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When you’re looking to get clips for your edits, comprehension of copyright and fair use is fundamental. You might start by exploring platforms like YouTube, where you can search for specific scenes and apply filters to refine your results. It’s additionally worth considering tools for capturing screens or ripping clips from DVDs. Organizing these clips efficiently can save you time later. Nevertheless, you’ll need to guarantee compatibility with your editing software. What’s your next step? Key Takeaways Search for specific scenes or genres on YouTube, utilizing filters to find videos with Creative Commons licenses for legal reuse. Use downloading tools like 4K Video Downloader or browser extensions to retrieve clips efficiently from online sources. Rip clips from DVDs or Blu-rays using software like HandBrake, ensuring compatibility with your editing software. Choose engaging and relevant clips, organizing them into clearly labeled folders for easy access during the editing process. Incorporate royalty-free music and sound effects to enhance your edits while avoiding copyright issues. Understanding Copyright and Fair Use When you’re exploring video edits, comprehending copyright and Fair Use is essential, as these concepts greatly affect your ability to use pre-existing footage legally. Copyright laws protect the creative rights of original works, so unauthorized use can lead to legal consequences. Fair Use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for specific purposes like criticism or teaching. Nevertheless, it’s evaluated case by case, considering factors like the purpose of use, the amount taken, and the impact on the original work’s market value. When figuring out how to find clips for edits, always assess whether your usage qualifies as Fair Use. Exploring YouTube for Pre-existing Footage YouTube offers an extensive array of pre-existing footage that can improve your creative edits. To find the right clips, you can use various downloading methods, including browser extensions and dedicated applications, which make the process more efficient. Nevertheless, it’s essential to understand copyright considerations and Fair Use guidelines to guarantee you’re using the content legally and ethically. Finding Clips on YouTube How can you effectively find the right clips for your editing projects? YouTube is a treasure trove for pre-existing footage, offering millions of videos across various genres. To learn how to find videos from edits, start by searching for specific scenes or keywords related to your project. Use filters to narrow results by upload date, duration, or content type. When exploring where to find clips for edits, consider checking videos marked with Creative Commons licenses, as these often allow legal reuse. For movie clips for edits, focus on popular film scenes or trailers. Remember to respect copyright restrictions; many videos require permission for use beyond personal projects. This guarantees you stay within legal boundaries as you create your edits. Downloading Methods Explained During searching for clips to improve your editing projects, knowing the right downloading methods can greatly streamline your workflow. You can explore YouTube to find pre-existing footage, as many users upload useful content. To download clips, consider using YouTube downloader websites where you can paste the video URL and download it directly. Alternatively, browser extensions simplify the process, allowing direct downloads from YouTube without traversing to other sites. Applications like 4K Video Downloader likewise offer an easy solution; just paste the share link to grab high-quality clips. Whether you’re figuring out how to get movie clips for edits or looking for a clip download from Twitch, these methods help you find where to get clips for edits efficiently. Copyright Considerations and Fair Use When sourcing clips for your editing projects, it’s crucial to understand the nuances of copyright considerations and the Fair Use doctrine. Adhering to copyright laws is important since unauthorized redistribution of clips can lead to infringement claims. YouTube can be a valuable resource, but always verify the licensing and usage rights of content before downloading. Fair Use allows limited use for commentary, criticism, or educational purposes. Users often upload specific scenes, making it easier to find desired footage. Employ downloader applications like 4K Video Downloader to simplify the process. Understanding these elements can help you navigate the intricacies of copyright as you ensure that your edits remain compliant and legally sound. Utilizing Screen Capture Software Utilizing screen capture software can greatly boost your ability to gather clips for editing, especially when you need footage from various online sources. This software allows you to record video footage directly from your computer screen, making it versatile for capturing content from streaming services and video platforms. Programs like QuickTime and OBS Studio offer customizable recording areas, letting you focus on specific sections or entire applications. For high-quality screen captures, select software that can record at various resolutions to maintain clarity and detail. Furthermore, consider the audio capture options, as capturing both video and audio improves the quality and context of the clips you obtain. Just remember to check the terms of service for any platform you use. Ripping Clips From Physical Media Ripping clips from physical media, like DVDs and Blu-rays, offers a practical way to access content for your editing projects. To get started, you’ll need the right tools and knowledge about copyright laws to guarantee compliance. Here are some fundamentals: A disc drive that reads DVDs or Blu-rays, with external options available if necessary. Ripping software like HandBrake or MakeMKV, which helps extract specific chapters or segments. Conversion tools, such as Adobe Media Encoder, to guarantee compatibility with your editing software. Direct File Downloads for Editing When you’re looking to streamline your editing process, direct file downloads can be a transformative element. Numerous platforms offer high-quality footage ready for immediate download, but it’s essential to pay attention to the file formats to guarantee compatibility with your editing software. Finding Download Sources How do you find reliable sources for direct file downloads when you need video clips for editing? Start by exploring reputable websites that offer free stock video downloads. These platforms provide a range of clips for edits that suit various projects. Here are some reliable sources to evaluate: Pixabay: Features a vast library of free stock videos. Motion Array: Offers high-quality clips and templates for editing. Pexels: Provides a diverse selection of free video footage. Ensure you check the licensing agreements for each clip to comply with copyright laws. File Format Considerations Comprehending the right file formats is crucial for efficient video editing, especially since using incompatible formats can delay your workflow. When you’re downloading clips for your edits, make certain they’re in formats compatible with your editing software, like MP4, MOV, or AVI. This will save you time and prevent potential conversion issues later. If you encounter any files that need conversion, tools like Adobe Media Encoder can help you adjust them to your desired format. Furthermore, always check the licensing and copyright status of the clips to guarantee compliance with Fair Use regulations. Finally, organizing your downloaded clips into clearly labeled folders can streamline your editing process, making it easier to use your twitch clip editor effectively. Best Practices for Selecting Quality Clips Selecting quality clips for your video edits requires a strategic approach, as the right footage greatly impacts viewer engagement and retention. To amplify the effectiveness of your edits, consider these best practices: Choose engaging clips that resonate with your target audience, boosting both retention and appeal. Utilize reputable stock video platforms like Pixabay, Motion Array, and Coverr for a diverse selection of quality clips that match your theme. Trim clips for conciseness, focusing on the strongest parts and removing any irrelevant content to improve pacing. Integrating Music and Sound Effects When you’re creating a video, integrating music and sound effects is vital for improving the overall impact of your project. Selecting the right music is important; upbeat tracks can boost excitement, whereas calmer melodies can establish a serene atmosphere. Sound effects, when used judiciously, add depth and urgency, making the experience more immersive. On the other hand, be careful not to overwhelm your audience. Properly incorporating music can evoke specific emotions, greatly influencing storytelling and viewer engagement. Balance these elements with dialogue and visuals to maintain clarity and keep the audience focused on your narrative. For your projects, consider royalty-free music resources like Motion Array and Coverr, which offer diverse options without copyright concerns, ensuring you improve your video effectively. Importance of Engaging Footage Engaging footage plays a pivotal role in capturing your audience’s attention, as it greatly improves the storytelling aspect of your video project. High-quality clips not only boost viewer retention but additionally make your content more memorable and impactful. Choosing footage that resonates with your intended audience is crucial, ensuring it aligns with their interests and expectations. Dynamic visuals can raise your production value, making your video more appealing and professional. Well-chosen clips complement your narrative, reinforcing key messages throughout. Utilizing diverse footage helps maintain viewer interest, keeping them engaged from start to finish. Adding Captions for Accessibility Adding captions to your videos not just makes them accessible for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, but it furthermore improves comprehension for those in noisy environments or non-native speakers. Captions can boost engagement and retention, as research shows that viewers tend to watch captioned content longer. Benefits of Captions Captions serve as a fundamental tool for improving accessibility, especially for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, allowing them to fully engage with video content. They provide numerous benefits that go beyond just accessibility: Captions improve comprehension of dialogue, particularly in noisy environments or for non-native speakers. Research shows that videos with captions can lead to a 40% increase in viewer engagement and retention rates, making your content more effective. Including captions can boost SEO for videos, as search engines can index the text, increasing discoverability. Captioning Techniques Effective captioning techniques are vital for making video content accessible to all viewers. By adding captions, you improve accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, guaranteeing they can follow the dialogue and key messages. Captions additionally benefit viewers in silent environments, enhancing their comprehension of the content. To maximize viewer engagement and retention, use accurate and synchronized captions that provide context to the visuals. Implementing captioning not only assists in comprehension but likewise boosts your video’s SEO, making it more discoverable on platforms like YouTube. Although various tools and software exist, it’s important to prioritize quality and accuracy, whether using automatic caption generators or manual services, to guarantee that your captions effectively serve their purpose. Tools for Captioning In relation to making your video content accessible, utilizing the right tools for captioning can greatly improve viewer engagement. Adding captions not just aids those who are deaf or hard of hearing but additionally improves comprehension for all viewers, especially in silent settings. Here are some effective tools to take into account: CapCut: A user-friendly video editing app that allows you to easily add and edit captions. YouTube‘s Automatic Captioning: A convenient feature that generates captions automatically, which you can fine-tune for accuracy. Amara: A collaborative platform designed for creating and managing captions, perfect for team projects. When you create captions, make sure they sync well with the audio and are displayed long enough for comfortable reading. This practice can furthermore improve SEO, boosting your video’s visibility. Trimming Clips for Better Flow When you’re editing video clips, trimming them effectively is crucial for maintaining a smooth flow that keeps viewers engaged. Start by identifying the strongest segments of each clip, focusing on key storytelling elements that drive your narrative. Removing unnecessary pauses or irrelevant moments can greatly improve pacing, making sure viewers stay connected throughout the video. Aim for concise clips that directly contribute to the story, as this boosts viewer retention and satisfaction. Utilize editing software features, like the razor tool, to make precise cuts and create seamless shifts. Regularly review your trimmed footage to confirm smooth shifts and verify that the content aligns with your intended message and tone. Effective trimming eventually raises the quality of your edits. Using Jump Cuts Effectively Jump cuts serve as a strong editing technique that can boost the storytelling in your videos, especially when applied thoughtfully. They effectively emphasize key moments by cutting out unnecessary pauses and irrelevant content, keeping viewers engaged. Nevertheless, use jump cuts sparingly to avoid distracting the audience. Identify compelling segments of footage that advance your narrative. Improve pacing to create a dynamic, energetic feel, particularly in fast-paced scenes. Incorporate sound effects with jump cuts to amplify shifts, adding depth and urgency. Recommended Tools for Video Editing Choosing the right tools for video editing can greatly improve your workflow and the quality of your final product. For a robust editing experience, CapCut Desktop Video Editor is excellent on both Mac and Windows, offering a user-friendly interface and access to HD stock footage. Motion Array provides a vast collection of free, high-definition clips and royalty-free music, but requires an account for full access. Pixabay is another great resource for free stock videos, with a searchable library. VidsPlay regularly updates its collection of royalty-free footage, making navigation easy. If you need to extract clips from existing media, tools like 4K Video Downloader and screen recording software like Quicktime can simplify the process effectively. Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Get Clips From Youtube for Edits? To get clips from YouTube for your edits, you can use video downloader websites. Simply paste the video URL, and select the portion you want. Conversely, browser extensions can facilitate direct downloads without leaving the page. Software like 4K Video Downloader lets you copy the share link and choose quality settings. Always check copyright laws and YouTube’s policies to confirm you’re using clips legally, especially regarding Fair Use guidelines for educational content. How to Get Clips for Edits Anime? To get clips for your anime edits, start by using screen recording software to capture footage from streaming services, but be aware of their recording restrictions. You can likewise explore platforms like YouTube for user-uploaded clips, which can be downloaded with appropriate tools. For high-quality footage, consider ripping scenes from DVDs or Blu-rays you legally own. Always adhere to copyright laws and Fair Use guidelines to guarantee your edits remain compliant. How to Get Clips for an Edit on Capcut? To get clips for your edits on CapCut, you can explore its built-in library of free stock videos, which provides a variety of HD clips. You can likewise import your own videos by dragging and dropping them into the project interface or using the import option. Furthermore, CapCut allows connections to stock video platforms. If needed, you can capture clips from online sources, but make certain you follow copyright regulations during the process. Where Can I Find Footage for Editing? You can find footage for editing in several ways. YouTube is a great resource, allowing you to use downloader apps like 4K Video Downloader. Screen capture software, such as Quicktime, lets you record streaming content. If you own DVDs or Blu-rays, specialized software can help you rip footage. Furthermore, websites like Pixabay and Motion Array offer free stock clips, whereas direct downloads from online platforms provide quick access, often needing conversion for compatibility. Conclusion In summary, acquiring clips for your edits involves a variety of methods. You can explore platforms like YouTube for licensed footage, utilize screen capture software, or rip clips from DVDs. Furthermore, direct downloads can provide high-quality content. Remember to add captions for accessibility and trim clips to improve flow. By employing these strategies and the right tools, you’ll effectively gather the necessary footage to create compelling edits as you respect copyright laws and ensure a smooth editing process. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How Do You Get Clips for Your Edits?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

