"In recent years there has been a resurgence of interest in Hugo Gernsback, and the start of a serious study of the contribution he made to the development of science fiction. . . . It seemed to me that the time was due to reinvestigate the Gernsback era and dig into the facts surrounding the origins of Amazing Stories. I wanted to find out exactly why Hugo Gernsback had launched the magazine, what he was trying to achieve, and to consider what effects he had-good and bad. . . . Too many writers and editors from the Gernsback days have been unjustly neglected, or unfairly criticized. Now, I hope, Robert A. W. Lowndes and I have provided the grounds for a fair consideration of their efforts, and a true reconstruction of the development of science fiction. It's the closest to time travel you'll ever get. I hope you enjoy the trip."-Mike Ashley, Preface

Since adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the interpretive General Comment 1, the topic of legal capacity in mental health settings has generated considerable debate in disciplines ranging from law and psychiatry to public health and public policy. With over 180 countries having ratified the Convention, the shifts required in law and clinical practice need to be informed by interdisciplinary and contextually relevant research as well as the views of stakeholders. With an equal emphasis on the Global North and Global South, this volume offers a comprehensive, interdisciplinary analysis of legal capacity in the realm of mental health. Integrating rigorous academic research with perspectives from people with psychosocial disabilities and their caregivers, the authors provide a holistic overview of pertinent issues and suggest avenues for reform.

How can businesses operate profitably and sustainably while ensuring that they are applying human rights? It is possible to apply human rights while at the same time decreasing cost and making human rights contribute to profits. Yet business efforts alone are insufficient, and states must possess sufficient regulatory power to work together with businesses and investors - not only to improve human rights but also to foster development more broadly. This textbook, the first of its kind, explores all aspects of the links between business operations and human rights. Its twenty-five chapters guide readers systematically through all the particular features of this intersection, integrating legal and business approaches. Thematic sections cover conceptual and regulatory frameworks, remedies and dispute resolution, and practical enforcement tools. Ideal for courses in business, law, policy and international development, the book is also essential reading for managers in large corporations.

How can businesses operate profitably and sustainably while ensuring that they are applying human rights? It is possible to apply human rights while at the same time decreasing cost and making human rights contribute to profits. Yet business efforts alone are insufficient, and states must possess sufficient regulatory power to work together with businesses and investors - not only to improve human rights but also to foster development more broadly. This textbook, the first of its kind, explores all aspects of the links between business operations and human rights. Its twenty-five chapters guide readers systematically through all the particular features of this intersection, integrating legal and business approaches. Thematic sections cover conceptual and regulatory frameworks, remedies and dispute resolution, and practical enforcement tools. Ideal for courses in business, law, policy and international development, the book is also essential reading for managers in large corporations.

Ever wondered what space can do for you? The next great leap forward in human innovation is here. Introducing . . . The Orbital Age. And it’s all happening in low-Earth orbit (LEO) a mere 250 miles above Earth’s surface—roughly the distance between Boston and New York. Before you know it, the journey from Earth to space will be an everyday flight, not just for astronauts but tomorrow’s business professionals. Even more exciting? The new commercial space era will transform life here on Earth, generating incredible medical breakthroughs like 3D-printed organs and new cures for diseases, as well as producing revolutionary computing advances and inventions we can scarcely yet imagine. In In We Have Liftoff, positive futurist Michael Ashley and visionary space exploration leader Tom Vice envisage a near future where regular people live and work in space, exploring untold entrepreneurial opportunities and scientific developments. Switching between genres with each chapter, We Have Liftoff will take you on a unique, exciting voyage through a movie script filmed in space, a gourmet menu best consumed in microgravity, journals recording medical advances through 2088, and more—all to imagine the coming marvels of space travel. With insights from professionals revolutionizing the industry at Sierra Space, a leading commercial space exploration company at the forefront of space innovation and commercialization, We Have Liftoff will show you what was once deemed science fiction will soon be reality.

Harness the power of artificial intelligence in hiring. The typical hiring process is fraught with complexity, inefficiency, and bias and often shuts out the most talented candidates. Decoding Talent: How AI and Big Data Can Solve Your Company's People Puzzle makes the case for using complex advanced technologies to move past these problems toward effortless optimal candidate decisions. AI experts Eric Sydell, Mike Hudy, and Michael Ashley explain why the traditional resume application is out of date, why hiring is difficult, the cost of bad people decisions, how bias interferes in hiring practices, and how AI can address these problems. Decoding Talent reveals that using AI in hiring doesn't require your human resource professionals to unlearn and relearn their craft; rather, machine learning can complement their skills by consolidating and analyzing data to recommend actions

