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House fires burn hotter and spread faster than ever before, leaving families with as little as two minutes to safely escape their homes. Despite that short window to reach safety, families are startlingly unprepared: Only 26% of American families have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. The disconnect between the urgency of fire safety and actual household preparation points to a fundamental challenge in home safety education. Traditional approaches (pamphlets, static demonstrations, and classroom presentations) often fail to create the lasting behavioral change needed when seconds matter most. At Kidde, our ultimate goal is to help keep everyone safe at home, so we are exploring forward-looking safety education solutions that can address the lack of behavioral change. Immersive technologies, like augmented reality (AR), are beginning to reshape how we approach home safety education, offering new possibilities for engaging families in ways that build muscle memory and decision-making skills IMMERSIVE LEARNING INCREASES RETENTION Educational research consistently demonstrates that active, experiential learning creates stronger retention and better decision-making under pressure. A recent study found that children using AR interventions had significantly higher post-test scores compared to those using traditional educational materials, indicating greater understanding and retention of critical information. The data on digital engagement is equally compelling: Educators report 78% higher student motivation when AR technology is incorporated into learning, while parents noted 59% increased engagement, according to McGraw Hill research. In the context of home and fire safety, increased motivation and engagement is extremely important. When families practice fire safety in an immersive environment, they go from simply memorizing steps to developing the memory required to react appropriately during high-stress situations. The difference between knowing what to do and being able to do it instinctively can be measured in precious seconds. AR allows families to visualize an emergency This evolution of safety education reflects broader changes in how we process information and learn new skills. Younger generations expect interactive, personalized experiences that adapt to their specific circumstances. Generic safety advice often falls short because every home layout, family composition, and risk profile is different. Consider the complexity of modern fire safety planning. Families must account for multiple escape routes, various family members’ capabilities, pets, mobility challenges, and changing household dynamics. Traditional fire safety education provides general guidance, but families are often left to figure out how these principles apply to their unique situations. AR technology addresses this gap by allowing families to visualize emergencies in their actual living spaces, creating a personalized experience. Instead of imagining how quickly smoke might fill a hallway, they can see a realistic simulation. Rather than abstractly planning escape routes, they can safely practice navigating their specific home layout under simulated emergency conditions. Through AR simulation, families often discover escape route obstacles they hadn’t noticed, identify communication challenges, and realize the importance of having multiple contingency plans. To help guide families through personalized fire safety planning, Kidde developed a free AR fire drill simulator, Prepare. Plan. Practice. The shared responsibility for safety As AR becomes more universal it has the potential to help expand access to high-quality safety education. Previously, comprehensive emergency preparedness training required specialized instructors, dedicated facilities, or expensive equipment. Now, families can access sophisticated safety training using devices they already own, in their own homes, at times that work for their schedules. AR also has the potential to help prepare people for all types of emergencies, not just fires. From earthquake drills to medical emergencies, the same principles of personalized, experiential learning can help families prepare more effectively for various scenarios. Advancing safety education requires collaboration between technology developers, safety professionals, educators, and families themselves. The most effective solutions emerge when technical innovation aligns with human behavior and learning dynamics. For business leaders and innovators, this represents both an opportunity and a responsibility. The tools exist to create more engaging, effective safety education experiences. The question becomes: How do we ensure these innovations reach the families who need them most? The success of any safety innovation ultimately depends on reach, adoption, and consistent use. Technology can provide more engaging and effective educational experiences, but it must be paired with ongoing advocacy for stronger safety standards, broader access to resources, and cultural shifts that prioritize preparedness. As we continue developing these technologies, the goal remains unchanged: ensuring families have the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to protect themselves when every second counts. The methods may be evolving, but the collective mission of making every home a safer home drives innovation forward. Isis Wu is president of global residential fire & safety at Kidde.
