away this kind of money if it means this kind of viewership.Top 10AmazonThis is, however, the end of Beast Games, so theres no reason Invincible cant hit #1 again in short order. But we are just days away from the release date of Reacher season 3, one of Amazons biggest shows that has effectively not left its top 10 most viewed list since season 2, which is stunning. I have no doubt that if Reacher and Invincible square off in their respective third seasons, that more often than not, Reacher will win, and again, it will likely stay in the top 10 list for months after this, if not all the way until season 4, whenever that might be. Reacher season 2 is already #5 on the top 10 list before season 3 has even begun, indicating a surge of rewatching before it hits.MORE FOR YOUEvery show Ive mentioned here is not in the Netflix-like category of will-they-wont-they get another season. Beast Games, Invincible and Reacher all will. Invincible and Reacher are already renewed for season 4, Beast Games will no doubt get a greenlight for season 2 soon. A recent questionable renewal was the just-announced third season of Rings of Power, Amazons most expensive show by a wide margin, but season 2 had reportedly half the viewership of season 1. That show debuted in August of 2024 and it took this long for season 3 to be confirmed. Thatsnot a great sign, but Amazon may just plow forward with its original five year promise. Well see.Follow me , and .Pick up my sci-fi novels the and