In case you haven’t been on this planet for a year or so, fuel prices have gone up. And up. And up some more. As rising fuel and maintenance costs add pressure to already slim margins in today’s economy, businesses need robust, data-driven telematics to manage their fleet operations effectively. Even though prices are starting to come down, the market is also responding. Truck and equipment companies are making changes to incorporate advanced technology to meet the demand. Take Navistar as an example. Navistar committed to a connected and data-driven future with the standardization of a factory-installed telematics device on all new builds of the complete Class 6-8 International Truck and IC Bus vehicle product portfolios, including electric models. This allows all stakeholders access to actionable vehicle data, enhanced capabilities with industry partners, and further improved integration with truck equipment manufacturers. The International eMV Series battery-electric medium duty truck, in full production since August 2021, provides a flexible design that has offered customers a wide variety of specification options to serve various markets. Although the medium-duty electric truck segment has focused on box trucks, pick-ups, and delivery applications, body upfitters are taking on the challenge of seeing what can work on an electric vehicle. The International eMV Series has become a successful demonstration of chassis integration serving various markets. Terex Utilities, a manufacturer of materials processing machinery and aerial work platforms, introduced the industry’s first all-electric bucket truck mounted on an eMV Series chassis. The vehicle boasts a 135-mile driving range and enough battery power to run the bucket for a full day’s work. With the addition of advanced telematics and communications, fleet operators won’t be in the dark as they get used to their new vehicles. The factory-installed and warranted telematics device broadcasts data to OnCommand Connection, Navistar’s connected services platform, which aggregates vehicle health and performance data and turns that into actionable information. OnCommand Connection has more than 30 telematics partner integrations that allow for the platform’s unique open architecture to integrate with all makes and models of vehicles on the market. One of the partners Navistar has is Motive. Their strategic partnership will offer two types of integrations. First, Motive users will be able to streamline their fleet operations by accessing important data about their fleet, including easy-to-read fault code descriptions, severity ratings, and recommended parts and services from Navistar’s OnCommand Connection platform. This will allow users, such as safety, compliance, and fleet managers, to quickly diagnose and address potentially costly, maintenance-related issues that typically derail timelines and drive-up costs. Motive customers can expect improved fleet management by accessing data from Navistar’s factory-installed devices on International Trucks. These devices offer rich native telematics, such as vehicle location, engine hours, tire pressure, brake and cabin temperatures, and the status of lights directly from the vehicle manufacturer. Telematics is but one technology that can aid businesses facing inflationary pressures. Automation, to improve safety and productivity while reducing costs, is another possible approach. The impact that AI (artificial intelligence)-powered automation can have on physical operations is impressive. In in a recent independent study, the Motive AI Dashcam, for example, accurately detected 89% of unsafe driving behavior, helping businesses reduce accidents by up to 22%. Motive is scaling its machine learning and computer vision engineering teams to help businesses automate an expanding set of operational workflows. Even something as traditional as managing the sending of fleet drivers and maintenance crews can be improved. The Motive Card is the first corporate card natively integrated with a fleet management platform, giving businesses an all-in-one solution to automate their financial and physical operations. Want to tweet about this article? Use hashtags #construction #sustainability #infrastructure #IoT #AI #cloud #edge #futureofwork The post Prices up, Get Efficiency up appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/prices-up-get-efficiency-up/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/prices-up-get-efficiency-up.html
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Parks Associates says 29% of U.S. internet households plan to purchase a smart thermostat in the next six months. The post Fact of the Day – 8/26/2022 appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-8-26-2022/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/fact-of-day-8262022.html A lot of information has been coming out on the 3D-printed building approach to rapid construction. Perhaps forgotten in the rush, other rapid methods are available, especially for residential construction. As the economy shakes out from the slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, builders are looking for better ways to get people into new homes. Among the resources available to help are specialized exterior panelized wall systems from Tempe, Arizona-based HercuTech. Their innovative product, HercuWall, is an ICC-certified panelized exterior and demising wall system technology comprised of four common materials – EPS insulating foam, reinforced with a patented steel ShearStrip, laminated with a weather-resistant barrier, and followed by site integrated concrete. HercuWall is cost efficient and light enough to be carried by one installer but is three-times stronger than