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Lightspark Announces UMA Auth, UMA Request, Updates to Extend and Spark at Lightspark Sync

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LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Yesterday, in Los Angeles, Lightspark hosted its first Partner Summit—Lightspark Sync.

Lightspark announced:

Two new foundational capabilities for UMA – UMA Auth and UMA RequestOne Lightspark product update – Lightspark Extend for UMASpark: A new open-source Bitcoin Layer 2, Lightning-compatible solution for stablecoins and self-custodial wallets

Lightspark is building the fastest global open payment network on Bitcoin. Their products simplify, streamline, and modernize the flow of global payments, whether using fiat currencies, stablecoins, or bitcoin.

Exciting updates for the Universal Money Address (UMA). UMA is an open-source messaging standard built on LNURL. Think of it as email but for money. It’s a solution that enables transactions in fiat currency, stablecoin, or form of value that any human, business, or AI agent needs to move or exchange in real-time.

By the end of 2024, Lightspark estimates their partners will unlock UMA for nearly 300 million customers in 140 countries and 100 currencies.

UMA Auth is like OAuth for money. For businesses, it’s an exciting new extension integrating payments directly into applications and services.

It’s an open standard built on Nostr Wallet Connect that enables UMA-enabled wallets to delegate the push and pull of money with limits set by the user. For businesses, it’s an exciting new extension integrating payments directly into applications and services.

Even in today’s digital economy, payments on commerce platforms, content services, and messaging applications are challenging. Payment integrations can be complicated, taking up valuable development time and resources that can be used elsewhere. High transaction fees can eat into profits, and slow settlement times frustrate users and create risk. International payments add another level of complexity. These problems have been holding businesses back for far too long. UMA Auth solves many of these problems while providing users with easy linking to their existing financial apps and wallets.

At its core, UMA Auth is a two-way connection between platforms and their users’ UMA-enabled wallets.  It takes the great features of OAuth and applies them to the world of UMA payments, making secure authorization easier. Now, users can log in to their wallets and authorize UMA payments using familiar set-up experiences. Users can control what applications can access their wallets, specify permitted actions, and set spending limits for each application.  The potential use cases are far-reaching – UMA Auth enables bank accounts or wallets to be connected to messaging and email apps; for example, users can make payments to content creators (no matter where they are) with live tipping or recurring payments and subscriptions. Like Oauth, UMA Auth does not require platform partners to be in the flow of funds but, instead provides a seamless payment experience for users with the UMA-enabled wallet of their choice.

UMA Auth is built using Nostr Wallet Connect, a secure, open protocol that’s gained significant traction in the Nostr and Lightning communities and simplifies connecting wallets to apps. Lightspark worked with the Nostr community and the team at Alby to build on the protocol, extending Nostr Wallet Connect to support UMA features. Some new key enhancements Lightspark has proposed are cross-currency support and client app registration.

UMA Auth brings a new level of innovation to Lightning, making payments more open, interoperable, and user-friendly. It’s a big step forward in building a payment ecosystem that puts users first and opens up many possibilities for peer-to-peer transactions. Lightspark released SDKs that make it incredibly easy for businesses to integrate UMA Auth into their applications.

UMA Request. Built for UMA, this will allow any business or UMA-enabled wallet to request a payment from another wallet on the network. UMA invoices and payment requests will transform transactions for both businesses and individuals. Merchants or service providers can now quickly request customer payments by creating a one-time invoice for a product or service. This invoice can be paid multiple times, making it incredibly flexible for the business and the end users. One of the standout features of this system is that it provides proof of payment, ensuring that both parties have a clear record of the transaction. UMA Request is versatile enough to handle a variety of use cases. Whether requesting payments from friends for a shared expense, managing merchant checkouts, or handling bills from service providers, UMA Request provides a simple and effective way to facilitate transactions across different scenarios.

Lightspark Extend This is a significant step forward, enabling Lightning payouts to bank accounts over domestic payment rails. It reduces transaction times and costs and simplifies payments. Companies can pay out users at their preferred endpoints with instant, seamless fiat currency transfers from local bank accounts to any eligible account in the user’s chosen currency. In the United States, users can instantly receive USD from a Real-Time Payments-enabled local bank account. Lightspark Extend for the US and Mexico will be available by the end of the year, and Brazil will quickly follow. Lightspark Extend offers competitive pricing and unparalleled efficiency for businesses and individuals to send payments, ensuring that moving funds is faster and more cost-effective than ever.

