laserglow technologies is an optoelectronics company headquartered in toronto , ontario , canada , specializing in the sale of lasers , particularly dpss and collimated diode lasers .

the company markets laser systems and components ( including laser pointers , portable lasers , and laboratory/oem lasers ) , laser alignment products , optics , and laser accessories , which are used in industry , education and scientific research .

the legal entity is called urltoken ltd. , whereas elsewhere the company always refers to itself as laserglow technologies or simply laserglow .

laserglow technologies

laserglow technologies lyra - c5 lyra - c5 green laser pointer 4 . 5 - 5 . 0mw
see all details for laserglow technologies hercules - 300 hercules - 300 handheld green laser . . .
laserglow technologies aims to provide the highest quality photonics products backed by the best customer service in the industry .
buy laserglow technologies lyra - c5 lyra - c5 green laser pointer 4 . 5 - 5 . 0mw in cheap price on urltoken
bringing solutions to light ™ laserglow technologies provides the highest quality photonics products backed by the best customer service in the industry . our products have helped professionals from a wide . . .
aunion tech ( china ) and lvi technologies ( korea ) will complement greenteg’s existing distribution network for the gray laser power detector product line in asia . aunion tech as well as lvi technologies . . .
it personnel at laserglow technologies ensure that staff have access to top of the line computing and electronic equipment , while minimizing waste , by stocking workstations with computers and devices that are easily upgradable .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ justin hosaki vice president of sales and operations laserglow technologies urltoken jhosaki @ urltoken 416 . 729 . 7976
an overview of laserglow ' s brightline series of industrial alignment lasers . visit urltoken for more information .
below is a complete listing of all lab and oem laser systems currently offered by laserglow technologies . please select the type of laser you are interested in and then click on the wavelength . each wavelength is available in multiple options for output power .
all products are rigorously tested before shipping to our customers . if item arrives doa , customer must contact laserglow immediately , either by telephone or through email , in order to receive the correct instructions as to how to proceed . if item is deemed defective by laserglow , laserglow will repair or replace the item at no charge to the customer . customer is responsible for the costs of shipping the defective product back to laserglow . laserglow will cover shipping costs of returning the repaired product back to the customer by a standard surface shipping method , or equivalent level of service .
at laserglow technologies we strive to be a socially responsible corporate citizen . we value our place in our local community , strive to protect the environment for current and future generations , and honor our ties to the global village . laserglows team is involved at all levels with programs to minimize our impact on the environment and to maximize the potential of communities both near and far .
at laserglow technologies we strive to protect the environment for current and future generations . we consider the three rs ( reduce , reuse and recycle ) as key factors in every decision we make regarding our operations . just some of our environmental initiatives include the following :
in 2003 , laserglow technologies began as a supplier of laser equipment to the academic community . demand for laserglow’s products and services quickly grew to encompass research and industrial applications , leading to incorporation in 2005 . since then , we have developed solutions for thousands of customers in different industries , and become a partner in research for most of the leading universities and research centers around the world .
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at laserglow technologies we strive to be a socially responsible corporate citizen . we value our place in our local community , strive to protect the environment for current and future generations , and honor our ties to the global village . laserglows team is involved at all levels with programs to minimize our impact on the environment and to maximize the potential of communities both near and far . please visit our social responsibility page
items returned to laserglow as warranty issues , which upon inspection and upon sole discretion of laserglow technicians are deemed not to have any defect , will incur a diagnosis fee of $ 119 per item . shipping both ways will be on the customers account .
the r58100xsx from laserglow technologies is a laser with wavelength 588 . 6 nm , output power ( cw ) 100 mw , power 100 mw , operating temperature 10 to 35 degree c , storage temperature - 10 to 50 degree c . more details for r58100xsx can be seen below .
kiva ' s mission is to connect people , through lending , for the sake of alleviating poverty . kiva empowers individuals to lend to an entrepreneur across the globe . by combining microfinance with the internet , kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending . visit our laserglow technologies team page here :
2 . laserglow has taken steps to insure that most customers are not charged brokerage fees by ups , as these can be anywhere from $ 24 . 25 to over $ 200 . this is something laserglow is not required to do but has done at own expense to ensure a better customer experience .
if item has been tampered with in any way , or if there are any components , paperwork , or accessories missing or damaged , laserglow may not issue a refund , and the item will be sent back to the purchaser at his / her expense . laserglow reserves the right to hold any returned product for testing for up to four ( 4 ) weeks if an inspection is deemed necessary by laserglow before making a decision as to whether or not the item qualifies for a refund .
laserglow technologies aries - 175 aries - 175 portable green laser > 175mw the necessary use of a mini transportable spy camera if you are in doubt with the basic safety of your households and offices , you ought to use a mini transportable spy digicam . you can area it everywhere at your household . when you will need to travel all through weekends you will be saved from the difficulty of wondering back again household for the device is currently placed in there to history any gatherings . laserglow technologies aries - 175 aries - 175 portable green laser > 175mw amazing portable mini dvd players if you want to enjoy hollywood enjoyment anyplace then acquire a portable mini dvd participant . it is a light - weight electrical unit you can carry on an plane , in a ship or if you want to go camping in a distant spot like in a forest . the pgpv500evo contact display moveable dvr – a investigators new ideal good friend the brand new pgv500evo contact monitor moveable dvr is the most popular and newest instrument in a personal investigators resource bag . some could be familiar with the current pv500 that expected the use of a distant handle to review the covert online video that was acquired . not only is it now contact screen operated but the new improved pv500 is loaded with other extras . laserglow technologies aries - 175 aries - 175 portable green laser > 175mw
this video features my biggest , baddest and most expensive laser : the laserglow hercules - 400 . it delivers over 400 mw in average af 532 nm green photons ( peak 489 , 6 mw ) .
conditioned taste aversion ( cta ) may be broadly defined as a condition in which an individual develops a distaste for a newly introduced food substance . previous studies have failed to accurately identify the specific group of neurons responsible for cta . recently , researchers at the university of washington have not only identified the neuronal populations responsible for inducing cta , but have also shown that optogenetic activation of these neurons is necessary and sufficient to induce cta in mice . laserglow technologies lrs 473nm laser was used as an excitation source .
tested three times in five minute durations using two separate photon measuring devices , the hercules 500 outputted 1w peak and 940 mw ( + / - 20 mw ) average of brilliant green ( 532 nm ) laser light . made by laserglow technologies of ontario , canada , the class iv handheld battery - powered device features five independent safety devices to make it legal to use around the world . long - range applications include construction and antenna alignment , but over short distances the laser is capable of starting fires .
laserglow technologies provides the highest quality photonics products backed by the best customer service in the industry . our products have helped professionals from a wide range of backgrounds - engineers in machine vision , alignment and manufacturing , to scientists in fields like optogenetics , microscopy , spectroscopy and cellular biology . our unique advantage in the photonics marketplace is our ability to offer competitive prices while providing custom - tailored solutions . meeting customers’ needs for more than ten years within the optoelectronics industry , we have the experience necessary to offer the best products for a wide variety of applications .
when possible , our lasers are shipped in reusable cases that are matched in size to our packaging . this best protects the items during delivery , allows our customers to store their laserglow products safely , and minimizes the amount of packaging necessary in shipping .
a laserglow exclusive product ! your choice of 18k gold or pure platinum plating gives this green laser pointer a touch of elegance . perfect for business or academic presentations where your appearance matters most . makes a great gift for anybody who gives presentations or lectures !
all sales are final with the exception of all portable battery - powered lasers . all portable lasers ( except those that were engraved ) can be returned within seven ( 7 ) days of receiving the product for a full refund , minus the shipping costs and a 20 % restocking fee . in the case that the actual cost of shipping incurred by laserglow is higher than that shown on the sales receipt , including in the case of free shipping , the actual shipping costs incurred by laserglow will be deducted from the refund amount .
with over 80 wavelengths to choose from , you’re sure to find the ideal laser for your application . call now to speak to one of our laser experts , and find out why researchers at harvard , stanford , and mit are choosing laserglow for their light source solutions .
laserglow ' s lrs - 473 labspec laser was recently used as an illumination source in a research conducted by a team at the douglas mental health university institute , mcgill university , quebec , canada to investigate the role of septal glutamatergic neurons in theta rhythm generation in the hippocampus .
for a more detailed explanation and to receive an rma ( return merchandise authorization ) form , please contact laserglow either by telephone or through email before preparing your product to be returned . any products that are shipped back without an rma # will be refused by our returns department and returned to sender .