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E-Commerce
As a child and adolescent psychiatrist, Ive seen how Americas education system leaves neurodivergent children behind. Despite growing awareness of ADHD, autism, and learning differences, schools remain stuck in outdated models. Without rethinking how classrooms are structured, well keep failing students whose brains work differently. Last year, I worked with a boy who dreaded school so much he would sometimes vomit on the drive there. His anxiety wasnt about tests or teachers in the usual sense. It was about the environment itselfthe noise, the lights, the pressure to sit still in a classroom not built for how his brain works. His parents tried everything from walking him into school to rearranging schedules but nothing helped. Then he transferred schools. His new teacher took a different approach: connecting with him, adjusting the classroom, and making small changes that reduced the overwhelm. Suddenly, he wanted to ride the bus. He wanted to stay in class. For the first time, school felt like a place he belonged. One in five kids learns differently This child is neurodivergent, part of the one in five U.S. children who learn, process, and engage differently. Instead of helping these students to adapt, schools have tended to push kids like my client into rigid structures or special programs. The problem isnt these kids. Its that schools were built for neurotypical learners and havent kept pace with what we know about development, learning, and mental health. October is ADHD awareness month, one of the many awareness months that highlights how common these challenges are. But unless schools change what happens in classrooms, awareness wont be enough. ADHD remains one of the most common childhood diagnoses, affecting 11.4% of school-aged children. The CDC now estimates that 1 in 31 children is diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, up from 1 in 44 in 2018. These children are not outliers. They are classmates, friends, and our own children. Yet too many schools are treating neurodivergence as an exception to manage, rather than a reality to design for. Good intentions, bad outcomes Well-intentioned reforms have fallen short. We moved from segregated special education classrooms to mainstreaming, with aides and breakout sessions. But that support often comes at the cost of stigma. Kids are pulled out of class, singled out, or shadowed by aides whose presence, while helpful, also marks them to their schoolmates as different. Ive met children with anxiety and depression who say the worst part of school isnt the work. Rather its being pinpointed as different because of being singled out. Delays in diagnosis make things worse. Families wait months, sometimes years, for neuropsychological testing. In that lost time, kids fall behind academically, their confidence erodes, and their risk of dropping out increases. By the time support is offered, the damage has already been done. Meanwhile, teachers are asked to fill gaps theyre not trained for. General education teachers arent taught how to create sensory-friendly classrooms or manage the needs of a child with autism or ADHD. Funding is scarce. Insurance companies deny therapies during school hours, arguing they replace academics. And kids are left in the middle, unsupported. Awareness isnt the same as change Awareness months and anti-bullying lessons are important, but they are not enough. In Illinois, for example, lawmakers recently passed a bipartisan resolution recommending K8 education on neurodivergence to reduce bullying and foster acceptance. Thats progress, but it still falls short. Teaching students what autism or ADHD is wont change outcomes unless schools themselves adapt how they teach and support neurodiverse learners. Real inclusion means more than keeping kids in the same room. It means rethinking how we structure classrooms. For some neurodivergent kids, mainstreaming works with minor adjustments like dimmed lights, quiet corners, and social skills groups. For others, hybrid models that combine online learning, which can reduce sensory overload, with in-person opportunities for social and emotional growth may be better. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and thats the point: Neurodiverse kids need individualized environments that optimize learning rather than force conformity. Technology can help, if used thoughtfully. Tools like AI or virtual reality can personalize lessons or support social learning. But technology is not a cure-all. Without trained educators and mental health professionals guiding their use, these tools risk becoming add-ons instead of meaningful supports. The cost of staying the same The risks of doing nothing are clear. Children with gifts to offer will graduate unprepared, their strengths overlooked, and their potential stunted. Theyll leave schools designed to make them average instead of environments that help them excel. Heres what can be done to fix this. Policymakers need to move beyond symbolic resolutions and fund classrooms that can adapt, including early and equitable access to neuropsychological testing. Educators must be trained in neurodiversity and given the tools to create flexible curricula that make space for sensory, emotional, and social development alongside academics. Parents can push schools to fully implement Individualized Education Plans and 504 plans and insist on environments that allow their children not just to get by, but to thrive. Every child deserves a school that feels safe, supportive, and built for how they learn best. And right now, too many schools are missing that mark. We canand mustbuild systems where neurodiverse kids arent forced to fit in but instead are given the chance to truly shine. Monika Roots, MD, is cofounder, president and chief medical officer of Bend Health.