When you’re looking to get clips for your edits, comprehension of copyright and fair use is fundamental. You might start by exploring platforms like YouTube, where you can search for specific scenes and apply filters to refine your results. It’s additionally worth considering tools for capturing screens or ripping clips from DVDs. Organizing these clips efficiently can save you time later. Nevertheless, you’ll need to guarantee compatibility with your editing software. What’s your next step? Key Takeaways Search for specific scenes or genres on YouTube, utilizing filters to find videos with Creative Commons licenses for legal reuse. Use downloading tools like 4K Video Downloader or browser extensions to retrieve clips efficiently from online sources. Rip clips from DVDs or Blu-rays using software like HandBrake, ensuring compatibility with your editing software. Choose engaging and relevant clips, organizing them into clearly labeled folders for easy access during the editing process. Incorporate royalty-free music and sound effects to enhance your edits while avoiding copyright issues. Understanding Copyright and Fair Use When you’re exploring video edits, comprehending copyright and Fair Use is essential, as these concepts greatly affect your ability to use pre-existing footage legally. Copyright laws protect the creative rights of original works, so unauthorized use can lead to legal consequences. Fair Use allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission for specific purposes like criticism or teaching. Nevertheless, it’s evaluated case by case, considering factors like the purpose of use, the amount taken, and the impact on the original work’s market value. When figuring out how to find clips for edits, always assess whether your usage qualifies as Fair Use. Exploring YouTube for Pre-existing Footage YouTube offers an extensive array of pre-existing footage that can improve your creative edits. To find the right clips, you can use various downloading methods, including browser extensions and dedicated applications, which make the process more efficient. Nevertheless, it’s essential to understand copyright considerations and Fair Use guidelines to guarantee you’re using the content legally and ethically. Finding Clips on YouTube How can you effectively find the right clips for your editing projects? YouTube is a treasure trove for pre-existing footage, offering millions of videos across various genres. To learn how to find videos from edits, start by searching for specific scenes or keywords related to your project. Use filters to narrow results by upload date, duration, or content type. When exploring where to find clips for edits, consider checking videos marked with Creative Commons licenses, as these often allow legal reuse. For movie clips for edits, focus on popular film scenes or trailers. Remember to respect copyright restrictions; many videos require permission for use beyond personal projects. This guarantees you stay within legal boundaries as you create your edits. Downloading Methods Explained During searching for clips to improve your editing projects, knowing the right downloading methods can greatly streamline your workflow. You can explore YouTube to find pre-existing footage, as many users upload useful content. To download clips, consider using YouTube downloader websites where you can paste the video URL and download it directly. Alternatively, browser extensions simplify the process, allowing direct downloads from YouTube without traversing to other sites. Applications like 4K Video Downloader likewise offer an easy solution; just paste the share link to grab high-quality clips. Whether you’re figuring out how to get movie clips for edits or looking for a clip download from Twitch, these methods help you find where to get clips for edits efficiently. Copyright Considerations and Fair Use When sourcing clips for your editing projects, it’s crucial to understand the nuances of copyright considerations and the Fair Use doctrine. Adhering to copyright laws is important since unauthorized redistribution of clips can lead to infringement claims. YouTube can be a valuable resource, but always verify the licensing and usage rights of content before downloading. Fair Use allows limited use for commentary, criticism, or educational purposes. Users often upload specific scenes, making it easier to find desired footage. Employ downloader applications like 4K Video Downloader to simplify the process. Understanding these elements can help you navigate the intricacies of copyright as you ensure that your edits remain compliant and legally sound. Utilizing Screen Capture Software Utilizing screen capture software can greatly boost your ability to gather clips for editing, especially when you need footage from various online sources. This software allows you to record video footage directly from your computer screen, making it versatile for capturing content from streaming services and video platforms. Programs like QuickTime and OBS Studio offer customizable recording areas, letting you focus on specific sections or entire applications. For high-quality screen captures, select software that can record at various resolutions to maintain clarity and detail. Furthermore, consider the audio capture options, as capturing both video and audio improves the quality and context of the clips you obtain. Just remember to check the terms of service for any platform you use. Ripping Clips From Physical Media Ripping clips from physical media, like DVDs and Blu-rays, offers a practical way to access content for your editing projects. To get started, you’ll need the right tools and knowledge about copyright laws to guarantee compliance. Here are some fundamentals: A disc drive that reads DVDs or Blu-rays, with external options available if necessary. Ripping software like HandBrake or MakeMKV, which helps extract specific chapters or segments. Conversion tools, such as Adobe Media Encoder, to guarantee compatibility with your editing software. Direct File Downloads for Editing When you’re looking to streamline your editing process, direct file downloads can be a transformative element. Numerous platforms offer high-quality footage ready for immediate download, but it’s essential to pay attention to the file formats to guarantee compatibility with your editing software. Finding Download Sources How do you find reliable sources for direct file downloads when you need video clips for editing? Start by exploring reputable websites that offer free stock video downloads. These platforms provide a range of clips for edits that suit various projects. Here are some reliable sources to evaluate: Pixabay: Features a vast library of free stock videos. Motion Array: Offers high-quality clips and templates for editing. Pexels: Provides a diverse selection of free video footage. Ensure you check the licensing agreements for each clip to comply with copyright laws. File Format Considerations Comprehending the right file formats is crucial for efficient video editing, especially since using incompatible formats can delay your workflow. When you’re downloading clips for your edits, make certain they’re in formats compatible with your editing software, like MP4, MOV, or AVI. This will save you time and prevent potential conversion issues later. If you encounter any files that need conversion, tools like Adobe Media Encoder can help you adjust them to your desired format. Furthermore, always check the licensing and copyright status of the clips to guarantee compliance with Fair Use regulations. Finally, organizing your downloaded clips into clearly labeled folders can streamline your editing process, making it easier to use your twitch clip editor effectively. Best Practices for Selecting Quality Clips Selecting quality clips for your video edits requires a strategic approach, as the right footage greatly impacts viewer engagement and retention. To amplify the effectiveness of your edits, consider these best practices: Choose engaging clips that resonate with your target audience, boosting both retention and appeal. Utilize reputable stock video platforms like Pixabay, Motion Array, and Coverr for a diverse selection of quality clips that match your theme. Trim clips for conciseness, focusing on the strongest parts and removing any irrelevant content to improve pacing. Integrating Music and Sound Effects When you’re creating a video, integrating music and sound effects is vital for improving the overall impact of your project. Selecting the right music is important; upbeat tracks can boost excitement, whereas calmer melodies can establish a serene atmosphere. Sound effects, when used judiciously, add depth and urgency, making the experience more immersive. On the other hand, be careful not to overwhelm your audience. Properly incorporating music can evoke specific emotions, greatly influencing storytelling and viewer engagement. Balance these elements with dialogue and visuals to maintain clarity and keep the audience focused on your narrative. For your projects, consider royalty-free music resources like Motion Array and Coverr, which offer diverse options without copyright concerns, ensuring you improve your video effectively. Importance of Engaging Footage Engaging footage plays a pivotal role in capturing your audience’s attention, as it greatly improves the storytelling aspect of your video project. High-quality clips not only boost viewer retention but additionally make your content more memorable and impactful. Choosing footage that resonates with your intended audience is crucial, ensuring it aligns with their interests and expectations. Dynamic visuals can raise your production value, making your video more appealing and professional. Well-chosen clips complement your narrative, reinforcing key messages throughout. Utilizing diverse footage helps maintain viewer interest, keeping them engaged from start to finish. Adding Captions for Accessibility Adding captions to your videos not just makes them accessible for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, but it furthermore improves comprehension for those in noisy environments or non-native speakers. Captions can boost engagement and retention, as research shows that viewers tend to watch captioned content longer. Benefits of Captions Captions serve as a fundamental tool for improving accessibility, especially for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, allowing them to fully engage with video content. They provide numerous benefits that go beyond just accessibility: Captions improve comprehension of dialogue, particularly in noisy environments or for non-native speakers. Research shows that videos with captions can lead to a 40% increase in viewer engagement and retention rates, making your content more effective. Including captions can boost SEO for videos, as search engines can index the text, increasing discoverability. Captioning Techniques Effective captioning techniques are vital for making video content accessible to all viewers. By adding captions, you improve accessibility for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing, guaranteeing they can follow the dialogue and key messages. Captions additionally benefit viewers in silent environments, enhancing their comprehension of the content. To maximize viewer engagement and retention, use accurate and synchronized captions that provide context to the visuals. Implementing captioning not only assists in comprehension but likewise boosts your video’s SEO, making it more discoverable on platforms like YouTube. Although various tools and software exist, it’s important to prioritize quality and accuracy, whether using automatic caption generators or manual services, to guarantee that your captions effectively serve their purpose. Tools for Captioning In relation to making your video content accessible, utilizing the right tools for captioning can greatly improve viewer engagement. Adding captions not just aids those who are deaf or hard of hearing but additionally improves comprehension for all viewers, especially in silent settings. Here are some effective tools to take into account: CapCut: A user-friendly video editing app that allows you to easily add and edit captions. YouTube‘s Automatic Captioning: A convenient feature that generates captions automatically, which you can fine-tune for accuracy. Amara: A collaborative platform designed for creating and managing captions, perfect for team projects. When you create captions, make sure they sync well with the audio and are displayed long enough for comfortable reading. This practice can furthermore improve SEO, boosting your video’s visibility. Trimming Clips for Better Flow When you’re editing video clips, trimming them effectively is crucial for maintaining a smooth flow that keeps viewers engaged. Start by identifying the strongest segments of each clip, focusing on key storytelling elements that drive your narrative. Removing unnecessary pauses or irrelevant moments can greatly improve pacing, making sure viewers stay connected throughout the video. Aim for concise clips that directly contribute to the story, as this boosts viewer retention and satisfaction. Utilize editing software features, like the razor tool, to make precise cuts and create seamless shifts. Regularly review your trimmed footage to confirm smooth shifts and verify that the content aligns with your intended message and tone. Effective trimming eventually raises the quality of your edits. Using Jump Cuts Effectively Jump cuts serve as a strong editing technique that can boost the storytelling in your videos, especially when applied thoughtfully. They effectively emphasize key moments by cutting out unnecessary pauses and irrelevant content, keeping viewers engaged. Nevertheless, use jump cuts sparingly to avoid distracting the audience. Identify compelling segments of footage that advance your narrative. Improve pacing to create a dynamic, energetic feel, particularly in fast-paced scenes. Incorporate sound effects with jump cuts to amplify shifts, adding depth and urgency. Recommended Tools for Video Editing Choosing the right tools for video editing can greatly improve your workflow and the quality of your final product. For a robust editing experience, CapCut Desktop Video Editor is excellent on both Mac and Windows, offering a user-friendly interface and access to HD stock footage. Motion Array provides a vast collection of free, high-definition clips and royalty-free music, but requires an account for full access. Pixabay is another great resource for free stock videos, with a searchable library. VidsPlay regularly updates its collection of royalty-free footage, making navigation easy. If you need to extract clips from existing media, tools like 4K Video Downloader and screen recording software like Quicktime can simplify the process effectively. Frequently Asked Questions How Do You Get Clips From Youtube for Edits? To get clips from YouTube for your edits, you can use video downloader websites. Simply paste the video URL, and select the portion you want. Conversely, browser extensions can facilitate direct downloads without leaving the page. Software like 4K Video Downloader lets you copy the share link and choose quality settings. Always check copyright laws and YouTube’s policies to confirm you’re using clips legally, especially regarding Fair Use guidelines for educational content. How to Get Clips for Edits Anime? To get clips for your anime edits, start by using screen recording software to capture footage from streaming services, but be aware of their recording restrictions. You can likewise explore platforms like YouTube for user-uploaded clips, which can be downloaded with appropriate tools. For high-quality footage, consider ripping scenes from DVDs or Blu-rays you legally own. Always adhere to copyright laws and Fair Use guidelines to guarantee your edits remain compliant. How to Get Clips for an Edit on Capcut? To get clips for your edits on CapCut, you can explore its built-in library of free stock videos, which provides a variety of HD clips. You can likewise import your own videos by dragging and dropping them into the project interface or using the import option. Furthermore, CapCut allows connections to stock video platforms. If needed, you can capture clips from online sources, but make certain you follow copyright regulations during the process. Where Can I Find Footage for Editing? You can find footage for editing in several ways. YouTube is a great resource, allowing you to use downloader apps like 4K Video Downloader. Screen capture software, such as Quicktime, lets you record streaming content. If you own DVDs or Blu-rays, specialized software can help you rip footage. Furthermore, websites like Pixabay and Motion Array offer free stock clips, whereas direct downloads from online platforms provide quick access, often needing conversion for compatibility. Conclusion In summary, acquiring clips for your edits involves a variety of methods. You can explore platforms like YouTube for licensed footage, utilize screen capture software, or rip clips from DVDs. Furthermore, direct downloads can provide high-quality content. Remember to add captions for accessibility and trim clips to improve flow. By employing these strategies and the right tools, you’ll effectively gather the necessary footage to create compelling edits as you respect copyright laws and ensure a smooth editing process. Image via Google Gemini This article, "How Do You Get Clips for Your Edits?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Navigating the internet can often feel overwhelming, especially for small business owners who juggle numerous responsibilities and tasks daily. Google’s latest innovation, Disco, featuring GenTabs, aims to address this issue head-on by reimagining how we browse and interact online. Disco is described as a groundbreaking “Disco” very vehicle designed to enhance the web experience, making it easier and faster for users to engage in tasks that often require juggling multiple tabs. As the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex, even seasoned entrepreneurs feel the burden of managing information efficiently. With GenTabs, users can take a giant leap forward in productivity. GenTabs is built upon Google’s advanced Gemini 3 model, lending it a competitive edge in understanding user needs. By proactively analyzing open tabs and chat history, GenTabs generates interactive web applications tailored for specific tasks. This means small business owners can state what tools they need through simple natural language and receive custom solutions without needing to know how to code. Small business owners often find themselves planning logistics, researching new technologies, or exploring marketing strategies—all activities that can lead to countless open tabs. GenTabs simplifies this process by suggesting generative apps relevant to the tasks at hand, sometimes even proposing ideas that the user might not have initially considered. This proactive assistance could lead to substantial time savings and improved focus, allowing business owners to concentrate on critical decision-making rather than getting lost in a sea of information. While the potential benefits are notable, small business owners should also weigh some considerations. Adopting new technologies comes with challenges, such as the learning curve associated with new tools. Understanding how to leverage GenTabs may require some experimentation, which could temporarily disrupt established workflows. Additionally, reliance on AI-generated apps raises questions about data privacy and control over the output. Small business owners will want to ensure that their data remains secure and that they retain oversight over generated content. For many in the small business arena, the potential to streamline operations using GenTabs could outweigh the initial hurdles. The promise of creating customized web applications tailored to specific business needs is enticing. Imagine being able to whip up a project planning tool, a sales tracker, or a basic customer relationship management (CRM) interface by merely describing what you require. This capability not only empowers employees but could also foster an innovative culture within small enterprises. Quotes from Google’s announcement underscore the initiative’s ambitious aim. “Disco will help us learn faster and work together with AI enthusiasts to shape the future of web browsing,” suggesting a collaborative approach to digital transformation. This highlights the importance of community and shared learning as more businesses adapt to using AI-driven solutions. As small business owners consider integrating GenTabs into their workflow, it’s wise to remain vigilant about potential pitfalls while remaining open to the new possibilities that such tools can offer. There’s little doubt that innovations like Disco could well mark a pivotal moment in how businesses manage tasks online, shifting from traditional methods of browsing to a more fluid, AI-supported model. In essence, Google’s GenTabs could serve as a practical ally in the quest for operational excellence among small businesses. By offering personalized, approachable solutions to web navigation and task management, this tool might just change the way entrepreneurs tackle their daily challenges and not only simplify operations but also inspire creative solutions for growth and efficiency. For more information, visit the original announcement on the Google Blog. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Chrome Unveils Disco: A Smarter Way to Navigate the Web" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Navigating the internet can often feel overwhelming, especially for small business owners who juggle numerous responsibilities and tasks daily. Google’s latest innovation, Disco, featuring GenTabs, aims to address this issue head-on by reimagining how we browse and interact online. Disco is described as a groundbreaking “Disco” very vehicle designed to enhance the web experience, making it easier and faster for users to engage in tasks that often require juggling multiple tabs. As the digital landscape becomes increasingly complex, even seasoned entrepreneurs feel the burden of managing information efficiently. With GenTabs, users can take a giant leap forward in productivity. GenTabs is built upon Google’s advanced Gemini 3 model, lending it a competitive edge in understanding user needs. By proactively analyzing open tabs and chat history, GenTabs generates interactive web applications tailored for specific tasks. This means small business owners can state what tools they need through simple natural language and receive custom solutions without needing to know how to code. Small business owners often find themselves planning logistics, researching new technologies, or exploring marketing strategies—all activities that can lead to countless open tabs. GenTabs simplifies this process by suggesting generative apps relevant to the tasks at hand, sometimes even proposing ideas that the user might not have initially considered. This proactive assistance could lead to substantial time savings and improved focus, allowing business owners to concentrate on critical decision-making rather than getting lost in a sea of information. While the potential benefits are notable, small business owners should also weigh some considerations. Adopting new technologies comes with challenges, such as the learning curve associated with new tools. Understanding how to leverage GenTabs may require some experimentation, which could temporarily disrupt established workflows. Additionally, reliance on AI-generated apps raises questions about data privacy and control over the output. Small business owners will want to ensure that their data remains secure and that they retain oversight over generated content. For many in the small business arena, the potential to streamline operations using GenTabs could outweigh the initial hurdles. The promise of creating customized web applications tailored to specific business needs is enticing. Imagine being able to whip up a project planning tool, a sales tracker, or a basic customer relationship management (CRM) interface by merely describing what you require. This capability not only empowers employees but could also foster an innovative culture within small enterprises. Quotes from Google’s announcement underscore the initiative’s ambitious aim. “Disco will help us learn faster and work together with AI enthusiasts to shape the future of web browsing,” suggesting a collaborative approach to digital transformation. This highlights the importance of community and shared learning as more businesses adapt to using AI-driven solutions. As small business owners consider integrating GenTabs into their workflow, it’s wise to remain vigilant about potential pitfalls while remaining open to the new possibilities that such tools can offer. There’s little doubt that innovations like Disco could well mark a pivotal moment in how businesses manage tasks online, shifting from traditional methods of browsing to a more fluid, AI-supported model. In essence, Google’s GenTabs could serve as a practical ally in the quest for operational excellence among small businesses. By offering personalized, approachable solutions to web navigation and task management, this tool might just change the way entrepreneurs tackle their daily challenges and not only simplify operations but also inspire creative solutions for growth and efficiency. For more information, visit the original announcement on the Google Blog. Image via Google Gemini This article, "Google Chrome Unveils Disco: A Smarter Way to Navigate the Web" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Landmark Employment Rights bill heads for statute booksView the full article

