Day: October 5, 2021

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Vital to make disaster preparedness a ‘Malaysian Family’ culture

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — It is important to make disaster preparedness a Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) culture, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Functions) Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad.

He said this was due to the frequent occurrence of various forms of disasters of late.

He explained that the culture of being prepared should not only be practised in October, in conjunction with the launch of the National Preparedness Month (BKN), but should be the norm until the country achieved community resilience.

He added that, as emphasised in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, the responsibility of disaster risk reduction should be a concerted effort.

“All Malaysians must make an effort to maximise their level of disaster preparedness to ensure the safety of lives is prioritised and minimise damage to infrastructure and reduce losses to society, industry, government and countryD,” he said in a statement today.

This year’s BKN 2021, with the theme “Keluarga Malaysia Siaga Bencana” (Malaysian Family Prepared for Disaster), was officiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the Putrajaya Corporation Complex here today.

The event was held in line with the International Disaster Day, which is celebrated on Oct 13 every year.

Abdul Latiff said that the BKN, which is celebrated in Malaysia every October, was aimed at enhancing awareness and preparedness of various parties in times of disaster, especially during the monsoon season, such as floods, mudflows and landslides.

He also said that throughout the month, 36 programmes and activities had been lined up by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) with the cooperation of various departments, agencies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Among the activities are the Community Based Disaster-Risk Management, Webinar: Identifying the Hazards and Disasters in and around Malaysia and the National Climate Forum-Northeast Monsoon 2021/2022.

He hoped that all parties would give a high-level of commitment to the programme so that it is in line with the government’s aim to make disaster risk reduction an important national agenda.

“The government always ensures that the coordination of disaster management can be handled more efficiently and effectively so that disaster victims will get protection and assistance from all parties,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Tourism bubble: Employers must conduct COVID-19 screening on workers – MATA

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Accommodation facilities operators under the tourism bubble programme are urged to conduct COVID-19 screening on all their employees before they report for work, to ensure everyone’s safety, said Malaysia Association Tour Agency (MATA) president Datuk Mohd Khalid Harun.

He said the premises owners and operators should take it as a lesson after 59 workers of a leading hotel in Langkawi tested positive for COVID-19 as reported yesterday and the news had to some extent undermined public’s confidence in travelling for a holiday.

“The self-screening test can be done at least once a week to curb COVID-19 transmission at their premises. This also applies to other tour operators who are directly involved in the tourism bubble programme.

“The management and employers will have to sacrifice some money to buy the self-test kits to ensure that their staff are free from COVID-19. It is their responsibility to see that their workers are safe,” he said in a statement today.

Mohd Khalid said all tour operators must work together in order for the tourism bubble project to succeed by ensuring that their premises are COVID-19 free to convince tourists and prevent the country’s tourism industry from closing down again.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency

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Canadian firm’s interactive mirror technology sets retail and hospitality sectors buzzing

CALGARY, Alberta, Oct. 04, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A customer steps up to a new and very cool interactive mirror installed in her favorite apparel store. With a few screen taps, she creates an avatar of herself, allowing her to quickly and virtually “try on” a variety of different styles and colors.

No lengthy fitting-room sessions with piles of discarded clothes. The mirror can even recommend outfits and tell buyers what’s in stock. Customers at Brands for Less in Dubai and Puma in the U.S. are already enjoying the experience.

What is this new innovation? It’s the iMirror, a creation of Calgary-based technology firm, NOBAL, which reports that their product is having real bottom-line impacts for retailers. NOBAL CEO, Bill Roberts, reports, “Our retail clients have seen increases in ‘customer basket size’ of 15 to 20% by using iMirror. Even better is that they’re discovering their ROI on the product is less than one week.”

According to NOBAL, in one retail store’s experience with the iMirror, compared to a regular fitting room, they saw a doubling of both items purchased and sales volume.

The above is just one of the retail applications for the revolutionary iMirror. In the Fifth Avenue New York flagship store of Puma (a longtime NOBAL client), customers can use the iMirror’s built-in selfie camera and keyboard to send photos to friends. Says Roberts, “It’s been a great promotional tool for the brand.”

The iMirrors interactivity shows up in the hospitality realm as well. In the Four Seasons Resort in Whistler, B.C., guests use iMirrors to check weather, maps and ski conditions, and access additional hotel information.

NOBAL recently inked an agreement with Caesars Entertainment, to install and display two iMirrors at Black Fire Innovation Center. The center is a partnership between the University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) and Caesars Entertainment (part of the U.S. hotel chain).

In the center, visitors can envision an in-room experience with iMirrors, which allow guests to order room service, shop, and purchase event tickets. iMirrors in the hotel’s lobby experience enable guests to check in and out, book events, view amenities, make spa reservations, tap-to-pay, and book rides. They also provide maps and kid-focused applications, while providing advertising opportunities for on-site restaurants, which can provide additional hotel revenue.

Says Roberts, “Not only does the iMirror enhance a hotel guest’s experience, but by putting other retail and hospitality services in front of those guests, it can boost the property’s bottom line.”

In today’s age where data is king, the iMirror can enable retailers to collect data and keep track of shoppers’ buying habits—time, average sizes, colours and specific fashions. Moreover, the iMirror’s tracking capability is providing a proven way to reduce the estimated $3 billion annual cost (North America) of shoplifting and property damage.

NOBAL, founded 10 years ago, is now managed by CEO Roberts, who was previously the founder and president of two companies—Real Storage Management and Calgary Archives Corporation. He expanded both beyond their initial Calgary bases to span all of Canada, before selling them.

Says Roberts, “The ease with which customers interact with technology these days is so different than even five to ten years ago. Products like the iMirror are helping traditional industries like retail and hospitality catch up to those buyers, and make them more likely to want to do business with them.”

NOBAL is just one of many high-tech companies based in Calgary, which is rapidly becoming a mini Silicon Valley in its own right. Alberta plans a $20 billion investment in industrial digital transformation, and Calgary companies like NOBAL are leading the charge.

NOBAL is poised for its own dynamic growth in the coming years, if their recent high-profile hires are any indication. The company recently added Sean McManus (VP, Technology), Daniel Maher (Director of Technology), and Lindsay Panchyshyn (Director of Marketing).

For more information on NOBAL’s leading-edge iMirror products, visit www.NOBAL.ca

CONTACT:
Ms. Lindsay Panchyshyn, Director of Marketing
NOBAL Technologies Inc.
403-589-3322 | www.nobal.ca | lpanchyshyn@nobal.ca