comparable wood wall panels. A HercuWall unit goes up panel by panel, in numerical order, and can be stood up in an hour and a half. This factory panelized solution is the only viable system solving the labor, material, and building cycle challenges in construction, and even surpasses current and future building codes and ESG (environmental, social, and governance) standards. HercuTech provides free training, teaching the trades how to install and interact with the system through its HercuFit University training program. HercuTech claims the benefits extend far beyond the construction process, providing residents a superior living experience. A HercuWall home is airtight with greater insulation and energy efficiency. Residents enjoy lower energy bills, a quieter environment, and healthier air quality. The panels are fire-resistant and rated up to 235mph hurricane-level winds, providing a peace of mind that traditional lumber cannot. HercuTech is also an eco-conscious building materials company, focused on ESG). HercuWall replaces up to 60% of the wood in a project, is manufactured sustainably, recycles 99% of scrap material, produces no onsite construction waste, decreases the carbon footprint of a project, increases energy efficiency up to 40%, and results in longer-lasting structures. HercuWall has already been used in more than 500 units in multi-family construction with another 7,000 units in the design phase throughout Arizona for roll out in 2022-2023. Among the developments are several from MODUS Companies, a developer of Net Zero communities. MODUS is ready to open multiple projects equaling 1,200 units throughout the Valley of the Sun (Phoenix area). The first to be built are the Arcadia View Lofts in Phoenix, where MODUS has partnered with Kinella Construction to supply HercuTech’s wall system. The Arcadia View Lofts were specifically designed with a single-family feel and multifamily amenities, two floor plan options will be featured in the community: one being a two-bedroom loft in a two-story building and another being a one-bedroom in a one-story building. This will be the first Net Zero Energy multifamily project in Phoenix using HercuWall technology. Want to tweet about this article? Use hashtags #construction #sustainability #futureofwork The post More Rapid Construction appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/more-rapid-construction/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/more-rapid-construction.html Juniper Research says digital domestic money transfer volume to surpass 300 billion globally by 2026. The post Fact of the Day – 8/25/2022 appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-8-25-2022/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/fact-of-day-8252022.html Being a new homeowner is an exciting time. You now have a property to call your own that you can truly personalize and ensure fits your style and taste. The post Top Tips to Keep in Mind as a New Homeowner appeared first on At Home in the Future. from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2022/08/top-tips-keep-mind-new-homeowner/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/top-tips-to-keep-in-mind-as-new.html Smart homes are a reality and a concern. A basic aspect of “smart homing” is that the house and its many smart appliances and functions are connected via the internet, either for diagnostics or remote monitoring or for automatic resupply—the talking refrigerator effect. And while the technology is available to meet most demands, the end user—the homeowner—is not quite sold on the total package. According to Parks Associates, a market research and analysis firm, three-fourths of respondents to a recent survey have concerns about the safety of their personal data in the connected home. In addition, their research finds 50% of smart home device owners have experienced a recent problem with one or more of their devices, with many problems related to wireless connectivity, contributing to the high return rates for these devices. These are real problems for those who want a technical solution without being technologists themselves. Most homeowners and potential smart home buyers like the convenience but want the total package to be “plug ‘n’ play.” Even the common starting point for upgrading the house to a smart home, the connected thermostat, is facing headwinds. Parks Associates’ Smart Thermostat Market Assessment finds that adoption of smart thermostats has been flat for several years, at 13% of US internet households, despite owners reporting savings that meet or exceed their expectations. That is predicted to improve with 29% of U.S. internet households planning to buy one of these devices in the next six months. While smart thermostats are lagging, telehealth devices are a growing market, one that defies the concerns owners of smart homes voice about data leakage. New consumer data shows the continued rise in connected health devices with 54% of U.S. internet households owning at least one product and 23% owning three or more. Driven by smart watch adoption, consumers and patients have become used to using devices to collect, transmit, and interpret health data. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, remote care in the home was in accension, relying both on the quality of patient monitoring and on the quality of the insights provided to the care team and family caregivers. Kristen Hanich, director, Broadband and Health Research at Parks Associates, relates, “The use of predictive analytics and machine learning algorithms in healthcare turn real-time data into actionable and potentially life-saving insights and diagnostic support.” Parks Associates reports that 57% of consumers find sharing device health data appealing and more than one in three seek care providers who offer this. These systems are even more powerful when combined with edge computing, which offers ultra-low latency, high reliability, and data privacy/security benefits over cloud-first systems. Further, low-powered edge AI solutions can be tailored for the many battery-powered health IoT sensors and devices that need intelligence, security, and low power consumption. Parks Associates relates that while consumers are willing to transmit data remotely to their doctors, they are very concerned about the security of the rest of their data. Surprisingly, they are very fatalistic about this topic—almost two-thirds of consumers feel it is impossible to keep data completely secure. The proliferation of apps and connected devices creates many new avenues for data to leak out of a household, often just by accident or through an unpatched error, so the pressure is on device manufacturers and ISPs to ensure their solutions retain high standards in data and privacy protections for the life of their product. As threats continually evolve, home computer protection is no longer enough. All internet-connected devices need to be secured as well. Dan Berte, Innovation and IoT specialist at Bitdefender, acknowledges that “…identity theft remains one of the most harrowing threats, with the ability to inflict direct damage on personal finances, from new cards being opened and used without proper authorization, accounts drained, and diminished credit scores that will impact access to more credit.” Today’s technology consumer is not passive when it comes to problems associated with their smart home. Parks Associates reports that between 2-4% of U.S. internet households returned at least one smart-home device in the past 12 months, high return rates when you consider the purchase and adoption rates are still in single or low double digits. A poor early experience impacts future consumer attitudes, as 13% of consumers report they are not likely to purchase a new product from the same brand if they return a product from that brand. Why such a high rate of returns? Consumers report the main reason for smart home returns were “the product did not work as advertised” and they had “difficulty with the physical installation,” indicating more work needs to be done to improve consumer education, setup and installation processes, and product connectivity. Additionally, more than one-half of Wi-Fi network owners report some network problem over the last 12 months, including slow speeds and lost connections. “Smart home devices often get returned for reasons that have nothing to do with the device itself,” according to Jason Moore, CEO of RouteThis. He continues, “In reality, over half of the issues these devices experience is related to the consumer’s home Wi-Fi. So, when it comes to building brand loyalty, smart home brands first need to consider what they can do to better resolve and assist customers with these issues.” Suggestions being made for manufacturers and dealers, which also can be valid for contractors, include focus on the installation and setup procedures to make them easier to understand for non-technical users, be proactive in regard to connectivity issues to head off common complaints, and be ready to provide technical services and tools to “make it right.” Remember, a warranty is only as good as the company behind it; make your company the one the customer returns to not the one they return your products to. Want to tweet about this article? Use hashtags #construction #sustainability #IoT #AI #cloud #edge #futureofwork The post Smart Homes/Unhappy Homes appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/smart-homes-unhappy-homes/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/smart-homesunhappy-homes.html According to Neil Lindsay, senior vice president of Amazon Health Services, healthcare is high up there on the list of experiences that “need reinvention.” Americans would tend to agree. A study published by Statista suggests 43% of people in the U.S. are not very satisfied or not at all satisfied with the American health system. But is Amazon the company to reinvent healthcare? The tech giant’s latest proposed acquisition has sparked a lot of discussion about the future of Amazon, the future of healthcare in the U.S., and the future of health data—and, more specifically, the privacy of health data. In late July, Amazon announced its intent to acquire One Medical, a human-centered, technology-powered U.S. primary care organization that aims to make quality healthcare “more affordable, accessible, and enjoyable through a seamless combination of in-person, digital, and virtual care services.” The company currently serves 12 major U.S. markets. Subscribers get access to in-person care in these 12 markets as well as 24/7 access to virtual care. One Medical’s value proposition is making the process of healthcare work a lot better for patients, who are more used to have convenient services and virtual options than ever before. For instance, One Medical’s mobile app allows patients to schedule appointments, renew prescriptions, and message with a healthcare provider. The service offers up-to-date digital health records and proactive digital health reminders, too, along with options to attend video appointments instead of face-to-face appointments, if necessary or desired. Amazon Health Service’s Lindsay says together with One Medical, the company will be able to move toward its long-term mission of getting more people access to better care on people’s own terms. Amazon has already made moves to enter the healthcare space. In 2018, it announced its agreement to acquire PillPack, and