Disrupt your industry, boost profitability, and grow your business with a powerful A.I. strategy. Artificial Intelligence (A.I.) is on the verge of disrupting every domain of human existence. What does that mean for your business? Everything. Building on the power of A.I. is the factor that will determine success or failure in the very near future-and this in-depth guide from the man who designed the A.I. system that famously won Jeopardy provides everything you need to be a leader in this revolution. Own the A.I. Revolution provides a future-forward look at A.I.-how it will look in the coming years, the countless business opportunities it will offer, the risks that come with it-and delivers the knowledge you need to navigate it all in real and practical ways. You'll learn how to: *Find the right off-the-shelf A.I. solutions for your needs*Perform a cost/benefit analysis of implementing A.I. into your business strategy*Train and test A.I. before fully committing*Assemble superior teams to steer your A.I. future*Ensure you remain current and ahead of the curve You'll also find interviews with today's top experts and A.I. thought leaders on the exciting ways organizations are already transforming themselves through this revolutionary technology. A.I. sounds scary to some, but the best business leaders see it as an opportunity-as a way not only to drive profits and outpace the competition, but to build value for customers and make the world a better place. It's time to face our brave new A.I.-driven world-and make sure you Own the A.I. Revolution!

Historically and across societies people with disabilities have been stigmatized and excluded from social opportunities on a variety of culturally specific grounds. In this collection, the authors explore the impact that the philosophical framing of disability can have on public policy questions, in the clinic, in the courtroom, and elsewhere. They examine the implications of this understanding for legal and policy approaches to disability, strategies for allocating and accessing health care, the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, health care rights, and other legal tools designed to address discrimination. This volume should be read by anyone seeking a balanced view of disability and an understanding of the connection between the framing of disability and policies that have a real-world impact on individuals.

Despite international and national guarantees of equal rights, there remains a great deal to be done to achieve global employment equality for individuals with disabilities. In OECD countries, the employment rate of persons with disabilities was just over 40%, compared to 75% for persons without a disability; in many low- and middle-income countries, the employment rates are even lower. There are numerous reasons why persons with disabilities fare poorly in the labor market; Disability and Equity at Work is the first book to document what can be done to improve this imbalance. Chapters in this volume address all relevant facets of this topic and include: * Extensive examination of the factors contributing to inequitable access to work among persons with disability * Analysis of the economic benefits of increasing employment equity * Successful employment strategies at every stage of a worker's career * Evidence-based recommendations and in-depth case studies of innovative policies and programs around the world Chapter contributors include leaders from international organizations, government, civil society, and academia, including experts from UN agencies, leaders in nongovernmental advocacy and research organizations, and senior academics in the field. Disability and Equity at Work fills a needed gap that will appeal to those interested in and engaged in public policy, global health, equal rights, business, labor, and other fields.

Are advances in technology working for us or against us? When our phones become our keys to access everything, will our lives be more convenient or more at the mercy of whoever can hack into our devices? Will self-driving cars help us maximize our time and get to our destination safely, or will they erode the autonomy and freedom we feel when we drive ourselves? What happens if the government, in the name of public health, gains access to the data in our handy fitness trackers and uses it to reward or limit us? In Neuromined, technology investor Robert Grant and prolific author Michael Ashley team up to explore questions such as these. Each chapter imagines a near-future surveillance dystopia through a riveting fictional tale and provides a companion analysis connecting the story to our present reality. Entertaining and provoking, this book shows readers how the technology that has promised a lifetime of convenience has also constrained a public's individual options and agency. But all hope is not lost. Neuromined, at its core, demonstrates how technology, when viewed through a different ethos and used by a conscientious public, can instead provide greater autonomy and greater access to liberation.

This is not a "How to." There is no "one size fits all" when it comes to routine. Dr. Iscovich shares his original study of routine-learn through his observations how routine can improve longevity, performance, and adaptability. You will be better equipped to construct a routine that works best for you! Conventional wisdom suggests that the best way to navigate our noisy new world is to accept change. Open up to novelty. Go with the flow. Live in the moment. Embrace the relentless pelting of content minute by minute. But routine experts Angel Iscovich, MD, Joe Garner, and Michael Ashley are here to say that's a bad idea. Humans don't just benefit from structure; they require it. Years of observation and practice led to their breakthrough concept of routineology, the key to optimize your life and the cure for crisis. Routineology's fundamental prescriptive is to look inside and live your life in a "time bubble" to find purpose, meaning, and joy. Offering insights from top performers and stories of triumph over adversity, this book demonstrates that routine isn't just a good idea-it's imperative for surviving and thriving today. Live a life of deeper meaning and navigate toward a better world with The Art of Routine.