foodshare toronto is a non - profit community organization whose vision is good healthy food for all . it is canadas largest community food security organization , recognized as an important innovator of effective programs that have been reproduced all across canada . foodshare reaches over 145 , 000 children and adults a month through subsidized fresh produce distribution , student nutrition programs , community gardening and cooking , classroom curriculum support , home made baby food workshops and youth internships . the laserglow technologies team has been supporting foodshare by participating in its good food box program and by purchasing healthy and delicious event catering services . our team members have also volunteered their time and have contributed their expertise to the board of directors .
laserglow understands that researchers ' needs are changing ; and we are committed to offer the best value to our customers . we are continually expanding our product offering to provide more options , and to ensure that the solutions we develop meet your high standards . call us today to talk about how we may assist you in your project .
product integration is another key area of innovation for both instrumentation experts and laser technologists . during r & d ; and product development , at a very minimum instrument developers need smart lasers with plug - and - play simplicity . but they also often need off - the - shelf modular solutions to enable fiber delivery ( both single - and multimode ) , plug - and - play combining of multiple wavelengths , and beam shaping using refractive and diffractive optics . and in some cases , they require an engine in which the coherence of the laser is eliminated in order to avoid speckle and ensure uniform stable illumination . at laserglow technologies , we continue our support of this field by offering a wide range of lasers for both proprietary photonics integration and standard illumination requirements .
the purchaser is responsible for shipping costs of receiving the item from laserglow and returning the item to our facility . the seven ( 7 ) days are calculated according to tracking information and effective from the time that the product arrives at the purchaser ' s location to the time that the item is scanned by the courier to be sent back to our location .
researchers at uc berkeley have published a multidisciplinary study that aims to identify the different classes of chemosensory neurons that detect sex - specific pheromones and are responsible for courtship decisions . the study was performed in drosophila ( a genus of fruit flies ) and combined aspects of anatomy , calcium imaging , optogenetics and behavioral studies . laserglow ' s 635nm labspec laser was used as an excitation source .
laserglow technogies new and improved lyra is a perfect choice for classroom presentations and safe home laser experimentation - the new chrome appearance is not the only difference - the laser technology inside has been improved to provide better power stability and a brighter green beam in a power range of 4 - 5 - 5 - 0mw - sku : las004 sku : las004 > shipping weight ( in pounds ) : 48 . 96
the canadian red cross mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity in canada and around the world . the international red cross and red crescent movement , born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield , endeavours , in its international and national capacity , to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found . its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure respect for the human being . it promotes mutual understanding , friendship , co - operation and lasting peace amongst all peoples . the international red cross and red crescent movement , in which all societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other , is world - wide . laserglow technologies has been contributing to the red cross since 2005 . funds were directed to many urgent causes , including the tsunami disaster of 2004 and the floods in pakistan in 2010 .
the stephen lewis foundation ( slf ) supports community - based organizations that are turning the tide of hiv / aids in africa . they provide care to women who are ill and struggling to survive ; assist orphans and other aids affected children ; reach heroic grandmothers who almost single - handedly care for their orphan grandchildren ; and sustain associations of people living with hiv and aids . since 2003 , slf has supported hundreds of community - level initiatives in 15 countries . stephen lewis work with the united nations has spanned more than two decades . he was the un secretary - general kofi annans special envoy for hiv / aids in africa from june 2001 until the end of 2006 . from 1995 to 1999 , mr . lewis was deputy executive director of unicef at the organizations global headquarters in new york . from 1984 through 1988 , stephen lewis was canadas ambassador to the united nations . laserglow technologies has been contributing to the stephen lewis foundation since 2007 .
the x10dr with adjustable - focus is a 10x beam expander that can be mounted on the beam path of laserglow ' s lab lasers . effectively reducing the divergence of these lasers by a factor of 10 the x10dr eliminates the limitations of lasers with standard divergence in applications requiring extended working distances . the adjustable focus feature allows for maximum versatility while the three high quality ar coated lenses transmit up to 98 % of the laser ' s output power .
there are several dna sequencing methods and technologies . the chain - termination method developed by frederick sanger and coworkers in 1977 became the method of choice for many years , owing to its relative ease and reliability . this was the method used in the first generation of dna sequencers . since then , great advances were made in the technique , such as fluorescent labelling , capillary electrophoresis , and general automation . these developments allowed much more efficient sequencing , leading to lower costs . the sanger method , in mass production form , is the technology which produced the first human genome in 2001 , ushering in the age of genomics .
golf faces challenges and opportunities that are vital to its long - term health . see what the usga is doing to ensure a strong future for the game .
the usga promotes and conserves the true spirit of the game of golf as embodied in its ancient and honorable traditions . it acts in the best interests of the game for the continued enjoyment of those who love and play it .
become a usga member and join a community of engaged golfers who experience the satisfaction of supporting the game . usga members enjoy access to exclusive benefits , content , offers and more .
each region is staffed by usga agronomists who work with golf course superintendents and course officials on care of the golf course . the usga regional updates provide periodic reports from the agronomists , outlining current issues and observations from the field .
regional updates from connecticut , delaware , maine , maryland , massachusetts , new hampshire , new jersey , new york , pennsylvania , rhode island , vermont , virginia and west virginia .
regional updates from alabama , arkansas , florida , georgia , louisiana , mississippi , north carolina , south carolina and tennessee .
regional updates from illinois , indiana , iowa , kansas , kentucky , michigan , minnesota , missouri , nebraska , ohio , oklahoma , texas and wisconsin .
regional updates from alaska , arizona , california , colorado , hawaii , idaho , montana , nevada , new mexico , north dakota , oregon , south dakota , utah , washington and wyoming .
in collaboration with the optogenetics research community , we ' ve put together this hardware kit designed specifically for new and expanding optogenetics labs .
the kit includes all of the optics and accessories you need to attach the laser to your subject . all components have been specially selected to work together , to eliminate compatibility issues and let you move forward with confidence .
to stay up - to - date with new product announcements , sales , and special promotions .
please note that our office is not a retail location , so we cannot assist you without an appointment .
in order to minimize our impact on the environment and to support fair - trade practices such as equitable wages and working conditions , we purchase office products , including coffee , milk , sugar and catered items , that are fair - trade and organic certified .
our offices are cleaned using natural products only , from such companies as nature clean . all nature clean products are non - toxic and biodegradable and are created from naturally derived ingredients . as nature clean products are manufactured and packaged locally in canada , less fuel is consumed in their transport to our offices .
the main areas of our offices are lit using energy efficient compact fluorescent lighting . all thermostats are programmable , heating spaces only when needed .
from a great suggestion from one of our team members , the community cardboard recycling program was born . instead of disposing of all of the cardboard that we receive in incoming shipments , large boxes in reusable condition are offered to the public . individuals , such as those needing boxes for moving day , are able to pick them up from our shipping department . its a great way to give cardboard boxes another use .
whenever possible , shipping material received in incoming shipments is shuttled back and reused in outgoing packaging . this reduces the need to purchase new materials .
all of our office desks have a recycling blue bin as do our kitchen areas . we use only 100 % recycled fiber copy paper , bathroom tissue and paper towel .
the most powerful handheld laser outputs a peak power of 5 . 1 w and a sustained 4 . 2 w , achieved by daniel black , in collaboration with leslie laycock and mohammed akhmad ( all uk ) , as measured at bae systems applied intelligence laboratories , in chelmsford , uk , on 20 april 2016 .
the laser ' s wavelength is 445 nm . daniel was also holds records for the most balloons burst by a laser in one minute , and the l argest laser cutting machine .
all records listed on our website are current and up - to - date . for a full list of record titles , please use our record application search . ( you will be need to register / login for access )
we use cookies on this website . by using this site , you agree that we may store and access cookies on your device .
to know which beam expander is right for your application , please give us a call .
click on ' more info ' tab to see a visual representation of this product in use .
you can save $ 100 on the purchase of any x10dr by bundling it with an aries or hercules series laser . please see the aries and hercules product pages for more details . note : actual laser and tripod are shown for illustration purposes , and are sold separately .
please enter your email address in the appropriate box above and you will be redirected to the correct department . inquiries submitted by this method will be answered within 1 - 2 business days .
our office is not a retail location . please call + 1 - 416 - 729 - 7976 to make an appointment before visiting , to ensure that somebody will be available to meet with you .
government canada has released new usage warnings for handheld laser pointers . please see the link below for more information
laser pointers are great tools for business presentations , academic lectures , speaking engagements , astronomy , star - pointing , etc .
green laser pointers are 5 to 20 times brighter than traditional red laser pointers , so visibility is much better on projection screens , hdtvs , etc .