INTRODUCING SPARK –
A SOLUTION FOR STABLECOINS AND SELF-CUSTODY ON BITCOIN
Lightspark believes the future of payments must be on the most open, neutral, and decentralized network and should also enable all use cases – from non-custodial wallets to stablecoins. Spark is a new, payments-focused, high-performance, open-source, scaleable Bitcoin Layer 2. It extends Bitcoin and Lightning and enables self-custodial wallets to send and receive real-time payments at virtually no cost. Spark also supports tokens such as stablecoins, making it the most comprehensive open payment network built on Bitcoin.

Lightspark is committed to powering a new generation of payment solutions. Their products are built with regulated financial service firms in mind. They offer tools for direct, secure messaging between payment counterparties so that their partners can support a range of customer payment experiences and address risk management, AML/CFT, sanctions, travel rules, and other requirements.

Media Contact
press@lightspark.com

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Huawei and IUCN Launch Tech4Nature Project to Protect Kenya’s Coral Reefs

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Huawei, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and local partner Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) have launched a Tech4Nature project to monitor and protect coral reef and biodiversity in Kenya’s Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve.

Aligned with Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, the objective of the three-year project is to strengthen monitoring and management efficacy of the protected area. Located on the southern coast of Kenya, Kisite-Mpunguti Marine Park and Reserve faces a number of nature conservation challenges. These include:

Illegal fishing and insufficient human resources to effectively patrol the area.A lack of remote monitoring of the reserve’s three coral islands coupled with pressures created by tourism, as the fringing reefs are popular diving sites.Limited community awareness of the importance of reef and biodiversity protection.Insufficient communications network infrastructure for underpinning tech-driven monitoring.

“Tech4Nature is an expansive project that falls under Huawei’s digital inclusion initiative TECH4ALL, where we look at ways to implement technology and innovation in various sectors of our day today life and improving global standards and ensure that we have a sustainable way of life in the world,” said Khadija Mohamed, Director of Media and Government Relations for Huawei Kenya.

Underwater cameras, photogrammetry, and audio monitoring technologies will be deployed to monitor marine life, including the biomass and population of parrot fish. In many coral reef ecosystems, parrot fish are a keystone species that, due to their diet, help prevent coral from being smothered by seaweed and algae. The solution will also monitor substrate cover in the reef ecosystems, seagrass cover, and the occurrence of green turtles and bottlenose dolphins, which are classified on the IUCN Red List as endangered and vulnerable, respectively.

“The technology we are introducing is a groundbreaking development for marine conservation in Kenya. It will serve as the first monitoring tool for data collection, analysis, and management in a marine protected area. Additionally, this innovation presents an opportunity to assist the park in attaining IUCN Green List certification, aligning with the sustainability goals valued by tourists and ensuring that future generations can continue to benefit from our marine parks,” said Innocent Kabenga, Country Representative for the IUCN Kenya Country Office.

AI trained to recognize specific target species by sight or sound will provide real-time data-driven insights into the behaviors, populations, and distribution of biodiversity in the reserve and reef ecosystem. The system will also be able to identify boats used for illegal fishing, and send alerts for rangers to intervene in near real time.

A digital power solution and improved network connectivity covering the park and watch tower will enable the rapid transmission of collected data to a cloud server for analysis by AI.

The project will be implemented in partnership with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI). Based on the project’s data-driven insights, the Tech4Nature partners will be able to develop targeted conservation measures for the reserve.

“For us to deliver our mandate of protecting and conserving our wildlife in both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, you have to understand your resources very well. We are partnering with Huawei and IUCN to deploy underwater cameras to acquire some data on marine mammal, corals, and fisheries to make informed decisions. The advantage of this technology it can be deployed in wider area that we couldn’t patrol every single day to get data for day and night for us to make good, informed decisions,” said Adan Kala, Senior Assistant Director, Coast Conservation Area, Kenya Wildlife Service.

In addition, the project will include community outreach to raise awareness about biodiversity changes over time and the presence of different species, including those that are threatened, vulnerable, or endangered.

The site will be assessed against the IUCN Green List Standard, with the goal being that the reserve obtains Green List certification.