Google rapidly expanded AI Overviews in search during 2025, then pulled back as they moved into commercial and navigational queries. These findings are based on a new Semrush analysis of more than 10 million keywords from January to November. AI Overviews surged, then retreated. Google didn’t roll out AI Overviews in a straight line in 2025. A mid-year spike gave way to a pullback, suggesting Google moved fast to test the feature, then eased off based on user data: January: 6.5% of queries triggered an AI Overview July: AI Overview visibility peaked, appearing in just under 25% of queries. November: Coverage fell back to less than 16% of queries. Zero-click behavior defied expectations. Surprisingly, click-through rates for keywords with AI Overviews have steadily risen since January. AI Overviews don’t automatically reduce clicks and may even encourage them. AI Overviews still appear more often on searches that already tend to drive no clicks. But when Semrush compared the same keywords before and after an AI Overview appeared, zero-click rates fell from 33.75% to 31.53%. Informational queries no longer dominate. Early 2025 AI Overviews were almost entirely informational: January: 91% informational October: 57% informational Now, AI Overviews are appearing for commercial and transactional queries: Commercial queries: Increased from 8% to 18% Transactional queries: Increased from 2% to 14% Navigational queries are rising fast. In an unexpected shift, AI summaries are increasingly intercepting brand and destination searches: Navigational AI Overviews grew from under 1% in January to more than 10% by November. Google Ads + AI Overviews. Earlier this year, ads rarely appeared next to AI Overviews. Now they’re common: Ads alongside AI Overviews rose from about 3% in January to roughly 40% by November. Ads show at the bottom of around 25% of AI Overview SERPs. Science is the most impacted industry. By keyword saturation, Science leads all verticals for AI Overviews at 25.96%. Computers & Electronics follows at 17.92%, with People & Society close behind at 17.29%. Since March, Food & Drink has seen the fastest growth in AI Overviews of any category. Meanwhile, Real Estate, Shopping, and Arts & Entertainment remain lightly affected, with AI Overviews appearing on fewer than 3% of keywords. Why we care. AI Overviews are unevenly and persistently reshaping click behavior, commercial visibility, and ad placement. Volatility is likely to continue, so closely monitor performance shifts tied to AI Overviews. The report. Semrush AI Overviews Study: What 2025 SEO Data Tells Us About Google’s Search Shift Dig deeper. In May, I reported on the original version of Semrush’s study in Google AI Overviews now show on 13% of searches: Study. View the full article