exotic laser pointer colors like blue , violet , and yellow draw more attention to your presentation .
high - powered portable lasers : battery powered lasers for use where ac power is unavailable or inconvenient .
high - powered lasers can generate heat at close range . extreme caution is to be exercised while employing these lasers .
new ! our most economical red laser pointer . with a 635 nm wavelength the libra is approximately 2 times brighter than most other red pointers
our most economical green laser pointer ! very bright , long range , high quality . works on hdtv and projector screens and can even be used for astronomy / star - pointing ! all - black housing with quality carrying case .
our most popular green and red pointers in one package . each pointer comes in its own case , batteries included . this combo - pack makes an ideal gift for the laser pointer enthusiast , student , and those new to the fascinating world of laser pointers .
green laser pointers in several housing options including the lyra classic black / gold glossy , lyra - c sleek chrome , and lyra - g sleek chrome with gold accents . popular with business professionals , medical professionals and educators .
click - on , click - off switch laser pointer , ideal for continuous hands - free operation such as star - pointing in astronomy presentations .
new ! 635 nm red laser pointer . the brightest in it ' s class . click - on , click - off switch allows hands - free operation and easy use when continuous operation is required .
the constant - on / off feature and 100 % duty cycle of these two lasers has made them our flagship pointers . now available as a set , each pointer comes in its own case and batteries included . this combo - pack makes an ideal gift for the laser pointer enthusiast , student , and budding astronomer .
galileo with adjustable beam alignment . specialized for free standing alignment for rotating applications . adjustable set screws to direct beam parallel to housing ( due to the many optical components inherent to a laser pointer , beams in most hand held laser pointers are not normally parallel to the housing ) .
causes fluorescence effects in certain materials , shortest wavelength available in a laser pointer .
cutting - edge diode laser technology is what makes this blue laser pointer both unique and affordable .
the most sought - after blue laser pointer in the world , with blue laser light being the most technologically complicated to produce .
high - powered portable lasers ( battery powered lasers for use where ac power is unavailable or inconvenient . )
our most popular high - powered portable laser . commercial uses include astronomy , bird abatement , signaling , scientific field work . beam is visible for kilometers , runs on standard c - size batteries . the best high - powered portable green laser available anywhere !
world ' s most powerful portable laser in the visible spectrum . true 100 % duty cycle . our most visible green portable laser with the longest possible range .
causes fluorescence effects in certain materials , shortest wavelength available in a portable laser .
affordable high power blue portable lasers are now a reality thanks to major advancements in blue laser diode technology .
this high - powered blue dpss laser offers high visibility in a wavelength usually reserved for expensive laboratory lasers .
high power ir laser with an invisible beam . raw power for thermal experiments and frequency - doubling experiments .
most powerful near - ir diode laser in the world with an invisible beam . raw power for thermal experiments , nightvision illumination , dpss laser pumping , and experimentation .
modular optics kits - external modulators , variable attenuators , free - space fiber launch systems , breadboard mounting hardware .
optogenetics starter kit : a complete optogenetics light delivery system , perfect for new or expanding optogenetics labs .
diffractive optical elements are available in a variety of patterns including lines , crosses , parallel lines , circles , reticles , and grids .
custom engraving on any laser pointer - get customized high - resolution laser - etched text on your new laser pointer . great for gifts !
ac power adapter for hercules , scorpius pro and scorpius - d pro - power your portable laser with household current .
2 . the product will be displayed in your shopping cart . at all times , while using our website , you will see a summary of the total number of items in your cart and the sub - total amount .
credit card : we accept payment through visa and mastercard credit cards . customers who use american express are requested to contact sales @ urltoken in order to process their transaction .
check or money order : we accept payment by us and canadian bank check or money order . please note : there is a 15 business day hold on us checks and money orders and a 5 business day hold on canadian checks and money orders .
postal money order : we accept payment by international us postal money order and canadian postal money order . postal money orders can be obtained from your local post office . there is no hold when using this method of payment .
we do not accept walk in business , please call 416 - 729 - 7976 to make an appointment .
purchase orders : we welcome purchase orders from us and canadian public & private universities , governmental agencies , financial institutions , hospitals , research laboratories , government organizations , astronomy organizations , and other established companies . please fax po ' s to 1 - 480 - 247 - 4864 .
wire transfer payments : please contact us via email or over the telephone for our bank account details .
* * please note we do not accept eft / ach payments from financial institutions outside canada .
* if you prefer not to place your order online , please feel free to call us at 1 - 416 - 729 - 7976 monday to friday 9 : 00 am to 5 : 00 pm eastern standard time and our staff can process your order over the telephone . if you would like to fax or mail your order to us , please place your order in our system , when you checkout , select payment by mail .
you may change your order at anytime while you are shopping . click ' view cart ' located in the top right of the screen . this will display your shopping cart . you may remove item ( s ) or change the quantity of item ( s ) in your shopping cart . select ' update ' once you have made a change to recalculate the sub - total .
if you have already checked out ( completed your order ) , then please contact us as soon as possible . in the case of our portable units , we can change your order if it has not yet been shipped . with our laser modules and alignment lasers , it may depend on whether there is custom work involved that has already begun . please contact us for more information .
all of our products are shipped directly from our facilities in toronto , canada .
1 . all international shipments ( those outside canada ) may be subject to taxes / duties / government fees levied by their respective governments .
a . customers in the usa importing product valued at $ 200 usd or greater may * be subject to the following charges , and may change without notice by u . s . customs :
iii . if a laser is included in the shipment , the us fda may charge $ 20 . 75 for an inspection fee
iv . if any of the above charges are levied ups will charge a bond fee of 2 % of the total charges ( minimum $ 5 . 50 )
b . if these charges are levied the shipment usually arrives with a c . o . d . attached . the customer is required to pay the amount of the c . o . d . upon delivery using cash or a credit card .
3 . if it is easier for you to pay these fees in advance , rather than paying them as a cod at the time of delivery , we can estimate the amount and add them to your quote . please inform your sales rep if this is the case .
* not all shipments incur these charges . as far as we can tell this happens on a random basis .
free domicile
is a widely used pricing term to describe when the shipper pays all the applicable duties and all the transportation and other charges until delivered to the buyer ' s premises . the term is also referred as
ddp - delivered duty paid
usa customers only , have the option of prepaying the duties and taxes by selecting free domicile on their orders over $ 200 usd . this ensures that the order will arrive without the need of any additional fees and / or paperwork .
* order shipping within canada to po boxes , the territories , newfoundland and remote areas may be shipped by canada post .
* * orders are shipped and picked up by canada post and are transferred to usps for delivery into the usa .
shipping rates vary for each product depending on the size , weight , destination and type of service selected . our shopping cart can calculate shipping on any of our products for any destination . to obtain a shipping quote on a selected product , simply click the add to cart button for the product you are interested in and enter your shipping address .
if the item is indicated as in stock on the website , then all orders that are received before 11 : 00 am est will ship out the same day . orders received after 11 : 00 am est will be shipped out the following business day unless you have called or emailed us to make arrangements .
our shopping cart will calculate an estimated time of delivery for all of our shipping options to your destination . once your order is placed , you can login to view the status of your order and an estimated time for delivery .
if the item is not in stock , our website will usually specify how long the product will take to ship . once your order is placed , you can login to view the status of your order and an estimated time for delivery . once the product has completed production and testing , we will ship your order on the following business day .
some items are in - stock , and others need to be built per - order . if an item is not in stock , lead time is usually 2 - 4 weeks , however some items require a lead time of 6 - 8 weeks .
once your order is processed , you will receive an email confirmation letting you know when each item was shipped , how it was sent , when you should expect it to arrive , and a tracking number ( if applicable ) . you will receive a separate confirmation for each package that is sent .
using your email address and your password , you can login to check on the status of your order . our system will provide you with an estimated time for delivery , along with a tracking number if applicable to the service you selected . you should also receive an email with this information as well . if your product does not arrive within the specified period of time stated in the email or on our website please contact us and we will investigate the matter for you . if your product has been sent without tracking confirmation , please wait until the estimated date of arrival before contacting us . if the product has not arrived at your door within a reasonable amount of time , we will be happy to re - send your product at no additional cost to you .
please email us at sales @ urltoken and we will take care of the problem as soon as possible . alternatively , you can also call us at ( 416 ) 729 - 7976 monday to friday 9 : 00 am to 5 : 00 pm eastern standard time to speak to one of our staff members , or if outside of these hours , to leave a message on our answering service which will be promptly returned the next business day .