About Tech4Nature

Huawei and IUCN launched the Tech4Nature global partnership in 2020 to scale up success in nature conservation through technological innovation. Aligned with Huawei’s TECH4ALL initiative and the IUCN Green List, Tech4Nature has supported 11 flagship projects in 8 countries with tailored solutions to conservation challenges.

Visit the Tech4Nature website: https://tech4nature.iucngreenlist.org/what-is-tech4nature/ 

About TECH4ALL

TECH4ALL is Huawei’s long-term digital inclusion initiative and action plan. Enabled by innovative technologies and partnerships, TECH4ALL is designed to enable inclusion and sustainability in the digital world.

Visit the Huawei TECH4ALL website at https://www.huawei.com/en/tech4all

Follow us on X at https://x.com/HUAWEI_TECH4ALL 

 

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CES 2025 | AAC Technologies Unveils Comprehensive Automotive Solutions, Paving the Way for Cabin Experience Evolution

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LAS VEGAS, Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025, AAC Technologies, a pioneer in sensory experience, showcased its industry leadership by introducing a full spectrum of automotive solutions that span “acoustics, haptics, sensing, and image recognition.” Drawing on over three decades of expertise in the development and manufacturing of cutting-edge consumer electronics micro-components, AAC is now poised to offer a comprehensive, precise, real-time, and immersive sensory experience to the automotive sector, reinforcing its position as a trusted partner ready to meet the industry’s evolving technological and product demands.

Catering to the surging market demand, AAC presents a ready-to-deploy portfolio of automotive product solutions that address the critical aspects of intelligent driving and cabin experiences. The company is committed to expanding its innovative product offerings to lead the industry. AAC has been steadily expanding in the automotive industry since 2019, largely driven by the growing adoption of its automotive solutions. These solutions are playing an important role in advancing the capabilities of intelligent cockpits.

AAC’s Automotive Acoustic Solutions for Digital Cockpits

AAC Technologies has unveiled its cutting-edge digital cockpit solutions, showcasing a fusion of innovation in acoustics. AAC offers a holistic approach to audio system design, encompassing hardware, algorithms, and fine-tuning, all aimed at delivering a supremely immersive audio experience across various scenarios.

At CES, AAC set up a state-of-the-art 7.1.4 listening room, showcasing its self-developed advanced automotive audio algorithms such as Independent Sound Zones, NLC PRO (distortion suppression), Audio Track Separation, Virtual Surround (Plus), Virtual Venue, and 3D Chime. In collaboration with Premium Sound Solutions (PSS), a world-leading provider in acoustic components and sound systems, AAC has presented an array of top-tier offerings, including automotive speaker products and solutions, which garnered significant attention.

AAC also introduced the “Smart Audio Box,” a joint creation with Smart that marks the industry’s first all-scenario portable Hi-Fi speaker system designed for vehicles. Debuted on the Smart #5 model, this speaker system offers a unique audio experience, blending the boundaries between driving and the wild world of sound.

AAC’s Automotive Haptic Seat Solutions

The automotive industry is now redefining the car as more than just a way to get around—it’s becoming an extension of our living spaces. With this shift, expectations for the in-car experience are soaring, particularly when it comes to the haptic feedback and auditory elements of smart cockpits. At CES, AAC unveiled its groundbreaking haptic seat solution for vehicles, which fuses advanced haptic and acoustic technologies to create a more tranquil driving safety alert system , amp up entertainment with immersive sound, and even simulate engine sounds for an authentic driving feel, all while providing a space for relaxation and meditation. This innovation, a joint effort with Porsche China’s Innovation Office as part of the Rhythm Space project, is set to redefine comfort and pleasure in the driving experience for all on board.

AAC’s Automotive Sensing Solutions

AAC is leading the way in providing advanced sensing solutions and sensor technologies tailored for the automotive industry. AAC’s automotive-grade MEMS microphones boast a compact design, exceptional signal clarity(SNR), minimal distortion(THD), and a consistent frequency response. They also excel in maintaining uniform sensitivity and phase alignment, which translates to enhanced voice services and reliability in both the cabin and exterior environments. This innovation significantly boosts the user experience in voice interactions across a range of applications.

In addition, AAC has unveiled a line of vehicular inertial products, highlighted by our trio of high-performing MEMS IMUs. These units are engineered for accuracy and stability, designed to meet the diverse demands of various applications. They play a pivotal role in ensuring precise vehicle positioning and safety during the critical phases of advanced driver assistance and autonomous driving, reinforcing our dedication to advancing automotive safety and interaction.