Plus 23 issues to negotiate. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

Plus 23 issues to negotiate. By Marc Rosenberg The Rosenberg Practice Management Library Go PRO for members-only access to more Marc Rosenberg. View the full article

China will impose tariffs of up to 19.8% on pork imports from the European Union, a drastic drop from preliminary tariffs of up to 62.4%, its Commerce Ministry said Tuesday. The ministry’s announcement followed an investigation the Chinese side launched into imports of pork from the trading bloc after the EU imposed provisional tariffs on China-made electric vehicles. Beijing also levied anti-dumping duties on European brandy, most notably cognac produced in France, though major brandy producers received exemptions. Imports of dairy products from the EU likewise were subject to anti-dumping probes. The EU runs a massive trade deficit with China: over 300 billion euros ($348 billion) last year. However, the trading bloc is a major exporter of pork and key supplier of byproducts such as ears, snouts, feet, and other items considered to be delicacies in China. In September, China ordered preliminary anti-dumping duties, in the form of security deposits, of 15.6% to 32.7% for pork imports from EU companies that collaborated with the anti-dumping investigation, and up to 62.4% for all others. China’s Commerce Ministry concluded that the EU was dumping pork and pig by-products in China, selling them at prices below production costs or domestic market prices, and harming China’s pork industry. The final tariff rates of 4.9%-19.8% are due to take effect beginning Wednesday and last for five years. Spain, the Netherlands and Denmark will be the most affected. The Commerce Ministry said the new tariff will apply to all kind of pork products, fresh, chilled, frozen, dried, pickled, smoked or salted. It said it had reached its conclusions in an “objective, fair and impartial manner.” EU exports of pork products to China peaked at 7.4 billion euros ($7.9 billion) in 2020 when Beijing turned to imports to meet domestic demand after its pig farms were devastated by a swine disease. But it has reduced imports as it has rebuilt its herds. —Elaine Kurtenbach, AP business writer View the full article

Accounting firms are finding themselves in one of two camps. By Scott Moore The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

Accounting firms are finding themselves in one of two camps. By Scott Moore The Rosenberg Survey Go PRO for members-only access to more CPA Trendlines Research. View the full article

American foreign policy now aims to help rightwing nationalists into power across the continentView the full article

Have you thought about what you’re building? By Martin Bissett Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

Have you thought about what you’re building? By Martin Bissett Go PRO for members-only access to more Martin Bissett. View the full article