please contact us first if you decide you would like to return your product . if you have decided to return your product within the 7 day timeframe , we will send you a return authorization form with instructions on how to send your product . we will issue you an rma # at this time . any products sent back to our facility without an rma # will be refused by our returns department .
our warranty is six months on all portable lasers , laser pointers , and alignment lasers , and 1 year on all laboratory laser modules . some models also offer an extended warranty as an optional upgrade . see the product pages or contact us for details .
our laser pointers , brightline alignment lasers , and laboratory lasers are all 100 % legal in the usa . fda regulations prohibit high - powered portable lasers in the us , so these are not available for shipping to customers located in the usa . for more information please see
compressed air is a product usually used for cleaning the inside of computers . it is usually sold in an aluminum can , such as the brand dust off . this product can be used safely to clean your lens . direct the compressed air at the lens from a safe distance . be careful not to invert the can in such a way as to release the liquid contents of the can onto any part of the laser as this liquid may leave a residue which can damage the laser optics or other components .
if compressed air is not sufficient to clean your lens you may use a micro - fiber cloth such as the kind used for cleaning eye glasses . gently sweep the cloth across the lens in a unidirectional motion . a very small amount of alcohol may be used to aid in dislodging dirt off of the lens .
if attempting to clean the lens of our aries - style housed laser products , the aperture may be removed to assist in cleaning . however , please note : the responsibility of safely removing and reattaching the aperture is yours  if you are not certain that you can complete this procedure without damaging the unit , please do not attempt it .
in order to remove the aperture locate the three tiny screws on the side of the heat sink near the aperture . these can be removed using a small screwdriver such as those used for eye glasses . once the screws are removed , gently wiggle the aperture from side to side in order to loosen and remove it . inside the aperture there may be three very small pieces of plastic  do not misplace these  as these are used as cushions between the aperture shutter body and the screws  you will need to put them back into place when you are finished cleaning the lens . after you have finished cleaning the lens in order to reattach the aperture shutter assembly look on the reverse side of the aperture shutter assembly and locate the actuator arm with a hole in it . align the aperture shutter assembly with the body of the laser in such a way as to align the pin which is protruding from the heat sink with the above noted hole in the actuator arm . place these together and while keeping the aperture shutter assembly flush with the laser rotate the aperture shutter ring from side to side as in normal operation to ensure that the shutter opens and closes . while keeping the aperture shutter firmly on the body of the laser hold the laser horizontally with one of the small holes facing up  insert one of the small plastic pieces mentioned above and follow it with one of the screws . rotate the screw clockwise until you feel resistance . follow the same steps for the rest of the holes / plastic pieces / screws . gently push and pull the aperture shutter assembly to assure that it is securely in place . if it separates from the body of the laser then correct this by tightening the corresponding screw . be sure to not over - tighten as this will prevent free rotation of the aperture shutter .
our comprehensive product selection features solid state laser modules ( dpss and diode lasers ) in over 100 different wavelengths , lasers for scientific research , industrial alignment and sensing , and presentation pointers . we offer complete solutions stocked and ready to ship overnight , as well as highly customized systems made to order .
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born in the year 965 in basra ( middle - east ) , ibn - al - haytham was one of the earliest scientists to study the characteristics of light and the mechanism of vision . his methods focused on investigation and seeking proof of his theories by way of experimentation . in that respect , he is often credited with laying the foundation of modern - day scientific method . his pioneering work kitab - al - manazir - popularly known as the book of optics , influenced many medieval and european renaissance thinkers like roger bacon , rené descartes and christian huygens , who knew him as alhazen . the crater alhazen on the moon is named in his honor , as is the asteroid 59239 alhazen .
from the study of optics over 1000 years ago , to discoveries in optical communication that power the internet today , iyl 2015 will celebrate many major scientific anniversaries that have been crucial to shaping modern life . iyl 2015 however , is not only about science , as advancements in art , culture , history and education are also the focus of many events . a complete listing of global events may be found at iyl global events
what the un and affiliated event organizers hope to achieve with this initiative is deeper collaboration among international bodies in advancing photonics sciences , and projects for sustainable economic development in all parts of the world . the campaign encourages participation from students , researchers , professionals and organizations alike by providing easy - access event submissions at no cost .
a wide array of educational resources are freely available on the event website and blog , aimed at creating a deeper understanding of light and optics in everyday life , medicine , technology and the global economy . laser based innovations and contributions of scientists in advancing laser science has particularly been highlighted . read more at : iyl 2015 lasers
the researchers built upon previous studies that show that a certain section of the brain called parabrachial nucleus ( pbn ) has neurons responsible for taste , appetite suppression and cta . in a previous experiment , they demonstrated that calcitonin gene - related peptide ( cgrp ) neurons in the pbn are responsible for inducing appetite suppression , and inhibiting them reduced the effects of any external appetite suppressant ( for example , lithium chloride ) . moreover , electrolytic lesions of the external lateral section of pbn ( pbel ) caused a reduction in the symptoms of cta . this meant that neurons responsible for cta are present in the pbel section . using this hypothesis , the research demonstrated that optogenetically induced neural activity in the pbel - cgrp neurons is necessary and sufficient to develop cta .
the team believes that by use of optogenetics , it might be possible to suppress or reduce cta symptoms when neural activity in the region is inhibited . these findings have tremendous potential for further studies in the areas of eating disorders and nutrition .
the research was first published in the journal of neuroscience on march 18 , 2015 . to learn more about how the researchers proved their hypothesis and identified the neurons , go to : journal of neuroscience - march article
the development of a new retina imaging laser eyewear in japan is poised to take the low - vision care industry by storm in 2017 . in a prototype developed in collaboration with the institute for nano quantum information electronics at the university of tokyo , qd laser inc . has demonstrated the first smart device that could prove to be a viable alternative to laser eye surgery .
the device consists of a camera module in the center of the frame that captures the external image , and uses rgb semiconductor laser light reflected on a mems mirror to project a digital image directly onto the retina . this enables wide viewing , high brightness , focus - free vision - which means people with low or poor eyesight will see the image as sharply as those with normal eyesight .
the low - power consumption , small size and wide - area viewing are some characteristics the company believes are selling points over currently available liquid crystal display ( lcd ) enabled eyewear .
the device is being developed further for applications in the industrial machine vision market by end of 2015 , and as a wireless smart device for consumers by 2017 . read more at : qd laser inc press release
dna sequencing is the process of determining the precise order of nucleotides within a dna molecule . it includes any method or technology that is used to determine the order of the four basesadenine , guanine , cytosine , and thyminein a strand of dna . the advent of rapid dna sequencing methods has greatly accelerated biological and medical research and discovery .
knowledge of dna sequences has become indispensable for basic biological research , and in numerous applied fields such as medical diagnosis , biotechnology , forensic biology , virology and biological systematics . the rapid speed of sequencing attained with modern dna sequencing technology has been instrumental in the sequencing of complete dna sequences , or genomes of numerous types and species of life , including the human genome and other complete dna sequences of many animal , plant , and microbial species .
dna sequencing methods currently under development include reading the sequence as a dna strand transits through nano - pores , and microscopy - based techniques , such as atomic force microscopy or transmission electron microscopy that are used to identify the positions of individual nucleotides within long dna fragments . mass spectrometry may be used to determine dna sequences . matrix - assisted laser desorption ionization time - of - flight mass spectrometry , or maldi - tof ms , has specifically been investigated as an alternative method to gel electrophoresis for visualizing dna fragments . with this method , dna fragments generated by chain - termination sequencing reactions are compared by mass rather than by size . the mass of each nucleotide is different from the others and this difference is detectable by mass spectrometry .
dna sequencing based on laser - excited fluorescence is characterized by dramatic increases in throughput , reductions in cost , and diverse technological innovations . it is well proven and also the most versatile way of sampling wet chemistry and biochemistry in real time , with unmatched spatial resolution and high ( even single - molecule ) sensitivity . with advances in chemistry , nano - photonics , and microfluidics , there are many areas where innovation is key within laser technology .
the research team believes that their study and observations provide sufficient evidence to suggest that glutamatergic neurons may significantly participate in learning and memory . to learn more about the experimental setup , and for a detailed discussion of the results , go to : journal of neuroscience full paper
a group of researchers at university of central florida has produced the most efficient quantum cascade laser ever designed - and done it in a manner that makes the lasers easier to reproduce . quantum cascade lasers , or qcls , are smaller than a grain of rice , and compared to traditional lasers , qcls offer higher power output and can be tuned to a wide range of infrared wavelengths . they can also be used at room temperature without the need for cooling systems . but due to their size , they ' re extremely expensive to manufacture .