AAC’s Automotive Image Recognition Solutions

In the ongoing quest for enhanced intelligent driving, ensuring safety and comfort has become a primary focus in the automotive industry. At this year’s CES, AAC showcased its complete lineup of lenses and camera modules. This includes those for intelligent driving applications like ADAS and surround view, as well as those for intelligent cockpit features such as DMS and OMS. Furthermore, AAC presented an integrated cockpit monitoring system. Collectively, these innovations provide accurate data for machine vision, thereby enhancing safety and intelligent driving capabilities. AAC’s solutions are designed to meet rigorous industry standards, including the EU’s DDAW (Driver Drowsiness and Attention Warning), E-NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), and China’s GB/T 41797-2022 “Performance Requirements and Test Methods for Driver Attention Monitoring Systems”.

AAC has also expanded its product line with a variety of automotive motor solutions. For example, AAC’s brushless motors, known for their quiet performance and adaptability, ensure a smooth and quiet experience for seat adjustments. AAC also offers linear control brake motors (EMB motors), linear control steering motors (RWA and HWA motors), and general EPS motors for advanced chassis applications, all of which have been tested and validated in multiple vehicle models. As the automotive industry advances towards higher levels of driving assistance, the adoption of linear control systems for chassis is becoming crucial. These motors use sensors to detect environmental information, replacing mechanical connections with electrical signals. This technology offers high precision, fast response times, compact designs, and lightweight construction, making it suitable for mass production. In scenarios such as highway driving, navigating narrow roads, and parking, these systems greatly enhance user comfort and meet the increasing demands for improved vehicle maneuverability and active safety.

Moving forward, AAC Technologies will continue to collaborate closely with automotive industry partners. By staying attuned to user preferences and driving technological advancements, AAC aims to lead the industry trend. The company’s focus is on delivering an outstanding intelligent cockpit experience, making every drive a source of joy and immersive sensory pleasure.

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Smart Food Packaging Market worth $35.69 billion by 2029 – Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Jan. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — The smart food packaging market is estimated at USD 26.42 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 35.69 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2029, according to a report published by MarketsandMarkets.

The study ‘Active Packaging in the Food Industry’, published in October 2024, explores the growing significance of active packaging in response to changing consumer demands and market trends. Unlike traditional packaging, which is designed to be inert, active packaging interacts with the product and its environment to extend shelf life and maintain food quality. This can involve incorporating additives into packaging systems, such as oxygen and ethylene scavengers, antimicrobial agents, antioxidants, and flavor-absorbing or releasing compounds. Intelligent packaging systems, like time-temperature indicators and gas detectors, are also discussed, emphasizing the importance of consumer acceptance for the commercial success of these technologies. The study reviews key mechanisms used in active packaging, including oxygen scavengers, which reduce the presence of oxygen in food packaging by using iron-based or ascorbic acid-based systems. These methods help maintain product freshness by limiting oxidative damage. Carbon dioxide-generating systems are also used to suppress microbial growth, particularly in meat, poultry, fish, and cheese packaging. Furthermore, ethylene scavengers are vital for extending the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by controlling ripening processes.

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Other applications discussed include the use of flavor and odor absorbers/releasers, which enhance the sensory properties of packaged food, and antimicrobial packaging that inhibits microbial growth to ensure food safety. The potential of nanotechnology to develop new and more effective active and intelligent packaging solutions is highlighted, paving the way for further innovations in the food packaging industry. This study underscores the need for advanced packaging technologies to meet consumer demand for fresh, safe, and high-quality food products and their critical role in prolonging shelf life and improving food safety.

The Meat, Poultry & Seafood is the having a largest share within the application sector of the smart food packaging market.

Due to growing global demand, meat, poultry, and seafood accounts for the highest market share of application in the smart food packaging market. Its needs lie in extending shelf life, safety, and traceability. As per data provided by the USDA from October 2024, Brazil dominates global chicken meat exports during 2025 as the production will be 11.8 million tons. Australia’s poultry production will increase by 2 percent to 2.6 million tons, as high global demand is expected. Beef exports from Australia will also reach a record 1.9 million tons in the year, as its demand increases in the US. These trends point towards the increasing international meat trade and export opportunities.