Historically and across societies people with disabilities have been stigmatized and excluded from social opportunities on a variety of culturally specific grounds. In this collection, the authors explore the impact that the philosophical framing of disability can have on public policy questions, in the clinic, in the courtroom, and elsewhere. They examine the implications of this understanding for legal and policy approaches to disability, strategies for allocating and accessing health care, the implementation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, health care rights, and other legal tools designed to address discrimination. This volume should be read by anyone seeking a balanced view of disability and an understanding of the connection between the framing of disability and policies that have a real-world impact on individuals.

Human Resilience against Food Insecurity focuses on the human factors involved in building resilience against food and nutrition insecurity in perpetuity through better managing risks (such as 'better-spacing' of children), diversifying the asset portfolio, behavioral change, and communication strategies for to help achieve these goals. The better the coherence and convergence amongst these human factors that promote sustainable food and nutrition security, the lower the need to rectify their absence through post-facto, unsustainable 'firemen's work' of humanitarian assistance and CMAM clinics. The book includes references to countries which are not in the lowest of the categories prescribed in the UNDP Human Development reports, also including minority groups in developed countries, such as the hunter-gatherer Inuit communities of Canada, to provide an inclusive view of the issues and concerns relevant to addressing food insecurity.

Disability, Human Rights, and Information Technology addresses the global issue of equal access to information and communications technology (ICT) by persons with disabilities. The right to access the same digital content at the same time and at the same cost as people without disabilities is implicit in several human rights instruments and is featured prominently in Articles 9 and 21 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The right to access ICT, moreover, invokes complementary civil and human rights issues: freedom of expression; freedom to information; political participation; civic engagement; inclusive education; the right to access the highest level of scientific and technological information; and participation in social and cultural opportunities. Despite the ready availability and minimal cost of technology to enable people with disabilities to access ICT on an equal footing as consumers without disabilities, prevailing practice around the globe continues to result in their exclusion. Questions and complexities may also arise where technologies advance ahead of existing laws and policies, where legal norms are established but not yet implemented, or where legal rights are defined but clear technical implementations are not yet established. At the intersection of human-computer interaction, disability rights, civil rights, human rights, international development, and public policy, the volume's contributors examine crucial yet underexplored areas, including technology access for people with cognitive impairments, public financing of information technology, accessibility and e-learning, and human rights and social inclusion. Contributors: John Bertot, Peter Blanck, Judy Brewer, Joyram Chakraborty, Tim Elder, Jim Fruchterman, G. Anthony Giannoumis, Paul Jaeger, Sanjay Jain, Deborah Kaplan, Raja Kushalnagar, Jonathan Lazar, Fredric I. Lederer, Janet E. Lord, Ravi Malhotra, Jorge Manhique, Mirriam Nthenge, Joyojeet Pal, Megan A. Rusciano, David Sloan, Michael Ashley Stein, Brian Wentz, Marco Winckler, Mary J. Ziegler.

When digital content and technologies are designed in a way that is inaccessible for persons with disabilities, they are locked out of commerce, education, employment, and access to government information. In developing areas of the world, as new technical infrastructures are being built, it is especially important to ensure that accessibility is a key design goal. Unfortunately, nearly all research on Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility and innovation for persons with disabilities-whether from the legal, technical, or development fields-has focused on developed countries, with very little being written about developing world initiatives. Accessible Technology and the Developing World aims to change this, by bringing increased attention to ICT accessibility in developing areas. This book brings together a unique combination of contributors with diverse disciplinary backgrounds, including authors from well-known non-governmental organizations, significant United Nations entities, and universities in both the developing and developed world. Together, they present a unique and much needed review of this critical and growing area of work, and primarily address three core themes - the lack of attention given to innovations taking place in the developing world, the need to ensure that infrastructures in the Global South do not present barriers to people with disabilities, and the need to exercise caution when applying techniques from the Global North to the Global South that won't transfer effectively. This book will be of use to researchers in the fields of civil rights, development studies, disability rights, disability studies, human-computer interaction and accessibility, human rights, international law, political science, and universal design.

Food Security in the Developing World provides an entry point into the complex and challenging subject of providing access to nutritious and safe food in a readable format, capturing the essence of the subject in an effective and impactful manner. Organized into nine chapters the book covers the manifestation and measurement of food insecurity; means whereby households endeavour to be food-secure; causes of food insecurity; mitigation of current food insecurity and prevention of future food insecurity. There will then follow a chapter with case studies, a chapter on cross-cutting issues and the final chapter drawing conclusions and recommendations on the way forward to increase the prevalence of food security in developing countries. A glossary and Bibliography will round off the book. Dr. Ashley's real-world experience makes the book accessible while providing valuable insights into the broad range of factors that contribute to food insecurity in this large at-risk population, and practical means of addressing them.