We all have goals, but at least some of the difference in achieving those goals comes down to how you frame them. In a study published in PLOS One, the researchers separated participants’ goals into two basic categories: Avoidance goals: stopping or preventing an undesired behavior. “Stop ignoring interpersonal issues between employees.” So is “stop putting off important tasks.” So is “stop watching so much TV.” So is anything you want, or wish, to stop doing or do less often. Approach goals: adopting a new behavior. “Complete the most important task on my to-do list every day.” So is “Compliment at least one employee every day.” So is “Eat at least one serving of vegetables at lunch and dinner.” Why does the difference matter? Compared with people who set avoidance goals, people who set approach goals were significantly more likely to stay the course. Partly that’s because it’s more satisfying to do something you want to do than to avoid something you don’t want to do. For example, for decades I drank a ton of Diet Mountain Dew. When I finally decided I wanted to drink less soda, I set an approach goal: Instead of setting a goal like “Stop drinking Diet Mountain Dew in the morning,” my goal was “Drink water with my protein bar and banana for breakfast.” Later, I extended my water rule to lunch, and dinner, and snacks. The result, of course, was drinking less Diet Mountain Dew. But I wasn’t avoiding soda; I was “approaching” water. The same can be true for any habit you want to change. If you tend to avoid getting involved in interpersonal disputes between employees, don’t say you’ll stop ignoring interpersonal issues. Make it your goal to build a better sense of camaraderie and teamwork, and choose activities or behaviors that support your goal. Maybe you’ll spend a little time each day working in the department where two employees aren’t getting along. Maybe you’ll create situations where people can work together on something positive: A boss of mine once assigned me and an employee I was feuding with to a project with a potentially significant reward, and in the process we quickly ironed out our differences. Just about every avoidance goal can be turned into an approach goal; simply determine the positive behavior or habit that you want to have replace what you want to stop doing, and focus on doing that. If you want to watch less TV, make it your goal to read 20 pages every evening. If you want to spend less time in your office, make it your goal to walk the shop or office floor first thing in the morning. If you want to spend less time on social media, start an activity that makes it hard to engage. (If your goal is to take a walk every night with a partner or friend, and you leave your phones behind, voilà: more actual social time, much less social media.) If you want to stop doing one thing, or do less of it, choose another thing you want or need to do, and make doing that your goal: Do (this), and you’ll naturally have less opportunity to do (that). That’s the beauty of approach goals. Stopping a habit is easier when you don’t have as much time or opportunity to engage in that habit. Besides: It’s a lot more fun to start doing something you really want to do than it is to try to stop doing something you’ve decided you shouldn’t. —Jeff Haden View the full article

Design and prototyping play vital roles in product development by ensuring that both functionality and aesthetics are effectively integrated. Design focuses on creating user-centered solutions, whereas prototyping allows for rapid testing and refinement of ideas. For instance, using wireframes or 3D models can reveal potential flaws before a product launch. Comprehending these processes is fundamental for mitigating risks and enhancing user satisfaction. So, how do these elements interact to promote innovation in the development cycle? Key Takeaways Design merges aesthetics and functionality, enhancing user engagement and attracting customers to products. Prototyping allows early experimentation, identifying flaws and saving costs by preventing late-stage changes. User feedback during prototyping fosters a human-centered approach, improving overall user experience and satisfaction. Utilizing various prototype types accelerates innovation and collaboration within cross-functional teams, leading to better product outcomes. Prototyping acts as a risk management tool, revealing potential issues early and ensuring compliance with industry standards. The Role of Design in Product Development Design plays a vital role in product development, as it merges aesthetics with functionality to create products that not just attract customers but likewise effectively address their needs. Incorporating design and prototyping, the process begins with a human-centered approach, emphasizing empathy for users. This guarantees the final product improves user experience and engagement. You’ll find that prototype characteristics, such as usability and adaptability, are fundamental in refining solutions. Using user experience prototyping tools, you can iterate through cycles of ideation and testing, allowing for valuable feedback. Collaborating within cross-functional teams during this phase promotes innovation, ultimately speeding up the shift from concept to market-ready product. Effective design can greatly impact market success by differentiating offerings and cultivating connections with consumers. Understanding Prototyping and Its Types Prototyping is a fundamental aspect of product development that allows teams to experiment with ideas and refine their concepts before moving to full-scale production. The prototyping process involves defining goals, selecting the appropriate fidelity levels, and iterating designs based on user feedback. There are several types of prototypes, including proof of concept, visual prototypes, working prototypes, and pre-production prototypes, each serving distinct purposes. Low-fidelity prototypes, often made from inexpensive materials like paper, enable quick iterations and early-stage testing. Conversely, high-fidelity prototypes closely resemble the final product, facilitating in-depth user experience prototyping. Effective prototyping encourages collaboration among cross-functional teams, ensuring stakeholder feedback is integrated early, ultimately resulting in improved design solutions and a more successful final product. Benefits of Prototyping in the Development Process The advantages of incorporating prototyping into the development process are numerous and significant. Prototyping meaning extends beyond mere model-making; it refines product design by identifying flaws early, which saves costs linked to late-stage changes. The prototype concept accelerates your time to market by enabling quicker decision-making and feedback loops, giving you a competitive edge. Furthermore, prototypes serve as tangible tools that engage stakeholders and gather user feedback, ensuring the final product aligns with customer needs. By testing materials and validating designs against environmental conditions, prototyping improves product quality and compliance with industry standards, minimizing the risk of recalls. In the end, the benefits of prototyping lead to more innovative and successful final products, making it a crucial part of the development process. Enhancing User Experience Through Prototyping A well-executed prototyping phase greatly improves user experience by allowing for direct observation of how users interact with a product. Through user interface prototyping, you can gather valuable insights into usability, identifying pain points that need addressing. When engaging in ux prototyping, testing prototypes with real users enables iterative refinements, ensuring your final product aligns with user needs and expectations. This process cultivates a user-centered approach, making the prototype ux design more intuitive and engaging. By integrating navigation elements and features based on user feedback, you contribute to a seamless experience. Continuous iteration not just improves functionality but additionally creates memorable digital experiences, ultimately leading to higher user satisfaction and loyalty. Prototyping as a Tool for Risk Management In product development, identifying and mitigating risks early can save time and resources, making it easier to bring a successful product to market. Prototyping serves as a critical tool for risk management by revealing unnoticed issues that could affect user safety or product reliability. Through the stages of prototyping, you can validate your prototype design, ensuring compliance with industry standards before full-scale manufacturing. By simulating real-world conditions, engineering prototypes help identify potential problems early, minimizing uncertainties. This process considerably reduces the chances of costly modifications or product recalls later on. Risk Factor Prototyping Benefit Unnoticed design flaws Early detection and resolution Compliance issues Verification before launch User interaction problems Real-world simulation Frequently Asked Questions Why Is Prototyping Important in Product Development? Prototyping’s essential in product development since it helps you identify design flaws early, saving you from expensive changes later. By creating prototypes, you can gather user feedback, ensuring the final product aligns with user needs. This process encourages collaboration among teams, nurturing a shared vision. Furthermore, rapid iterations allow you to refine concepts quickly, speeding up time to market as you validate assumptions and reduce risks related to compliance and safety. Why Is Creating a Prototype an Important Part of the Design Process? Creating a prototype is essential in the design process since it allows you to test your ideas before committing to full production. By building a prototype, you can identify usability issues early, gather valuable user feedback, and refine your design. This process improves collaboration among team members and stakeholders, facilitating quicker decision-making. Additionally, using different prototype types helps you explore various solutions during the management of resources effectively, ensuring your final product meets user needs and industry standards. What Is the Role of Design in Product Development? Design plays a vital role in product development by ensuring that products aren’t merely functional but additionally visually appealing. You focus on user needs through methods like design thinking, which emphasizes empathy and iterative testing. By creating prototypes, you gather feedback that guides refinements, enhancing usability. Collaboration among cross-functional teams integrates technical and aesthetic considerations, resulting in a product that meets market demands and improves customer satisfaction. What Is Design and Prototyping? Design and prototyping involve creating visual and functional representations of a product before its full-scale production. You start with sketches or models to explore ideas, test usability, and refine aesthetics. This process allows you to identify flaws early on and gather feedback from users. Conclusion In conclusion, design and prototyping are crucial in product development, as they guarantee a balance between aesthetics and functionality. By focusing on user needs, teams can create products that resonate with customers. Prototyping enables rapid testing and iteration, identifying potential issues early in the process. This not just improves user experience but likewise reduces risks associated with product failures. In the end, integrating these practices leads to innovative solutions that meet market demands and uphold quality standards. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is the Importance of Design and Prototyping in Product Development?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