sesame credit is a social credit scoring system being developed by ant financial services group , an affiliate of the chinese alibaba group and associate of the chinese government .

it uses data from alibaba 's services to compile its score , which include two services that have been described as the equivalents of twitter and facebook in china and another service that has been described as the equivalent of amazon and ebay .

the score is used to rank citizens of china based on a variety of factors like loyalty to the chinese government and loyalty to chinese brands based on social media interactions and online purchases .

the rewards of having a high score include easier access to loans , easier access to jobs and priority during bureaucratic paperwork .

likewise , the immediate negative consequences for a low score , or being associated to someone with a low score , range from lower internet speeds to being denied access to job offers , loans and bureaucratic paperwork .

the system has been labeled a mass surveillance tool and mass disciplinary machine by organizations specialized in human rights .

baihe.com , a chinese matchmaking company , uses sesame credit data as part of its service .

sesame credit

sesame credit is china’s first system to incorporate online and offline data to generate credit scores .
sesame credit generates a social credit score for users based on
holistic
factors , such as credit history and social networks .
copyright © 2010 - 2018 credit sesame , inc . | all rights reserved .
sesame credit’s release in january followed a government directive last summer calling for the establishment of a “social credit system . ” the directive
sesame credit tracks
financial and consumption activities of our users , and materials published on social media platforms do not affect our users ' personal sesame credit score ,
explained spokeswoman miranda shek .
however , sesame credit will not divulge exactly how it calculates its credit scores , explaining that it is a
complex algorithm
.
users with a high sesame credit score can access privileges , such as a deposit waiver on bicycle rental services .
china has created a social tool named sesame credit which gives people a score for how good a citizen they are .
in her research , ahmed , who specializes in chinese internet policy , focused on alipay ' s use of sesame credit . both alipay and sesame credit are run by ant financial , which is one of eight companies approved by authorities for social credit experimentation in the private sector .
credit sesame believes access to personal credit information is a consumer ' s right . that ' s why we continuously provide you with both a free credit score and free credit monitoring . you also get personalized recommendations to help you save money on credit cards , mortgages , and loans .
sesame credit also maintained that user and data privacy remain of utmost importance to the company .
sesame credit only tracks consumption - related activities of users who have signed off to join ( the service ) ,
the company told cnbc in an email .
“report : her gate has opened for you . her sesame score is 655 . ”
every month , credit sesame automatically pulls your data and shows you your credit score for free . we also give you information about your credit cards and loans , so you can take control of your finances with ease .
sesame credit gives users a score based on five dimensions of information : personal information , payment ability , credit history , social networks and behaviors . some are more objective than others .
we repeatedly remind our customers that using sesame credit is voluntary ,
explains the matchmaking site ' s vice president , zhuan yirong .
in a trendy neighbourhood in downtown beijing , many were enthusiastic when asked about their sesame credit ratings , proudly displaying them on their mobile phones .
sesame has promoted the consumer benefits of a good credit score , from a prominent dating profile on the baihe matchmaking site to vip reservations with hotels and car rental companies . a mobile phone game designed by sesame credit encourages users to guess whether they have higher or lower credit scores than their friends , encouraging everyone to openly share their ratings .
at credit sesame , your privacy is important . not only do we use industry - standard encryption methods , our security practices are approved by verisign .
thanks for using credit sesame ! we update regularly to improve your experience in the app , and help you in the journey to a better financial future .
ant financial tells quartz that sesame credit is not a silly game , but the first system in china to incorporate online and offline data to generate credit scores . scores go up or down based on five categories :
umbers were popping up on my social media feeds as my friends and strangers on weibo and wechat began to share their 芝麻信用分 , or “sesame credit scores . ”
the rewards mechanism in the social credit system could also generate higher levels of consumption , ahmed said . while researching online reactions to sesame credit , she said she found plenty of buzz suggesting that users can increase their scores by spending more via alipay . online news platform quartz reported in 2015 that sesame credit did not take into account what users purchased , but the amount of purchases affected scores .
as extra credits explains on youtube :
if you post pictures of tiananmen square or share a link about the recent stock market collapse , your sesame credit goes down .
credit sesame ' s trending charts make it easy to see how you ' ve improved your financial picture . each month , you can track your loan payments , view your interest rates , check your credit score , review your credit ratios , and see what type of loans you qualify for .
while it’s true that the chinese government intends to create what it calls a “social credit system , ” sesame credit and its competitors ( of which there will soon be several ) have little to do with such plans—at least for now .
sesame credit , then , works more like a loyalty program than a credit rating system . but it is possible that as its user base ( 36 million people so far ) grows , the scope of its financial impact will extend .
that doesn’t mean you have a better sesame credit score versus [ someone in ] tibet . we don’t discriminate [ based on ] where you are from , ” she says .
using real - time analytics , credit sesame can help you monitor your credit and protect your finances . we review key financial indicators , and then inform you of changes in your credit score or home value . through your choice of real - time , daily , or weekly alerts , we also let you know when better credit card and loan options become available .
credit sesame wants you to know your options , so we ' ll show you offers based on your credit profile , your financial goals , and the current market conditions . choose what ' s best for your bottom line , and save on credit cards , home loans , auto loans , and more .
stay on top of your finances no matter where you are . your credit sesame account is accessible 24 / 7 on your desktop and through mobile apps on your iphone or android .
it is very convenient ,
one young woman smiled .
we booked a hotel last night using sesame credit and we didn ' t need to leave a cash deposit .
there has already been some evidence of chinese citizens competing with one another to get high scores , posting their sesame credit scores on weibo , the chinese equivalent of twitter , quartz reports .
we added some ideas for you to increase your credit limit and build a great foundation for the health of your credit score .
for now , it remains unclear how exactly scores are calculated because algorithms used by sesame credit are blackboxed . unlike alibaba , ant financial is not a public company and as a result , has not come under the same level of scrutiny , ahmed said . as such , information disclosed on sesame credit and the way it might be developed in the future has been relatively vague .
ant financial tells quartz that sesame credit operates independently from the government’s social credit system . that looks to be the case right now—for example , my friend and i are both sesame credit users , but we’re nowhere to be found on the government database . if ant financial is to be trusted , the content of one’s purchases—books or sex toys ? —won’t impact one’s ability to get a car loan . creemers says that such a system is unlikely to emerge .
the baihe online dating site encourages users to display their sesame credit scores to attract potential partners ; 15 per cent of its users do so . one woman , who works in advertising but declined to be named to protect her privacy , said she had used baihe for more than two years . looking for people who display good sesame credit scores helps her weed out scammers , she said .
finally , when more friends join sesame credit , your score will go up . a score will not go up or down based on the scores or personal information of your friend group , though .
users are encouraged to flaunt their good credit scores to friends , and even potential mates . china ' s biggest matchmaking service , baihe , has teamed up with sesame to promote clients with good credit scores , giving them prominent spots on the company ' s website .
beyond sesame credit ' s reward offerings , public social credit systems offer good - behavior benefits that can be minor conveniences like enhanced borrowing privileges at a local library , or free loaner umbrellas . but rewards can also have greater financial significance like expediting loan application approvals .
sesame credit , a credit - scoring service from alibaba affiliate ant financial , attributes scores to alipay users who have opted into the program . users with higher scores are able to access benefits that run the gamut from waivers on car rental deposits to expedited airport security checks .
i downloaded this app because i’m working on improving my credit score . instead of getting helpful pointers it tells me to apply for more credit cards to increase my available credit — which i don’t need or want . a better suggestion would pay off more of my credit debt which would also increase my available credit . i don’t need another new credit card account tinging my credit score . i don’t think the developers of the app actually understand what to do and how to be credit worthy . another feature is all the emails telling me my chances of being approved for various credit cards . if the developers had knowledge of things that affect my credit score they’d know that new accounts are a huge factor in determining credit score . i’m deleting the app now .
what makes using alipay even more convenient is zhou ' s relatively high sesame credit score — 775 out of a possible 950 — that allows her to access a host of privileges unavailable to those with lower scores .
one of the most high - profile projects is by sesame credit , the financial wing of alibaba . with 400 million users , alibaba is the world ' s biggest online shopping platform . it ' s using its unique database of consumer information to compile individual
social credit
scores .
sesame credit is just one of several provincial - level or private pilot programs in china ' s push to develop a nationwide social credit system — even as experts warn of data privacy and transparency concerns . the current implementations are currently unconnected , but may ultimately be combined under government leadership .
and offers little in the way of specific details . what’s clear amid the muddled language is the government’s merging of politics and finance . it’s possible that the government might at some point alter one’s credit rating based on their “morality” or social status . in other words , while sesame credit doesn’t care if you buy sex toys instead of books , the government’s credit system might .
