Microsoft Develops A Mood Measuring Smart Bra That Prevent Over Eatin

A bra is part of any woman’s wardrobe, and one of the most essential under garments. But  what could be better than getting more than physical support from it? I say stress management courtesy of that little garment.

Apparently scientists have now come up with a bra believed to read the wearer’s moods and prevent over eating as a result of stress. According to BBC, Microsoft researchers have designed a smart bra that can detect stress. The prototype contains removable sensors that monitor heart and skin activity to provide an indication of mood levels.

The aim of t his project was to find out if wearable technology could help prevent stress-related over-eating. Mood data was provided to the wearer via a smartphone app in order to highlight when “emotional eating” was likely to occur.

Not to say they forgot about the men, only that theirs did not work as well. A similar underwear had been invented but was not as effective and it is believed this was because the sensors were located away from the heart. As if that is not technology enough, Last month saw the release of a Twitter-connected bra, that tweeted every time it was unhooked to encourage women to self-examine their breasts.

Well, I hope the smart bra works for all those emotional eaters!

NSSF ACT 2013: What You Need to Know

NSSF ACT 2013
The NSSF Bill 2013 was passed by the National Assembly on 4th December 2013 and received presidential assent on 24th December 2013 repealed the NSSF Act (Cap 258) and replaced it with the NSSF Act 2013. In this regard from the commencement date of the NSSF Act 2013 the previous amount of Kshs 400 per employee under the NSSF ACT no longer applies.

The highlights of the NSSF Act 2013 include:
1. Convert the existing NSSF from a provident fund to a pension scheme.
2. Mandatory contributions are a total of 12% of a person’s earnings divided as follows:
a. Employer contributions of 6%
b. Employee contributions of 6%
2. Contributions into the scheme are divided into two categories
a. Tier I contributions : All is remitted to NSSF
b. Tier II contributions: Goes to NSSF or to a registered private pension scheme of which the employee is a VALID member by the commencement date.
3. Both Tier I and Tier II contributions are mandatory.
4. All pension contributions are tax deductible contributions.
5. All employers with one employee or more are required to register with the NSSF and remit contributions every month.
6. Any employer who fails to deduct and remit contributions to the NSSF, neglects or refuses to register with NSSF commits an offence and shall be liable to a fine  of  Kshs 300,000/-.
7.  Access to public services for all employers shall be subject to registration with the Fund (NSSF).

Tips On How To Be More Professional At Work

Professionalism in the office is imperative especially if you want to go climb the ladders at your workplace. It creates a preferred image of yourself and can rub off on other employees too. So just what do you need to work on so you can appear more professional at work? Below are some of my biggest and most recommended tips on being more professional at work.

1. Maintain a professional attitude. Being professional at work is not just about arriving on time and dressing appropriately. It’s also about how you act, the things you say and actions you take that define how professional you seem at the office. You can act however you like outside the office, but to remain professional at work, it’s a good idea to keep a professional attitude.

This means what you think about and what you say should be considerate of your work environment. Try to refrain from offensive jokes and stories about drinking and partying on the weekend. Keep your focus on work while you’re there, and you’ll be perceived as being more professional.

2. Separate your personal time and work time.  Everybody has things to do outside work and it is important to have that as part of keeping a healthy work and life balance. You should however limit as much as possible the impact your personal life has in the workplace. Step away from your desk if you need to make or answer a call, filter your words at work and try not to waste company time and resources.

3. Write professional emails. Everybody uses email as part of our jobs. Write professional emails by ensuring  the standards of writing emails are met. You can also add an email signature at the bottom of your email. It’s an effective form of communication if written correctly. Funny quotes, images, links to other sites or advice aren’t really necessary and should be avoided.

4. Get to work on time. Most offices have the required minimum time to get to work. Get to work before time, add in half an hour or one hour after work hours. This depicts a professional and passionate image of yourself about your work and shows you are not working by he clock but willing to improve on your job.

Image: Cartoons by Manjul