Design and prototyping play vital roles in product development by ensuring that both functionality and aesthetics are effectively integrated. Design focuses on creating user-centered solutions, whereas prototyping allows for rapid testing and refinement of ideas. For instance, using wireframes or 3D models can reveal potential flaws before a product launch. Comprehending these processes is fundamental for mitigating risks and enhancing user satisfaction. So, how do these elements interact to promote innovation in the development cycle? Key Takeaways Design merges aesthetics and functionality, enhancing user engagement and attracting customers to products. Prototyping allows early experimentation, identifying flaws and saving costs by preventing late-stage changes. User feedback during prototyping fosters a human-centered approach, improving overall user experience and satisfaction. Utilizing various prototype types accelerates innovation and collaboration within cross-functional teams, leading to better product outcomes. Prototyping acts as a risk management tool, revealing potential issues early and ensuring compliance with industry standards. The Role of Design in Product Development Design plays a vital role in product development, as it merges aesthetics with functionality to create products that not just attract customers but likewise effectively address their needs. Incorporating design and prototyping, the process begins with a human-centered approach, emphasizing empathy for users. This guarantees the final product improves user experience and engagement. You’ll find that prototype characteristics, such as usability and adaptability, are fundamental in refining solutions. Using user experience prototyping tools, you can iterate through cycles of ideation and testing, allowing for valuable feedback. Collaborating within cross-functional teams during this phase promotes innovation, ultimately speeding up the shift from concept to market-ready product. Effective design can greatly impact market success by differentiating offerings and cultivating connections with consumers. Understanding Prototyping and Its Types Prototyping is a fundamental aspect of product development that allows teams to experiment with ideas and refine their concepts before moving to full-scale production. The prototyping process involves defining goals, selecting the appropriate fidelity levels, and iterating designs based on user feedback. There are several types of prototypes, including proof of concept, visual prototypes, working prototypes, and pre-production prototypes, each serving distinct purposes. Low-fidelity prototypes, often made from inexpensive materials like paper, enable quick iterations and early-stage testing. Conversely, high-fidelity prototypes closely resemble the final product, facilitating in-depth user experience prototyping. Effective prototyping encourages collaboration among cross-functional teams, ensuring stakeholder feedback is integrated early, ultimately resulting in improved design solutions and a more successful final product. Benefits of Prototyping in the Development Process The advantages of incorporating prototyping into the development process are numerous and significant. Prototyping meaning extends beyond mere model-making; it refines product design by identifying flaws early, which saves costs linked to late-stage changes. The prototype concept accelerates your time to market by enabling quicker decision-making and feedback loops, giving you a competitive edge. Furthermore, prototypes serve as tangible tools that engage stakeholders and gather user feedback, ensuring the final product aligns with customer needs. By testing materials and validating designs against environmental conditions, prototyping improves product quality and compliance with industry standards, minimizing the risk of recalls. In the end, the benefits of prototyping lead to more innovative and successful final products, making it a crucial part of the development process. Enhancing User Experience Through Prototyping A well-executed prototyping phase greatly improves user experience by allowing for direct observation of how users interact with a product. Through user interface prototyping, you can gather valuable insights into usability, identifying pain points that need addressing. When engaging in ux prototyping, testing prototypes with real users enables iterative refinements, ensuring your final product aligns with user needs and expectations. This process cultivates a user-centered approach, making the prototype ux design more intuitive and engaging. By integrating navigation elements and features based on user feedback, you contribute to a seamless experience. Continuous iteration not just improves functionality but additionally creates memorable digital experiences, ultimately leading to higher user satisfaction and loyalty. Prototyping as a Tool for Risk Management In product development, identifying and mitigating risks early can save time and resources, making it easier to bring a successful product to market. Prototyping serves as a critical tool for risk management by revealing unnoticed issues that could affect user safety or product reliability. Through the stages of prototyping, you can validate your prototype design, ensuring compliance with industry standards before full-scale manufacturing. By simulating real-world conditions, engineering prototypes help identify potential problems early, minimizing uncertainties. This process considerably reduces the chances of costly modifications or product recalls later on. Risk Factor Prototyping Benefit Unnoticed design flaws Early detection and resolution Compliance issues Verification before launch User interaction problems Real-world simulation Frequently Asked Questions Why Is Prototyping Important in Product Development? Prototyping’s essential in product development since it helps you identify design flaws early, saving you from expensive changes later. By creating prototypes, you can gather user feedback, ensuring the final product aligns with user needs. This process encourages collaboration among teams, nurturing a shared vision. Furthermore, rapid iterations allow you to refine concepts quickly, speeding up time to market as you validate assumptions and reduce risks related to compliance and safety. Why Is Creating a Prototype an Important Part of the Design Process? Creating a prototype is essential in the design process since it allows you to test your ideas before committing to full production. By building a prototype, you can identify usability issues early, gather valuable user feedback, and refine your design. This process improves collaboration among team members and stakeholders, facilitating quicker decision-making. Additionally, using different prototype types helps you explore various solutions during the management of resources effectively, ensuring your final product meets user needs and industry standards. What Is the Role of Design in Product Development? Design plays a vital role in product development by ensuring that products aren’t merely functional but additionally visually appealing. You focus on user needs through methods like design thinking, which emphasizes empathy and iterative testing. By creating prototypes, you gather feedback that guides refinements, enhancing usability. Collaboration among cross-functional teams integrates technical and aesthetic considerations, resulting in a product that meets market demands and improves customer satisfaction. What Is Design and Prototyping? Design and prototyping involve creating visual and functional representations of a product before its full-scale production. You start with sketches or models to explore ideas, test usability, and refine aesthetics. This process allows you to identify flaws early on and gather feedback from users. Conclusion In conclusion, design and prototyping are crucial in product development, as they guarantee a balance between aesthetics and functionality. By focusing on user needs, teams can create products that resonate with customers. Prototyping enables rapid testing and iteration, identifying potential issues early in the process. This not just improves user experience but likewise reduces risks associated with product failures. In the end, integrating these practices leads to innovative solutions that meet market demands and uphold quality standards. Image via Google Gemini This article, "What Is the Importance of Design and Prototyping in Product Development?" was first published on Small Business Trends View the full article

For many people, the winter holiday period is their favorite time of the year. It’s weeks full of family, friends, gifts, and cozy indoor get-togethers. But those social gatherings are among the main reasons why the flu spreads so readily at this time of year. And this year, a so-called “superflu” variant known as subclade K is set to make things even worse. Here’s what you need to know. When is flu season? Flu season is officially in full swing. It’s the time of year when flu viruses are most rampant, and infections tend to spike before finally decreasing and leveling off. Most people know that flu season usually occurs in the winter months, but the period actually lasts for longer. According to the Cleveland Clinic, in the northern hemisphere, the flu season starts in October. However, its worst period encompasses December to February, which is when the highest number of cases occur. Cases usually begin to decline after February, and flu season is typically considered over by May. But besides its conventional start date, there’s another way to measure when flu season is underway. As CNN reports, health professionals often use the “epidemic threshold” to measure when flu season is underway. When that threshold, which measures the percentage of visits to a healthcare provider for respiratory illness, rises above 3.1%, flu season is here. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States passed that threshold last week when it hit 3.2%. And that number is likely to rise in the coming weeks, thanks to a new flu variant circulating the globe called subclade K. What is the subclade K influenza variant? The common seasonal flu going around this year is part of the H3N2 family, a strain that has been circulating for decades, notes Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. However, a new H3N2 variant has arisen with enough mutations to make it materially different, from a genetic perspective, from the reference strains scientists chose earlier this year to make this year’s flu vaccine. This variant is called “subclade K.” Because it has enough genetic differences, the subclade K variant is more resistant to this year’s flu vaccine than other strains. However, that doesn’t mean this year’s flu vaccine can’t help protect you against subclade K or other flu strains. As CNN reports, despite this year’s flu vaccine failing to neutralize subclade K viruses as well as other flu strains, the flu vaccine still cuts hospital visits for H3N2 strains in children by 75%. For adults, the vaccine appears to be less effective, but data shows that it can still cut hospital visits by 30% to 40%. Where in America is the flu most widespread? According to CDC data for the week ending December 6, the flu virus, including subclade K, is present in most of the United States. The CDC’s Influenza Division’s Weekly Influenza Surveillance report shows that the states with the highest level of flu activity include: New York Colorado Louisana New Jersy Conneticut Idaho What are the symptoms of the flu? Common symptoms of the flu include the following, according to the CDC: fever or feeling feverish/chills cough sore throat runny or stuffy nose muscle or body aches headaches fatigue (tiredness) some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults. How can I protect myself against the flu over the holidays? In winter, people tend to spend more time indoors with windows closed, which allows flu viruses to spread more easily between people. Holiday gatherings can accelerate this spread as many spend more time socializing during the period than they usually do. But just because it’s flu season doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the holidays. The CDC offers several bits of advice on how to reduce your risk of seasonal flu, including: Getting vaccinated Avoiding contact with people who are sick Cleaning your hands regularly Avoiding touching your mouth, nose, and eyes And if you think you are sick, you can help protect others by staying home and covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze. View the full article

President Donald The President filed a lawsuit Monday seeking $10 billion in damages from the BBC, accusing the British broadcaster of defamation as well as deceptive and unfair trade practices. The 33-page lawsuit accuses the BBC of broadcasting a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction of President The President,” calling it “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 U.S. presidential election. It accused the BBC of “splicing together two entirely separate parts of President The President’s speech on January 6, 2021” in order to “intentionally misrepresent the meaning of what President The President said.” The lawsuit, filed in a Florida court, seeks $5 billion in damages for defamation and $5 billion for unfair trade practices. The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press. The broadcaster apologized last month to The President over the edit of the Jan. 6 speech. But the publicly funded BBC rejected claims it had defamed him, after The President threatened legal action. BBC chairman Samir Shah had called it an “error of judgment,” which triggered the resignations of the BBC’s top executive and its head of news. The speech took place before some of The President’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol as Congress was poised to certify President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election that The President falsely alleged was stolen from him. The BBC had broadcast the hourlong documentary — titled “The President: A Second Chance?” — days before the 2024 U.S. presidential election. It spliced together three quotes from two sections of the 2021 speech, delivered almost an hour apart, into what appeared to be one quote in which The President urged supporters to march with him and “fight like hell.” Among the parts cut out was a section where The President said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully. The President said earlier Monday that he was suing the BBC “for putting words in my mouth.” “They actually put terrible words in my mouth having to do with Jan. 6 that I didn’t say, and they’re beautiful words, that I said, right?” the president said unprompted during an appearance in the Oval Office. “They’re beautiful words, talking about patriotism and all of the good things that I said. They didn’t say that, but they put terrible words.” The president’s lawsuit was filed in Florida. Deadlines to bring the case in British courts expired more than a year ago. Legal experts have brought up potential challenges to a case in the U.S. given that the documentary was not shown in the country. The lawsuit alleges that people in the U.S. can watch the BBC’s original content, including the “Panorama” series, which included the documentary, by using the subscription streaming platform BritBox or a virtual private network service. The 103-year-old BBC is a national institution funded through an annual license fee of 174.50 pounds ($230) paid by every household that watches live TV or BBC content. Bound by the terms of its charter to be impartial, it typically faces especially intense scrutiny and criticism from both conservatives and liberals. —Associated Press View the full article

FCA boss criticises OBR’s decision to take down premature analysis of Rachel Reeves’ financial statementView the full article