credit sesame ' s mission is to empower you to achieve your financial goals . we provide millions of people access to free credit scores , and coach you to grow your financial potential . no credit card is required , and checking your score will not impact it . here is what you can expect , in addition to your free credit score : • free credit report card - we ' ll break down your score , and show you what ' s impacting your credit . • free credit strategy - once you know where you stand , we ' ll give you a custom action plan to take control of your credit . • enhanced alerts - we ' ll monitor your credit 24 / 7 , and alert you about any important changes to your credit report . • my borrowing power - get personalized recommendations for the best credit cards , mortgage rates , and refinance options . • free id theft protection - you ' re always protected with $ 50 , 000 in identity theft protection insurance . as featured in . . . • the wall street journal • the new york times • nbc’s today show • cnn money • cnbc to learn more , visit creditsesame . com . to learn more , visit credit sesame .
we believe consumers have the right to access their financial information . get your free credit score each month , and monitor your credit report at no cost . we ' ll also send you daily monitoring alerts about changes to your credit report .
given its potentially dystopic proposition , reactions to the social credit system have varied .
but just because sesame credit operates independently from the government doesn’t mean the government won’t find a way to use it as a monitoring tool . instead of building out a homegrown social credit system , the chinese government might simply wait for ant financial and its competitors to build out massive pools of user data , and then continue to take that data whenever it wants to . creemers says that the political significance of sesame credit lies in this unique arrangement—private internet companies mine data to make money , but the government can readily access this data when it decides to snoop .
“first i will look at his photo , then i will look at his profile , ” she said . “he has to use real - name authentication . but i will trust him and talk to him if he has sesame credit . ”
your free credit sesame account not only helps you monitor and manage your credit , it helps you protect it , too . we give you $ 50 , 000 in identity theft insurance , along with fraud resolution assistance . in the event you ' re ever a victim of identity theft , we ' ve got you covered .
critics say the social credit system is
nightmarish
and
orwellian
. however , some believe that some kind of credit system is badly needed in china .
now that sesame credit is tracking and rating one’s purchases and bill payments , is it possible that it will start tracking more ? will it move scores up or down based on one’s social media profile ? the answer is more complicated than one might think .
more and more of baihe ' s 90 million clients are displaying their credit scores in their dating profiles , doing away with the idea that a credit score is a private matter .
in most countries , the existence of a credit system isn ' t controversial . past financial information is used to predict whether individuals will pay their mortgages or credit card bill in the future .
track your credit scores , monitor for id theft and find ways to save . it’s free !
while it declined to disclose the number of alipay users who had activated sesame credit , ant financial claimed it maintained strict measures to ensure a
financial level
of data security to prevent potential leaks , saying that 30 percent of ant financial staff are devoted to security - related work .
while inconveniencing some , the social credit system will likely bring about benefits to the chinese financial system .
a search for “马云” on credit china should bring up alibaba founder jack ma , but it doesn’t .
in spite of the ongoing debate concerning data privacy , netizens in china appear to have taken the system ' s kinks in stride . a scan of chinese social media site weibo reflected that the most popular discussions about sesame credit involved people brainstorming how scores could be used to improve a shared bicycle scheme .
and , even more concerning , many didn ' t know they were being rated by sesame at all . for now , the pilot credit system is voluntary , though it ' s difficult to circumvent . online shopping is a part of life in modern chinese cities and alibaba ' s financial payment service is ubiquitous .
various organizations , including the american civil liberties union , have argued that sesame credit is more than just a meme or a game— it’s evidence that the chinese government is enacting a scheme that will monitor citizens’ finances . more frighteningly , some have suggested , one’s political views or “morality” might raise or lower one’s score .
for all its authoritarian overtones , the original rationale for creating the social credit system was considerably more benign .
sesame rates the online financial transactions of those using alibaba ' s payment system , in addition to data it obtains from its partners including the taxi service didi kuaidi , rating whether users bothered to settle taxi payments .
i received 588 points , which falls in the lower half of the 350 - 950 range . sesame credit politely tells me that it’s “middle - level credit . ” in other words , it sucks . all it entitles me to is a five - day “svip membership” at an online dating app . of course , i need to download the app and sign in before i have any idea just what the hell “svip membership” means .
those with high rankings can rent bikes or cars without leaving a deposit , and skip lines at hospitals by paying after they leave , according to the post . 15 % of users on chinese dating site baihe choose to display their sesame credit score , and that some weed out potential dates based on that measure of trustability .
other experts disagreed , arguing that the social credit system had broader objectives than simply assessing creditworthiness . fico is only concerned with financial solvency , creemers said , whereas
the social credit system tries to affect regulatory compliance .
a spokeswoman from ant financial told cnbc that at present , the amount spent by alipay users did not affect their corresponding sesame credit scores as much as their ability to
fulfill promises in a commercial context .
as the scores are holistic in nature , the ability and willingness of users to repay debts had greater significance , she added .
according to the washington post , eight private companies have created pilot
credit databases
that compile information about individuals .
state media has also echoed reassurance that the social credit system was being developed to nurture a business environment where fraud , counterfeiting and intellectual property theft would be more efficiently tackled . still , local news agency xinhua ultimately acknowledged that given how
credit reward and punishment initiatives
were being implemented differently across cities , the social credit system lacked sufficient regulation .
make better decisions to improve your financial life . we ' ll show you what ' s impacting your credit score , if you are overpaying on your loans and credit cards , and how your financial picture compares to those of your peers .
despite the outcry in suining , the central government seems determined to press ahead with its plans . part of the reason is economic . with few people in china owning credit cards or borrowing money from banks , credit information is scarce . there is no national equivalent of the fico score widely used in the united states , say , to evaluate consumer credit risks .
the private sector has an interest in encouraging rule compliance , she said , because social credit programs could encourage more consumerism .
the central bank has the financial data from 800 million people , but only 320 million have a traditional credit history .
- included more actions and ideas for you to take to improve your credit score . - see them immediately after you log in .
sesame credit , a subsidiary of e - commerce giant alibaba , is already running a social credit system . according to the bbc , the company determines people ' s scores by incorporating a number of factors into its algorithms , including whether someone has gotten traffic tickets , if they ' ve paid their taxes , and what they buy online . if you ' re constantly buying video games , for instance , you ' ll be seen as idle . if you ' re buying diapers , you could be considered a responsible parent .
under government - approved pilot projects , eight private companies have set up credit databases that compile a wide range of online , financial and legal information . one of the most popular is sesame credit , part of the giant alibaba ecommerce company that runs the world ' s largest online shopping platform . tens of millions of users with high scores have been able to rent cars and bicycles without leaving deposits , company officials say , and can avoid long lines at hospitals by paying fees after leaving with a few taps on a smartphone .
sesame credit’s origins lie in china’s once - barren consumer finance industry . compared to the united states , china’s financial institutions have done little to serve consumers and small businesses . the people’s bank of china— the central bank—runs the country’s only official credit rating system , and as of 2014 it serves only about 300 million people . that’s less than 25 % of the total population . in the us , by contrast , 89 % of the adult population has a credit score ( pdf , pg 24 ) . as a result , many chinese consumers have been saving rather than borrowing or investing . that in turn stunts domestic consumption , a worrying factor amid china’s slowing economy .
my credit is bad so obviously i downloaded this app to keep track and work on it . my score is displayed as “532” . and has been for a month and a half . i went to the bank 2 weeks ago and got a real credit report that said my actual score was 565 . i then purchased the “refresh whenever for a week $ 1 . 99” option and refreshed everyday and saw no changes . i also paid off a good 60 % of my credit usage in the first days of may , and it still tells me i’m utilizing 90 % of my credit which is incorrect ( last update on may 30 ) . if you’re truly worried about your credit , you should contact your bank . also do not download if you’re expecting an accurate reading of your credit score . : - )
instead , their spokeswoman issued a statement , discounting persistent rumours that the organisation monitors users ' social media activity when assessing their social credit .
earlier this year , the bbc reported the chinese governmennt was building a
social credit
system to rate each citizen ' s trustworthiness .
zhou , the frequent alipay user , put it this way :
i think it ' s a great service … to generate a direct credit score can produce lots of value in different areas , like borrowing money on certain days interest free ( and ) applying for credit cards .