Increased production and exports require more advanced smart packaging technologies, such as modified atmosphere packaging and active packaging, for freshness, less food waste, and greater safety. This will fuel innovation and adoption of smart packaging solutions, especially in global markets like East Asia and North America.

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The active packaging segment holds significant market share in the smart food packaging market during the forecasted period 2024-2029.

Active food packaging accounts for a major market share in the smart food packaging industry, which is mainly attributed to the quality improvement, safety, and shelf life that active packaging can offer. Technologies, including oxygen scavengers, moisture absorbers, and antimicrobial agents, respond to some of the most important consumer needs related to freshness and reduction of food waste.

It is primarily gaining adoption across key industries, including meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy, where growing concerns about global food safety and sustainability are driving growth. Additionally, increasing export of perishable food products, particularly in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific, further supports the increasing demand for active packaging. As manufacturers look for more innovative ways to meet their regulatory requirements and consumer demands, active packaging will maintain its position in the market.

Based on region, Europe has a significant share in the smart food packaging market.

The growth of the food and beverage industry in Europe is a major driving force for the smart food packaging market, which is motivated by the increasing demand for advanced packaging solutions that would ensure food safety, traceability, and extended shelf life. According to European Commission data (March 2024), the food and drinks industry generates ~USD 245 billion (€227 billion) in added value and employs 4.6 million people, making it the EU’s largest manufacturing sector in terms of jobs and value. SMEs are over 99% of businesses in this ecosystem. The sector has also recorded a food trade surplus, with exports doubled over the last decade to exceed ~USD 196 billion (€182 billion), contributing a positive balance of nearly ~USD 32 billion (€30 billion). These strong figures, combined with growing trade opportunities and EU Single Market benefits, are driving demand for smart food packaging technologies to support efficient, sustainable, and competitive food supply chains.

The report profiles key players such as Amcor plc (Switzerland), Mondi (UK), Sealed Air (US), Berry Global Inc. (US), Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd. (Japan), THE TETRA LAVAL GROUP (Switzerland), Crown (US), 3M (US), MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. (Japan), Multisorb (US), Huhtamäki Oyj (Finland), Timestrip UK LTD (UK), Stepac (Israel), Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (US), and Novipax Buyer, LLC (US).

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Browse Adjacent Reports @ Food and Beverage Market Research Reports & Consulting

Related Reports:

Food Traceability Market Size, Share, Industry Growth, Trends Report (Technology & Software) by Technology Type (RFID, Barcodes, Infrared, Biometrics, GPS), Software Type (ERP, LIMS, Warehouse), Software End User, Technology Application and Region – Global Forecast to 2025

Food Safety Testing Market by Technology (Traditional and Rapid), Target Tested, Food Tested (Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Dairy, Processed Foods, Fruits & Vegetables, and Cereals & grains) and Region – Global Forecast to 2027

About MarketsandMarkets

MarketsandMarkets has been recognized as one of America’s best management consulting firms by Forbes, as per their recent report.

MarketsandMarkets is a blue ocean alternative in growth consulting and program management, leveraging a man-machine offering to drive supernormal growth for progressive organizations in the B2B space. We have the widest lens on emerging technologies, making us proficient in co-creating supernormal growth for clients.

Earlier this year, we made a formal transformation into one of America’s best management consulting firms as per a survey conducted by Forbes.

The B2B economy is witnessing the emergence of $25 trillion of new revenue streams that are substituting existing revenue streams in this decade alone. We work with clients on growth programs, helping them monetize this $25 trillion opportunity through our service lines – TAM Expansion, Go-to-Market (GTM) Strategy to Execution, Market Share Gain, Account Enablement, and Thought Leadership Marketing.

Built on the ‘GIVE Growth’ principle, we work with several Forbes Global 2000 B2B companies – helping them stay relevant in a disruptive ecosystem. Our insights and strategies are molded by our industry experts, cutting-edge AI-powered Market Intelligence Cloud, and years of research. The KnowledgeStore (our Market Intelligence Cloud) integrates our research, facilitates an analysis of interconnections through a set of applications, helping clients look at the entire ecosystem and understand the revenue shifts happening in their industry.

To find out more, visit www.MarketsandMarkets.com or follow us on TwitterLinkedIn and Facebook.

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