We are navigating the “search everywhere” revolution – a disruptive shift driven by generative AI and large language models (LLMs) that is reshaping the relationship between brands, consumers, and search engines. For the last two decades, the digital economy ran on a simple exchange: content for clicks. With the rise of zero-click experiences, AI Overviews, and assistant-led research, that exchange is breaking down. AI now synthesizes answers directly on the SERP, often satisfying intent without a visit to a website. Platforms such as Gemini and ChatGPT are fundamentally changing how information is discovered. For enterprises, visibility increasingly depends on whether content is recognized as authoritative by both search engines and AI systems. That shift introduces a new goal – to become the source that AI cites. A content knowledge graph is essential to achieving that goal. By leveraging structured data and entity SEO, brands can build a semantic data layer that enables AI to accurately interpret their entities and relationships, ensuring continued discoverability in this evolving economy. This article explores: The difference between traditional search and AI search, including the concept of comprehension budget. Why schema and entity optimization are foundational to discovery in AI search. The content knowledge graph and the importance of organizational entity lineage. The enterprise entity optimization playbook and deployment checklist. The role of schema in the agentic web. How connected journeys improve customer discovery and total cost of ownership. The fundamental difference between traditional and AI search To become a source that AI cites, it’s essential to understand how traditional search differs from AI-driven search. Traditional search functioned much like software as a service. It was deterministic, following fixed, rule-based logic and producing the same output for the same input every time. AI search is probabilistic. It generates responses based on patterns and likelihoods, which means results can vary from one query to the next. Even with multimodal content, AI converts text, images, and audio into numerical representations that capture meaning and relationships rather than exact matches. For AI to cite your content, you need a strong data layer combined with context engineering – structuring and optimizing information so AI can interpret it as reliable and trustworthy for a given query. As AI systems rely increasingly on large-scale inference rather than keyword-driven indexing, a new reality has emerged: the cost of comprehension. Each time an AI model interprets text, resolves ambiguity, or infers relationships between entities, it consumes GPU cycles, increasing already significant computing costs. A comprehension budget is the finite allocation of compute that determines whether content is worth the effort for an AI system to understand. 4 foundational elements for AI discovery For content to be cited by AI, it must first be discovered and understood. While many discovery requirements overlap with traditional search, key differences emerge in how AI systems process and evaluate content. 1. Technical foundation Your site’s infrastructure must allow AI engines to crawl and access content efficiently. With limited compute and a finite comprehension budget, platform architecture matters. Enterprises should support progressive crawling of fresh content through IndexNow integration to optimize that budget. Ideally, this capability is native to the platform and CMS. 2. Helpful content Before creating content, you need an entity strategy that accurately and comprehensively represents your brand. Content should meet audience needs and answer their questions. Structuring content around customer intent, presenting it in clear “chunks,” and keeping it fresh are all important considerations. Dig deeper: Chunk, cite, clarify, build: A content framework for AI search 3. Entity optimization Schema markup, clean information architecture, consistent headings, and clear entity relationships help AI engines understand both individual pages and how multiple pieces of content relate to one another. Rather than forcing models to infer what a page is about, who it applies to, or how information connects, businesses make those relationships explicit. 4. Authority AI engines, like traditional search engines, prioritize authoritative content from trusted sources. Establishing topical authority is essential. For location-based businesses, local relevance and authority are also critical to becoming a trusted source. The myth: Schema doesn’t work Many enterprises claim to use schema but see no measurable lift, leading to the belief that schema doesn’t work. The reality is that most failures stem from basic implementations or schema deployed with errors. Tags such as Organization or Breadcrumb are foundational, but they provide limited insight into a business. Used in isolation, they create disconnected data points rather than a cohesive story AI can interpret. The content knowledge graph: Telling AI your story The more AI knows about your business, the better it can cite it. A content knowledge graph is a structured map of entities and their relationships, providing reliable information about your business to AI systems. Deep nested schema plays a central role in building this graph. A deep nested schema architecture expresses the full entity lineage of a business in a machine-readable form. In resource description framework (RDF) terms, AI systems need to understand that: An organization creates a brand. The brand manufactures a product. The product belongs to a category. Each category serves a specific purpose or use case. By fully nesting entities – Organization → Brand → Product → Offer → PriceSpecification → Review → Person – you publish a closed-loop content knowledge graph that models your business with precision. Dig deeper: 8 steps to a successful entity-first strategy for SEO and content Get the newsletter search marketers rely on. See terms. The enterprise entity optimization playbook In “How to deploy advanced schema at scale,” I outlined the full process for effective schema deployment – from developing an entity strategy through deployment, maintenance, and measurement. Automating for operational excellence At the enterprise level, facts change constantly, including product specifications, availability, categories, reviews, offers, and prices. If structured data, entity lineage, and topic clusters do not update dynamically to reflect these changes, AI systems begin to detect inconsistencies. In an AI-driven ecosystem where accuracy, coherence, and consistency determine inclusion, even small discrepancies can erode trust. Manual schema management is not sustainable. The only scalable approach is automation – using a schema management solution aligned with your entity strategy and integrated into your discovery and marketing flywheel. Measuring success: KPIs for the generative AI era As keyword rankings lose relevance and traffic declines, you need new KPIs to evaluate performance in AI search. Brand visibility: Is your brand appearing in AI search results? Brand sentiment: When your brand is cited, is the sentiment positive, negative, or neutral? LLM visibility: Beyond branded queries, how does your performance on non-branded terms compare with competitors? Conversions: At the bottom of the funnel, are conversion metrics being tracked and optimized? Dig deeper: 7 focus areas as AI transforms search and the customer journey in 2026 From reading to acting: Preparing for the agentic web The web is shifting from a “read” model to an “act” model. AI agents will increasingly execute tasks on behalf of users, such as booking appointments, reserving tables, or comparing specifications. To be discovered by these agents, brands must make their capabilities machine-callable. Key steps to prepare include: Create a schema layer: Define entity lineage and executable capabilities in a machine-readable format so agents can act on your behalf. Use action vocabularies: Leverage Schema.org action vocabularies to provide semantic meaning and define agent capabilities, including: ReserveAction. BookAction. CommunicateAction. PotentialAction. Establish guardrails: Declare engagement rules, required inputs, authentication, and success or failure semantics in a structured format that machines can interpret. Brands that are callable are the ones that will be found. Acting early provides a compounding advantage by shaping the standards agents learn first. The enterprise entity deployment checklist Use this checklist to evaluate whether your entity strategy is operational, scalable, and aligned with AI discovery requirements. Entity audit: Have you defined your core entities and validated the facts? Deep nesting: Does your JSON-LD reflect your business ontology, or is it flat? Authority linking: Are you using sameAs to connect entities to Wikidata and the Knowledge Graph? Actionable schema: Have you implemented PotentialAction for the agentic web? Automation: Do you have a system in place to prevent schema drift? Single source of truth (SSOT): Is schema synchronized across your CMS, GBP, and internal systems? Technical SEO: Are the technical foundations in place to support an effective entity strategy? IndexNow: Are you enabling progressive and rapid indexing of fresh content? Connected customer journeys and total cost of ownership Your martech stack must align with the evolving customer discovery journey. This requires a shift from treating schema as a point solution for visibility to managing a holistic presence with total cost of ownership in mind. Data is the foundation of any composable architecture. A centralized data repository connects technologies, enables seamless flow, breaks down departmental silos, and optimizes cost of ownership. This reduces redundancy and improves the consistency and accuracy AI systems expect. When schema is treated as a point solution, content changes can break not only schema deployment but the entire entity lineage. Fixing individual tags does not restore performance. Instead, multiple teams – SEO, content, IT, and analytics – are pulled into investigations, increasing cost and inefficiency. The solution is to integrate schema markup directly into brand and entity strategy. When structured content changes, it should be: Revalidated against the organization’s entity lineage. Dynamically redeployed. Pushed for progressive indexing through IndexNow. This enables faster recovery and lower compute overhead. Integrating schema into your entity lineage and discovery flywheel helps optimize total cost of ownership while maximizing efficiency. A strategic blueprint for AI readiness Several core requirements define AI readiness. Data: Centralized, unified, consistent, and reliable data aligned to customer intent is the foundation of any AI strategy. Connected journeys and composable architecture: When data is unified and structured with schema, customer journeys can be connected across channels. A composable martech stack enables consistent, personalized experiences at every touchpoint. Structured content: Define organizational entity lineage and create a semantic layer that makes content machine- and agent-ready. Distribution: Break down silos and move from channel-specific tactics to an omnichannel strategy, supported by a centralized data source and progressive crawling of fresh content. Together, these efforts make your omnichannel strategy more durable while reducing total cost of ownership across the technology stack. Thanks to Bill Hunt and Tushar Prabhu for their contributions to this article. View the full article