a report in the washington post in late october stated that a rating involving a loss of points could determine “whether you can borrow money , get your children into the best school or travel abroad ; whether you get a room in a fancy hotel , a seat in a top restaurant—or even just get a date . ” it adds that a popular online dating site “encourages users to display their sesame credit scores to attract potential partners . ”
my credit is bad so obviously i downloaded this app to keep track and work on it . my score is displayed as “532” . and has been for a month and a half . i went to the bank 2 weeks ago and got a real credit report that said my actual score was 565 . i then purchased the “refresh whenever for a week $ 1 . 99” option and refreshed everyday and saw no changes . i also paid off a good 60 % of my credit usage in the first days of may , and it still tells me i’m utilizing 90 % of my credit which is incorrect ( last update on may 30 ) . if you’re truly worried about your credit , you should contact your bank . also do not download if you’re expecting an accurate reading of your credit score . : - ) forgot to mention i paid off all of a car loan ( $ 3000 + ) at the end of april and it still hasn’t changed on this app .
proponents of the plan , like chinese blogger wenquan xin , say the system is needed because many of china ' s 1 . 3 billion citizens don ' t own a credit card , and the country lacks an equivalent system to the us ' fico credit score . that means bankers and loan providers don ' t have much to go on .
current tentative steps to test the new system have raised questions about its implementation and reach . obvious issues include defining the criteria that would be applied to rate citizens , the government and social institutions that would perform the ratings , and the impact of those ratings on citizens’ business and professional activities and on their lives in general . a key component of the new system will be taking traditional credit - scoring and adding other data points . sesame credit , an affiliate of e - commerce titan alibaba , currently surveys online shopping habits and , if users consent , posts their education levels and legal records . businesses and some individuals such as lawyers , accountants , teachers and journalists would receive closer scrutiny of their professional behavior .
while the actual workings behind the development of the system remain opaque , the idea of building trust is a common thread that runs through planning reports on social credit across multiple government agencies . the state council , effectively china ' s cabinet , described social credit as an
important component of the socialist market economy system … ( for ) establishing the idea of a sincerity culture
in a planning outline published in 2014 . it said this was necessary so that
the honest mentality and credit levels of the entire society
could be raised .
someone who plays video games for 10 hours a day , for example , would be considered an idle person , and someone who frequently buys diapers would be considered as probably a parent , who on balance is more likely to have a sense of responsibility ,
li yingyun , sesame ' s technology director told caixin , a chinese magazine , in february .
but china is taking the whole concept a few steps further . the chinese government is building an omnipotent
social credit
system that is meant to rate each citizen ' s trustworthiness .
that system isn ' t in place yet . for now , the government is watching how eight chinese companies issue their own
social credit
scores under state - approved pilot projects .
the company refused to give an interview to the bbc , citing concerns that the government would refuse to grant a permanent licence to issue credit scores if it engaged with the foreign media .
ahmed , the doctoral candidate at berkeley , said social credit relied on input that was too loosely - defined , which could result in
culturally specific restrictions
baked into the system .
the suining government later told state media that it had revised the project , still recording social credit scores but abandoning the a - to - d classifications . officials declined to be interviewed for this article .
after the project met with domestic backlash , local authorities adapted the system by removing the letter grade classification . the social credit scores , however , continue to be recorded , according to the washington post .
the government and private companies have jumped into the void . beijing has given 10 private companies hoping to launch internet - based credit ranking systems the green light , including ant financial and tencent ( paywall ) .
many people don ' t own houses , cars or credit cards in china , so that kind of information isn ' t available to measure ,
explains wen quan , a blogger who writes about technology and finance .
and those rules are not just hypothetical . parts of the social credit mechanism have already been put into practice , according to rogier creemers , a researcher specializing in chinese law and governance at the van vollenhoven institute at leiden university .
the ambition is to collect every scrap of information available online about china ' s companies and citizens in a single place – and then assign each of them a score based on their political , commercial , social and legal “credit . ”
a planning document from china ' s state council explained the credit will
forge a public opinion environment that trust - keeping is glorious
and warned the
new system will reward those who report acts of breach of trust
.
another story about suining demonstrates that development of the social - credit - rating system is still in an experimental stage . late last month an article in the global times , which is published by the state - run people’s daily , criticized the washington post report for misinterpreting the system as “orwellian . ” the global times argued that the aim is to establish a “well - functioning credit system” that is needed for “a mature economy [ and ] is an assertive move for the common good . ”
perhaps it is good for all citizens to learn quickly about the concept of a
social credit
score , while it is still partly voluntary . within five years , the government ' s mandatory system will rank everyone within china ' s borders .
a lengthy planning document from china ' s elite state council explains that social credit will
forge a public opinion environment that trust - keeping is glorious
, warning that the
new system will reward those who report acts of breach of trust
.
and as for me ? even if my crappy credit score doesn’t mean much now , it’s in my best interest i suppose to make sure it doesn’t go too low . so—why not ? —i’ll start buying more stuff on taobao . hmm , perhaps this book :
the chinese government is planning on implementing a system that connects citizens ' financial , social , political , and legal credit ratings into one big social trustability score . the idea would be that if someone breaks trust in one area , they ' d be adversely affected everywhere .
the global times labels the suining experiment a “flash in the pan” that “met with public backlash” and is a warning to chinese authorities . the inclusion of “people’s political positions , which have nothing to do with credit” led to the need for revision , and suggests that the system needs to be “meticulously restricted . ” it should touch on the people’s economic activities and “part of their social life that are clearly defined and widely recognized . ” it concludes that setting up a credit system “needs more wisdom to do it well at low political and economic risks . ”
without a system , a conman can commit a crime in one place and then do the same thing again in another place . but a credit system puts people ' s past history on the record . it ' ll build a better and fairer society ,
she promises .
under the social credit plan , the punishments are less severe – prohibitions on riding in “soft sleeper” class on trains or going first class in planes , for example , or on staying at the finer hotels , travelling abroad , or sending children to the best schools – but nonetheless far - reaching .
despite the directive , not much has come in the way of implementation . on june 1 , the state information center introduced a website where people can search for the credit histories of individuals and enterprises , along with information on who has dodged taxes and failed to follow court rulings . the website , called credit china ( link in chinese ) , introduces itself as a window for the government to “praise honesty [ and ] punish dishonesty . ” china’s central bank and top planning agency are behind it . tech giant baidu , which runs the country’s most popular search engine , is in charge of the technical support and maintenance .
part financial credibility indicator and part compliance mechanism , the social credit system aims to generate a score for individuals and institutions in china based on data like tax filings and driving demerits . and while consumers may reap rewards , the score also functions as a signal mechanism for authorities about whom or what deserves to be penalized .
that result works on two levels . firstly , social credit serves as a means of allaying purchasing fears since
trust - breakers
would be removed from the marketplace thanks to penalty mechanisms . that ' s pertinent given china ' s patchy history of legal compliance , which has seen luxury goods and even baby formula counterfeited .
the third and fourth categories measure timely payments on bills and credit cards , respectively . many alipay users pay their bills through the mobile app and receive reminders through push notifications on their phones . failing to pay a bill on time will cause one’s score to go down , and is probably the most important category , the spokeswoman implied : “we
in addition to a numerical score , users can see via a diagram ( below ) roughly how well they did in the various categories . this is shown with a pentagon - shaped diagram . going clockwise from the top , the categories are personal identity , contract payments ( bills ) , credit card payments , social engagement , and shopping habits .
this is a good free service if youre just starting to focus on your credit . most of the information for my debts and accounts are fairly accurate . however , i also have access to my fico score through my car note holder . . and their score is 60points higher ! of course this may not reflect as much because i dont pay for the premium services , but basically if you have a good score here - you might have an even higher score in all actuality . thats why i keep the app to have a reference point if i can get this score to reflect the fico then my score should be substantially better ! i will credit this app with helping me make a 457 into a 650 in under one year ! with help getting a secure card , and knowing whos holding my debts and what exactly i had to pay . they make this information very easy to understand . i had a lot of misconceptions about the reporting process , and this is a very clear concise way to help learn what makes a credit score .
but the narrowing of that distance raises expectations , says creemers , who adds that the party could be biting off more than it can chew . assigning all of china ' s people a social credit rating that weighs up and scores every aspect of their behaviour would not only be a gigantic technological challenge but also thoroughly subjective – and could be extremely unpopular .
the chinese government is taking the first steps in an evolving plan to employ big data to establish a nationwide system of mass surveillance of the entire population . this “social - credit system” would mobilize technology to collect information on all citizens and use that information to rate their behavior , including financial creditworthiness and personal conduct . the local experiments have provoked mixed reactions .