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E-Commerce
As the global climate and environmental crisis accelerates, the urgency for sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel-based products has never been greater. Today, biobased productsderived from renewable agricultural, marine, and forestry materialsare gaining momentum as critical tools in reducing our reliance on non-renewable resources and mitigating environmental harm. From everyday household goods to advanced industrial materials, biobased alternatives are transforming entire industries and creating pathways toward a lower-carbon, more resilient future. Biobased products offer a broad range of applications, including lubricants, detergents, inks, fertilizers, and bioplastics. To qualify as biobased, the USDA requires that products must contain a minimum of 25% renewable content unless an established minimum is defined for that category. Consumers are taking notice: A striking 64% now prioritize sustainability in purchasing decisions and are willing to pay an average 12% premium for products with proven eco-benefits. The environmental payoff is significantbiobased products prevent the release of 12.7 million metric tons of CO annually, the equivalent of removing nearly three million cars from the road. HISTORY OF BIO-BASED PRODUCTS The use of biobased materials is far from new. Ancient civilizations utilized wool, plants, and plant oils long before petroleum ever entered the picture. In the early 20th century, many industrial chemicals were still derived from biomass. During the 1930s, automotive pioneer Henry Ford famously experimented with soybean-based plastics for car parts. Wartime resource shortages, particularly during and after World War II, prompted renewed interest in renewable alternatives. The modern era of biobased innovation was catalyzed by policy action. In 1999, President Bill Clinton issued Executive Order 13134, laying the foundation for a national biobased product strategy and encouraging early adoption of renewable technologies. This pivotal moment helped bring the promise of biobased materials into the mainstream. THE PRESENT-DAY BOOM Fast forward to today, and the biobased sector is thriving. The USDA now tracks 139 biobased product categoriesup from just five in 2005excluding food, fuel, and feed. This explosive growth reflects both market demand and technological progress. These products displace approximately 300 million gallons of petroleum annually in the U.S. alone, which equates to removing another 200,000 vehicles from circulation. In total, the industry has contributed over $393 billion in value-added economic output, signaling both its ecological and economic relevance. A significant trend in 2024 has been the surge in biobased alternatives to single-use plastics. From bamboo cutlery and soy-based straws to potato-starch trash bags and palm leaf plates, sustainable materials are now widespread in consumer goods. Biobased products have also expanded into less obvious categories, such as safety equipment, filters, adhesives, clothing, and even perfumes. The built environment offers some of the most compelling examples, with fibers and fabrics emerging as a particularly fast-growing segmentadding 127 newly certified USDA biobased products in the past year alone. Products like Biobased Xorel, a high-performance textile used in commercial interiors. While its molecularly identical to a petroleum-based counterpartboth made from polyethylenethe key difference lies in the feedstock: sugarcane. The sugarcane plant yields significantly more per acre and produces 9.5 units of renewable energy for every unit of material, compared to just 1.4 units from corn. Even more impressively, sugarcane does not require genetic modification, and in Brazilthe worlds leading producerit is cultivated on only about 1% of the countrys arable land, meaning it doesnt compete with food crops or contribute significantly to deforestation. While many biobased materials are already on the market, a wide array of new solutions are still in the experimental phase, signaling even greater potential on the horizon. Researchers are exploring everything from synthetic spider silk, with its incredible strength and flexibility, to self-healing concrete designed to increase infrastructure lifespan and reduce maintenance emissions. In particular, synthetic spider silk is gaining attention as a potential replacement for environmentally damaging plastic fibers in construction. Yet, amidst the progress, concerns about greenwashing persist. Fortunately, third-party certifications such as the USDA Certified Biobased Product Label help cut through the noise, ensuring material origins are verified and measurable. LOOKING AHEAD: INNOVATION AND OPPORTUNITY As the biobased sector matures, technology is redefining its possibilities. Advanced biorefinery processes and synthetic biology are giving rise to new materials and offering petroleum-free alternatives for commercial interiors. Equally important is the integration of carbon capture and utilization, turning waste emissions into viable material inputs. The path forward also relies on scalable production, improved supply chain resilience, and continued transparency. Emerging technologiessuch as genetic editing, bioprinting, and AI-driven process optimizationare laying the groundwork for a dynamic, circular, and responsive system of biobased manufacturing. A CALL TO ACTION Biobased products present a powerful opportunity to rethink the materials we rely on every day, but success depends on more than technological innovation. Governments must continue investing in supportive legislation and incentives. Industries must demand transparency and take full stock of environmental, human health, and social equity impacts. Consumers, empowered with information, ust look beyond labels and ask: Whats the true cost? By replacing environmentally damaging materials with renewable, sustainable alternatives and by prioritizing certifications, transparency, and lifecycle impact, we can build a world where sustainability isnt just a trendbut the default. The future of biobased products is not only promisingits essential. Gordon Boggis is CEO of Carnegie.
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E-Commerce
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