then it launched Amazon Pharmacy in 2020—a service that allows people to buy prescription medications on Amazon. The Amazon Care service became available nationwide just this year; it now offers virtual health services nationwide with plans to roll out in-person services across 20 new cities in 2022. The muscle behind Amazon may indeed push healthcare toward a more patient-friendly model, but not everyone agrees billionaires like Jeff Bezos should get richer from the reinvention of healthcare. For instance, in reaction to the acquisition proposal, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, an advocate for universal healthcare, tweeted his opposition to the deal. Some One Medical subscribers also took to Twitter to share their concerns about the privacy of their health data if Amazon takes over—the $3.9 billion deal must still gain approval from FTC (Federal Trade Commission). It’s still an “if” because the merger could hinder competition in the space. Would the benefits of an Amazon-owned One Medical outweigh the potential negatives? It’s impossible to know how things will shake out, but it seems that the price of convenience for end users is often giving up some control over their personal data, and it may end up also being true in this case. What’s certain is the current model of healthcare no longer works for a lot of Americans. While most are still a part of the old system, when a new system starts gaining momentum, many will likely jump onboard to benefit from a more patient-centric model that puts their time and their needs first. Want to tweet about this article? Use hashtags #IoT #sustainability #AI #5G #cloud #edge #digitaltransformation #machinelearning #bigdata #AmazonHealthServices #Amazon #OneMedical #mhealth #privacy #telehealth#virtualhealth #healthcare The post Unpacking Amazon’s Proposed Acquisition of One Medical appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/unpacking-amazons-proposed-acquisition-of-one-medical/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/unpacking-amazons-proposed-acquisition.html The future is here—and the future will be driven by technologies such as cloud, 5G, the IoT (Internet of Things), sensors, edge, digital twin, AI (artificial intelligence), and so much more. While there is a lot of discussion about these technologies already, now it is time to start talking about the direction we are headed. Nick McQuire, director of product management, growth innovation, and strategy, Microsoft, is tasked with working with the company’s Strategic Missions and Technology division, which was set up in November of last year. The objective is to be the connection point between Microsoft’s long-term research and current solution portfolio. “Our role is to bridge that gap between our product in market and our long-term research, but ultimately to build, accelerate, and scale what we believe are the next-generation of $10 billion-plus businesses for Microsoft,” he explains. We recently sat down on The Peggy Smedley Show to discuss how the company is focused on four key areas that are collectively shaping the future of the cloud: telecommunications and 5G, space, quantum computing, and solutions for federal government. Further, it is focusing on three major technology shifts: ubiquitous computing and the edge, advanced AI, and immersive experience through things like mixed reality. On the podcast, he gave us two really great examples of how this might look in business. Consider the example of Ferrovial, which is a Spanish multinational infrastructure company. The company is building smart highways of the future based on 5G and involve integrated technologies such as the IoT, sensors, edge, digital twin, and AI. “They are using these 5G networks to turn stretches of the highway into an API in order to improve safety, which is really the prime driver, but also to better communicate to a mix of—what they see as an increasing mix—of autonomous and semiautonomous vehicles that are populating our roads in the future,” he explains. Essentially, the infrastructure will be able to adjust in realtime to changing situations on the roads thanks to the IoT-based cameras and sensors. The sensors will also be able to build a digital twin, which will help them to train advanced AI models to do some clever things like object detection for debris or broken-down vehicles on the road. This example is all about putting intelligence at the roadside to solve safety problems. For years, I have been urging that we need to use technology to improve our infrastructure and our road safety. It is so exciting to see and hear examples like this one come to fruition. Another passion of mine is leveraging technology to solve the climate crisis, and Microsoft is working with a company to do this as well. As we all know, wildfires are escalating all over the world—and technology can help. Edge communication, geospatial data, and models can predict outbreaks. On the show, McQuire gives the great example of a major agricultural organization in a research capacity to build augmented intelligence for firefighters. The technology can equip firefighters at the frontline with realtime data intelligence and co-reason with firefighters. In the future, autonomous systems can improve the safety and response to the proliferation of wildfires. It is that co-reasoning piece that McQuire brought up a few times in the podcast. He suggests we are going to see ubiquitous computing being expanded even further and we are going to see advanced AI and quantum at scale. Further, he suggests we are going to see a new paradigm of co-reasoning develop between humans and machines that are going to evolve this immersive reality. The future is here. Many companies