china has gamified being an obedient citizen with the creation of sesame credit . it creates a social score that pushes people to behave the way the government wants . though currently opt - in , it will become mandatory in 2020 . subscribe for new episodes every wednesday ! urltoken ( - - - more below ) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ get your extra credits gear at the store ! urltoken play games with us on extra play ! urltoken watch more episodes from this season of extra credits ! urltoken contribute community subtitles to extra credits : urltoken . . . talk to us on twitter ( @ extracreditz ) : urltoken follow us on facebook : urltoken get our list of recommended games on steam : urltoken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ would you like james to speak at your school or organization ? for info , contact us at : contact @ urltoken _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ♪ intro music :
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even though the technology in
nosedive
isn ' t here yet , china ' s social credit scores could one day contribute to the sort of culture we saw in
black mirror .
and if the episode ' s finale is any good predictor of the outcome , the system might not end happily for those who step out of line with popular opinion .
a bigger issue could be that the social credit system could fail to address the very problem it was created to tackle . the system was built on the idea that the more known about individuals , the easier governing becomes , but creemers suggested it could actually be more difficult to assess what a single score stands for when it encompasses such a wide scope of data .
a substantial proportion of china ' s population remains unbanked and parts of the economy are largely cash - based : some 21 percent of the population did not have an account at a financial institution in 2014 , according to the world bank . a social credit regime could strengthen the credibility of the chinese financial system by enforcing legal compliance and ultimately , building trust in the marketplace .
despite that , backlash to the social credit system has been fierce with many western media outlets highlighting the dystopian - sounding nature of the state taking a role in monitoring and policing citizen behavior . in response , state - run tabloid global times ran an op - ed that the system
won ' t be orwellian
and such an interpretation by the west was
warped .
but so far credit china hasn’t compiled enough data to serve as a useful reference in most cases . searching the site reveals mostly small businesses and random individuals , but it’s not clear how many . clicking on the name of an individual or business reveals two categories titled “positive record , ” and “negative record , ” but all of the fields were empty for every business and name we examined .
this is not the dystopian superstate of steven spielberg ' s minority report , in which all - knowing police stop crime before it happens . but it could be china by 2020 . it is the scenario contained in china ' s ambitious plans to develop a far - reaching social credit system , a plan that the communist party hopes will build a culture of “sincerity” and a “harmonious socialist society” where “keeping trust is glorious . ”
the declared aim of this ambitious plan for a social - credit system is to build a “culture of sincerity . ” at this stage in china’s history , it is questionable whether the party - state can build any kind of culture . the center cannot effectively control local governments , a large share of economic profits is going to the wealthy , corruption remains widespread and neither the economy nor the populace will tolerate the absence of rule of law indefinitely .
a prominent example of business fraud that is noted by the wall street journal article is frequent violation of food - safety regulations , which are now experimentally monitored on touch - screens in restaurants in the shanghai district mentioned above . at the same time , the experiment demonstrates some of the difficulties in creating the social - credit system : in one restaurant , the touch - screen was intentionally obscured—because the restaurant’s health rating had been erroneously downgraded , but the error had not been corrected .
xuecun ' s criticism of the government won him millions of followers on weibo , china ' s equivalent of twitter , until the censors swung into action . he fears the new social credit plan could bring more problems for those who dare to speak out . “my social - media account has been cancelled many times , so the government can say i am a dishonest person , ” he said . “then i can ' t go abroad , and can ' t take the train . ”
at the heart of the social credit system is an attempt to control china ' s vast , anarchic and poorly regulated market economy , to punish companies selling poisoned food or phony medicine , to expose doctors taking bribes and uncover con men preying on the vulnerable . “fraud has become ever more common in society , ” lian weiliang , vice chairman of the national development and reform commission , the country ' s main economic planning agency , said in april . “swindlers have to pay a price . ”
china is launching a comprehensive “credit score” system , and the more i learn about it , the more nightmarish it seems . china appears to be leveraging all the tools of the information age—electronic purchasing data , social networks , algorithmic sorting—to construct the ultimate tool of social control . it is , as one commentator put it , “authoritarianism , gamified . ” read this piece for the full flavor—it will make your head spin . if that and the little other reporting i’ve seen is accurate , the basics are this :
the experiment has already encountered criticism and resistance . a project in suining county in jiangsu province awarded citizens with points for good behavior ( including being classified as a model citizen or worker ) and assigned demerits for bad behavior such as causing a disturbance that blocks party or government offices , running red lights , driving while drunk , paying a bribe or falsely accusing others . citizens were classified according to four levels ranging from a to d . the a - to - d classifications were abandoned after citizens objected , but social - credit scores are still being recorded under the plan .
the new social - credit system may include “black marks for infractions such as fare cheating , jaywalking and violating family - planning rules , ” according to an article in the wall street journal . the article quotes planning documents stating that the system would “allow the trustworthy to roam everywhere under heaven while making it hard for the discredited to take a single step . ” it is no wonder that one chinese human rights - activist is quoted as saying “tracking everyone that way , it is just like ‘1984’ . ” ( the famous novel published in 1949 by george orwell imagines a mythical regime that spies on all of its citizens using omnipresent surveillance . )
the united states is a much different place than china , and the chances that our government will explicitly launch this kind of a program any time in the near future is nil , but there are consistent gravitational pulls toward this kind of behavior on the part of many public and private u . s . bureaucracies , and a very real danger that many of the dynamics we see in the chinese system will emerge here over time . on the government side , for example i have written about how the tsa’s airline passenger “whitelist” system could evolve in this direction . in the private sector , frank pasquale notes that elements of its judgment - and - reward system already exist in the u . s . private - sector credit scoring infrastructure .
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warning : this post contains slight spoilers for the first episode of
black mirror
season 3 .
in the third season of popular british television series
black mirror ,
the first episode features an eye - embedded app that lets people rate their interactions with one another and share status updates . it ' s like facebook , instagram , and yelp combined — with serious stakes .
characters who act nice and don ' t appear smarmy can get five stars . but if they act negatively , they ' ll face one - star reviews . if someone drops too low , they become a kind of second - class citizen — they ' re socially shunned , shuttered out of workplaces , forced to pay a premium on leases , and penalized in myriad other ways .
like many
black mirror
episodes , this one takes a present tech - related paranoia to its extreme . but in china , a similar system could soon become a reality .
this preferential treatment for higher - rated people is very similar to the scenario depicted on
black mirror .
the chinese plan for a more widespread scoring system has been in the works since 2015 . but in september , the government released bullet points of proposed penalties for those who
breaks social trust
( which could be done by defaulting on a loan , for example , or voicing a dissenting opinion against the government online ) .
in the
black mirror
episode , titled
nosedive ,
the purpose of a universal ratings system is ostensibly to incentivize untrustworthy individuals in a society to shape up to what other members consider good .
but the irony in the episode is that the system ends up creating a culture of disingenuity — a
numbers game
where people kiss up to popular folks to raise their social standing , rather than simply striving to be a better person .
the communist party wants to encourage good behaviour by marking all its people using online data . those who fall short will be denied basic freedoms like loans or travel
imagine a world where an authoritarian government monitors everything you do , amasses huge amounts of data on almost every interaction you make , and awards you a single score that measures how “trustworthy” you are .
in this world , anything from defaulting on a loan to criticising the ruling party , from running a red light to failing to care for your parents properly , could cause you to lose points . and in this world , your score becomes the ultimate truth of who you are – determining whether you can borrow money , get your children into the best schools or travel abroad ; whether you get a room in a fancy hotel , a seat in a top restaurant – or even just get a date .
a high - level policy document released in september listed the sanctions that could be imposed on any person or company deemed to have fallen short . the overriding principle : “if trust is broken in one place , restrictions are imposed everywhere . ” a whole range of privileges would be denied , while people and companies breaking social trust would also be subject to expanded daily supervision and random inspections .
the government hasn ' t announced exactly how the plan will work – for example , how scores will be compiled and different qualities weighted against one another . but the idea is that good behaviour will be rewarded and bad behaviour punished , with the communist party acting as the ultimate judge . this is what china calls “internet plus , ” but critics call a 21st - century police state .
harnessing the power of big data and the ubiquity of smartphones , ecommerce and social media in a society where 700 million people live large parts of their lives online , the plan will also vacuum up court , police , banking , tax and employment records . doctors , teachers , local governments and businesses could additionally be scored by citizens for their professionalism and probity .
“china is moving towards a totalitarian society , where the government controls and affects individuals ' private lives , ” said beijing - based novelist and social commentator murong xuecun . “this is like big brother , who has all your information and can harm you in any way he wants . ”
yet in communist china , the plans inevitably take on an authoritarian aspect : this is not just about regulating the economy , but also about creating a new socialist utopia under the communist party ' s benevolent guidance .