If you want to recycle an old electric toothbrush or pair of headphones with a lithium battery embedded inside, it can be hard to find a place to do it—and many existing battery collection boxes are fire risks. That’s why Redwood Materials, the battery recycling and energy storage company founded by ex-Tesla engineer JB Straubel, just redesigned the collection bin. The new bins, rolling out first in San Francisco stores in partnership with the city’s environmental department, can accept any type of rechargeable device, from phones to electric razors, earbuds, and loose lithium batteries. When someone drops a battery or device into a slot, the bin automatically lowers it into a sealed 50-gallon drum and coats it in fire suppressant. The bin also uses sensors to monitor itself to prevent fires. “Consumer recycling has been incredibly challenging,” says Alexis Georgeson, Redwood’s vice president of external affairs and consumer recycling programs. “I think some of the issues and lack of technology to enable frictionless, free, visible collection points for consumers have contributed to the abysmal collection rates that we’re at right now.” Only around 16% of electronics are recycled in the U.S. right now. “Most batteries end up in junk drawers or landfills, because fundamentally consumers just don’t understand how to get them recycled,” Georgeson says. Redwood launched to handle battery recycling for buisnesses in 2017, but people who heard about the startup almost immediately began dropping off their own batteries at the company’s front door or shipping them in. The company started working with nonprofits and communities trying to make recycling easier, and previously placed standard collection bins at some locations. But those bins didn’t solve the challenge of fire risk, so they had to be monitored by staff. The new bins manage fire risk without human intervention, so they can scale up much more easily. They’re also secure, so someone could feel safe dropping in an old phone or laptop, unlike in the open cardboard boxes that exist in some other stores. When the drums are full, Redwood adds them to pallets that are shipped back to its Nevada facility for recycling. (The fire suppressant is also reused.) EV batteries still make up a bigger volume of the company’s recycling; a single Tesla Model 3 battery is equivalent to several thousand iPhone batteries. But as the number of battery-filled devices keeps proliferating, and consumers quickly get rid of them, the potential scale is large. Redwood plans to install the bins in other parts of the Bay Area, then Nevada, and then deploy them nationally. Even before the official launch in San Francisco—and without any promotion or signage— the bins are already popular. “We actually rolled the bins out very quietly a couple of weeks ago, and we’ve already filled several of them up,” Georgeson says. View the full article

It’s “where are you now?” month at Ask a Manager, and all December I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past. There will be more posts than usual this week, so keep checking back throughout the day. Remember the letter-writer whose employee was demoralized after a promotion was dangled in front her and then yanked away (#3 at the link)? Here’s the update. I met with Maple, the head of our office, and was able to uncover the truth about why they decided not to promote Joy (though it took some deeper questioning to get to it). It was your third possibility: Maple had concerns with Joy during the decision-making process. Maple felt that Joy wasn’t decisive enough and did not have enough passion for the transition. Here is some context: Joy was given two weeks to make a decision due to vacation schedules so she took advantage of the time to talk to a lot of people and ask a lot of questions. She had several meetings with Apple, the manager of sales team A. On the day before the decision date, she told Apple that she was leaning toward staying with my team. Unknown to Joy, Apple passed on that sentiment to Maple. On decision day, Joy ended up switching and saying that she wanted to transition to the role. This flip-flop was a frustration for Maple and caused her to feel that Joy was indecisive. She said she would need someone who can make hard decisions with limited information in that role. Another factor was that Joy had asked if could remain on an ongoing project that she enjoyed (an analytical responsibility within a multidisciplinary team). This led Maple to believe that Joy wasn’t “all in” on the sales role and was still clinging to her current team. There is some personal bias here: earlier in her career, Maple made a big transition with limited hesitation (made the decision without discussing it with anyone, including her husband). She seemed to have expected Joy to want a change with the same passion. While I disagree with Maple on these views, she is ultimately allowed to decide who she wants for the role. The problem was in the messaging. Instead of bringing up their concerns about Joy, they changed the requirement to needing experience in Team B or Team C first. Maple does generally believe that starting in those teams gives a stronger sales foundation, but my impression was that they wouldn’t have made that a requirement if Joy had done this differently. In Maple’s mind, if Joy really wanted to get into sales, she would be willing to do these other experiences first. As you can tell in my original letter, this was not conveyed well at all. The biggest issue was the impact on Joy. As I mentioned in my original letter, I knew I would be able to get the full story, but I was really worried about salvaging the aftermath. Joy could tell that there was some other underlying reason than what they gave her. But she felt it was due to her own deficiency. She was concerned that senior leaders had a limiting view on her and it would affect her future career advancement. Fortunately, I shared what I learned with her and I think I did a good job framing the various perspectives and context. While it was still frustrating for her, it at least made more sense for her and she appreciated the efforts in investigating this situation. I also had conveyed Joy’s fear in my meeting with Maple. To her credit, Maple was horrified at what Joy was perceiving. She and Apple later met with Joy to apologize for how this all turned out. They reassured her that this wouldn’t prevent her from making a similar transition in the future. Joy also got a separate note from my grandboss (global C-level position) to emphasize how much they valued her and that there was no poor perception from his end. These went a long way to helping Joy feel better but she did need some time to have this all settle in. Joy decided to stay with my team and not join the sales side (team B or C). While she already had hesitations about those teams, a factor for her decision was the support that we provided that she doesn’t think she’ll get there. The silver lining is that Joy has been more reflective about her career, more in those few weeks than in the last few years! After this had all settled, Joy and I had an informal review meeting to discuss her future. I was already working with her to put her on a path to managing people. Armed with what we learned about Maple’s values, we focused on decision-making skills. Joy is already strong in this area when it comes to technical and transactional work, but I emphasized taking it to a much broader and generalized level. We made an accelerated development plan that included putting her in new decision-making scenarios. We will try to force these situations rather than wait for them to come up naturally. Joy is very motivated here and is eager to prove that Maple made the wrong decision. Very recently, I learned that the company has significant growth plans for the next year. That would include bringing in an external team and integrating it with ours. My hope is to use this opportunity to reorganize my team and put Joy in a managerial role earlier than expected (previously, opportunities were limited since my team is fully staffed and we don’t do a lot of new hiring). I want to thank you for your advice and for the comments from your readers! I knew that the guidance was going to be helpful. What I was surprised by was how much it impacted me to receive encouragement and affirmation from you and your readers! It is one thing to read how this blog helps others, but it is quite another to experience it firsthand. It added a lot of momentum to how I approached things in the last few months. Thank you all! The post update: my employee is demoralized after a promotion was dangled in front her and then yanked away appeared first on Ask a Manager. View the full article

Accountancy reports global revenues of $39.8bn, still far lower than those at competitors Deloitte, PwC and EYView the full article

The The President administration said in a court filing Monday that the president’s White House ballroom construction project must continue for unexplained national security reasons and because a preservationists’ organization that wants it stopped has no standing to sue. The filing was in response to a lawsuit filed last Friday by the National Trust for Historic Preservation asking a federal judge to halt President Donald The President’s project until it goes through multiple independent reviews and a public comment period and wins approval from Congress. The administration’s 36-page filing included a declaration from Matthew C. Quinn, deputy director of the U.S. Secret Service, the agency responsible for the security of the president and other high-ranking officials, that said more work on the site of the former White House East Wing is still needed to meet the agency’s “safety and security requirements.” The filing did not explain the specific national security concerns; the administration has offered to share classified details with the judge in a private, in-person setting without the plaintiffs present. The East Wing had sat atop a emergency operations bunker for the president. Quinn said even a temporary halt to construction would “consequently hamper” the agency’s ability to fulfill its statutory obligations and its protective mission. A hearing in the case was scheduled for Tuesday in federal court in Washington. The government’s response offered the most comprehensive look yet at the ballroom construction project, including a window into how it was so swiftly approved by the The President administration bureaucracy and its expanding scope. The filings assert that final plans for the ballroom have yet to be finalized despite the continuing demolition and other work to prepare the site for eventual construction. Below-ground work on the site continues, wrote John Stanwich, the National Park Service’s liaison to the White House, and work on the foundations is set to begin in January. Above-ground construction “is not anticipated to begin until April 2026, at the earliest,” he wrote. The National Trust for Historic Preservation did not respond to email messages seeking comment. The privately funded group last week asked the U.S. District Court to block The President’s project. “No president is legally allowed to tear down portions of the White House without any review whatsoever — not President The President, not President Biden, and not anyone else,” the lawsuit states. “And no president is legally allowed to construct a ballroom on public property without giving the public the opportunity to weigh in.” The President had the East Wing torn down in October as part of his plan to build an estimated $300 million, 90,000-square-foot (27,432-square-meter) ballroom able to accommodate about 1,000 people before his term ends in January 2029. He says presidents before him long have wanted an event space larger than the rooms currently at the White House, and says the ballroom would end the practice of entertaining visiting foreign dignitaries in large, temporary pavilions on the south grounds. The Trust asserts that the plans should have been submitted to the National Capital Planning Commission, the Commission of Fine Arts and Congress before any action was taken. The lawsuit notes that the Trust wrote to those entities and the National Park Service on Oct. 21, after East Wing demolition began, urging a stop to the project and asking the administration to comply with federal law, but received no response. The lawsuit cites several federal statutes and rules detailing the role the planning and fine arts commission and lawmakers play in U.S. government construction projects. The administration argued in its response that the president has the authority to modify the White House and included the extensive history of changes and additions to the Executive Mansion since it was built more than 200 years ago. It also asserted that the president is not subject to the statutes cited by the plaintiffs. Department of Justice attorneys said in the filing that the plaintiff’s claims about the East Wing demolition are “moot” because the tear-down cannot be undone. The administration also argues that claims about future construction are “unripe” because the plans are not final. The administration also contends that the Trust cannot establish “irreparable harm” because above-ground construction is not expected until spring. It argues that the reviews sought in the lawsuit, consultation with the National Capital Planning Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts, “will soon be underway without this Court’s involvement.” The President’s ballroom project has prompted criticism in the historic preservation and architectural communities, and among his political adversaries, but the lawsuit is the most tangible effort thus far to alter or stop his plans for an addition that itself would be nearly twice the size of the White House before the East Wing was torn down. In 2000, the National Park Service’s Comprehensive Design Plan for the White House first identified the need for a larger event space to address an increase in visitors and to provide a venue suitable for major events, according to the administration’s filing. —Darlene Superville, Associated Press View the full article