are already embracing technologies to improve safety on the roads and at the job. McQuire gives a good peak into the future of cloud and three major technology shifts that are happening now. How will your company respond? Want to tweet about this article? Use hashtags #IoT #sustainability #AI #5G #cloud #edge #futureofwork #digitaltransformation #green #ecosystem #environmental #circularworld The post Co-Reasoning: Man and Machine appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/co-reasoning-man-and-machine/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/co-reasoning-man-and-machine.html IDC says worldwide PC shipments fell 15.3% in the second quarter of 2022, as supply and demand both waver. The post Fact of the Day – 8/24/2022 appeared first on Connected World. from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-8-24-2022/ via IFTTT Via https://theartofallen.blogspot.com/2022/08/fact-of-day-8242022.html Not all great software comes from Silicon Valley USA. The entrepreneurial spirit and creativity necessary to develop new and valuable software applications can be found around the world. Arguably the trigger to releasing much of that creativity was the introduction of the IBM PC (personal computer) in 1981. The machine was based on open architecture and third-party peripherals, allowing developers to produce applications and devices galore. Okay, Apple fans, the two Steves, Jobs and Wozniak, had the Apple II out first (1977) and it even had color graphics but the Z80 processor wasn’t up to handling the heavy lifting of many business applications, relegating their microcomputer to home use. The later Apple Lisa and McIntosh, while having a great graphical user interface, also had a closed architecture that prevent porting over many popular applications. Developers who were working to move business applications from large expensive computers to the new microcomputers, including CAD (computer-aided design) programs, needed that open system and standards to be successful. CAD was a boon to architects who could master the keyboard and mouse as well as they had the pen and triangle. On mainframe computers and minicomputers, CAD was becoming a staple in design and engineering as early as the 1960s. Originally implemented on mainframe computers, CAD provided more capability than just an ability to replace manual drafting with electronic drafting. The benefits of CAD systems include automated generation of BOM (bills of materials), auto layout in integrated circuits, interference checking, and many others. Overall, CAD is an example of the pervasive effect microcomputers were beginning to have on every industry. Early entries included names familiar to designers today—who might very well have been in elementary school when they first came out. Of course, AutoCAD from Autodesk leads the list of popular CAD titles from the U.S. with European applications close behind: SolidWorks and CATIA from French developer Dassault Systèmes and Archicad from Budapest-based Graphisoft being two. All have been updated continuously and represent some of the best technology for the AEC segment. Graphisoft released its first commercial software in 1984 with coordinated 2D and 3D. In fact, Archicad has been recognized as the first CAD product on a personal computer able to create both 2D and 3D geometry, as well as the first commercial BIM building information modeling) product for personal computers. Its “Virtual Building” approach pioneered what would many years later be called BIM. The connection between CAD and BIM applications is a major step for architects and contractors. Graphisoft recently released Archicad 26 and updates to its BIMcloud and BIMx to keep the applications current. Architects can design, visualize, document, and deliver projects of all sizes with powerful built-in tools and an easy-to-use interface that make it one of the most efficient and intuitive BIM applications on the market. 3D model publishing with a simpler, more informative workflow and easier control over texture, file size, and export time are part of the update. BIMx Web Viewer and BIMx Desktop Viewer have new, more realistic visualization with on-the-fly rendering, reflecting project orientation, and a Camera View Cone in the 3D model. The COVID-19 pandemic compelled architectural design practices to change the way they work almost overnight with lockdowns and remote work the new norm. Working from anywhere created an instant need for online collaboration and remote access to office infrastructure. BIMcloud SaaS (Software as a Service) closed the gap between the home, office, and the construction site, regardless of location or software used. Architects got fast, efficient, and secure access to shared projects in realtime thanks to their own secure BIMcloud hosted by Graphisoft in the cloud. BIMx, on the other hand, bridges the gap between the design studio, the client’s office, and the construction site, making it the most popular presentation and collaboration tool for desktops, mobile devices, and the internet. The latest version of Archicad 26 features key updates to BIMx functionality on all desktop and mobile platforms. Customer buy-in is faster than ever thanks to an immersive 3D environment regardless of which platform viewers are using. We’ve come a long way since the PC of 1981 started the desktop computing trend. Applications that were science fiction in the 1980s are populating our handheld devices—which are more powerful than the microcomputers of even 20 years ago. Whatever the future holds for computing, applications developers will be working away to keep up, both in the U.S. and the rest of the world. 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