Category Archives: Technology

TORONTO & NOIDA, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company, announced Rogers Communications, a leading Canadian telecom service provider and media company, has selected HCL to expand support of operational stability excellence in business and operational support systems and corporate IT systems. This new multi-year agreement strengthens HCLs managed services partnership with Rogers that began in 2016.

HCL will help scale Rogers IT infrastructure and workloads migrating to the current private and public cloud infrastructure, support the enterprises operations, and serve as the ongoing managed services provider. The expanded contract will allow HCL to invest in the next generation of AI and machine learning to enable best practices, accelerate efficiencies, and provide Rogers Communications with the needed flexibility to harness the new era of 5G and digital technologies.

HCL has played an important role in supporting the reliability of our operations since 2016 and has provided tremendous value by enabling us to scale IT operational efficiency and stability, said Vikram Virk, Vice President, IT Operations at Rogers Communications. We are pleased to renew and expand our strategic partnership with HCL to help support our customers.

In line with HCLs vision, this new chapter in our relationship with Rogers is an affirmation of our strategy in responding to customers digital transformation journeys, said Anil Ganjoo, Corporate Vice President, HCL Technologies. By focusing on cloud, automation, AI, fast networks and more, Rogers can ensure it meets its customers current and future needs.

We are excited to work with Rogers as it embarks on the next phase of its technology evolution to deliver leading performance and reliability, as well as best-in-class customer experience, said Joelien Jose, Executive Vice President and Country Head, Canada, HCL Technologies. The Rogers partnership with HCL further validates its substantial investment in Canada, the most recent being the 350-seat digital acceleration center in Mississauga.

About HCL Technologies

HCL Technologies (HCL) empowers global enterprises with technology for the next decade, today. HCLs Mode 1-2-3 strategy, based on its deep-domain industry expertise, client-centricity and entrepreneurial culture of Ideapreneurship, enables businesses to transform into next-gen enterprises.

HCL offers its services and products through three business units: IT and Business Services (ITBS), Engineering and R&D Services (ERS) and Products & Platforms (P&P). ITBS enables global enterprises to transform their businesses through offerings in the areas of applications, infrastructure, digital process operations and next-generation digital transformation solutions. ERS offers engineering services and solutions in all aspects of product development and platform engineering. P&P provides modernized software products to global clients for their technology and industry-specific requirements. Through its cutting-edge co-innovation labs, global delivery capabilities and broad global network, HCL delivers holistic services in various industry verticals, including Financial Services, Manufacturing, Technology and Services, Telecom and Media, Retail and CPG, Life Sciences and Healthcare, and Public Services.

As a leading global technology company, HCL takes pride in its diversity, social responsibility, sustainability, and education initiatives. For the 12 months ended June 30, 2021, HCL had consolidated revenue of $10.54 billion. Its more than 175,000 Ideapreneurs operate out of 50 countries.

For more information, visit http://www.hcltech.com

Forwardlooking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact are statements that could be deemed forward-looking statements, including but not limited to the statements containing the words 'planned', 'expects', 'believes, strategy', 'opportunity', 'anticipates', 'hopes' or other similar words. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding impact of pending regulatory proceedings, fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services, business process outsourcing and consulting services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, customer acceptances of our services, products and fee structures, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, our ability to integrate acquired assets in a cost-effective and timely manner, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-timeframe contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, the success of our brand development efforts, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies /entities in which we have made strategic investments, withdrawal of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property, other risks, uncertainties and general economic conditions affecting our industry. There can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements made herein will prove to be accurate, and issuance of such forward-looking statements should not be regarded as a representation by the Company, or any other person, that the objective and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information presently available to the Management of the Company and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company.

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HCL Technologies Selected by Rogers to Support Operational Stability - Business Wire

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BurlCo Institute of Technology Named One of Seven 'Lighthouse Schools' in NJ - TAPinto.net

As industries accelerated their tech adoption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations were focused more on using emerging technology for business continuity at first. Plans for using technology to improve business efficiency and productivity were slowed down due to changes in the workplace.

Initially, most organizations began sourcing more remote working technologies, including improving the productivity of their remote workers as well as securing them. In the Asia Pacific, most organizations were not fully prepared to deal with long-term remote working, leading to some companies facing heavy losses.

In Malaysia, the negative economic impact of the pandemic is still felt as a high number of positive cases has led to extended lockdowns and a reduction in operations in non-essential industries. Despite the pandemic slowing down digital transformation, businesses are now realizing the potential achievable with emerging technologies to achieve IR4.0.

According to Catherine Lian, Managing Director of IBM Malaysia, businesses have become more trusting of what technology can do, and why they are pushing ahead with digital transformation. Businesses are rethinking competitive advantage for the COVID-19 recovery to include investment in technologies such as cloud, AI, IoT, and blockchain.

Catherine Lian, Managing Director, IBM Malaysia

Today, the mix of key technology adoption together with tech-enabled capabilities continues to be important in propelling businesses. The IBV Digital Acceleration Study indicates that cloud, artificial intelligence (AI), and mobile are the essential technologies that will provide the greatest performance impact for organizations across industries.

Cloud and AI have become a more important performance differentiator in 11 out of 18 industries analyzed since the pandemic. Meanwhile, emerging technologies such as AI, IoT, and robotic process automation are associated with higher performance in industries such as consumer products and electronics, said Catherine.

Catherine highlighted that part of Malaysias path to a successful digital transformation depends on coordinated efforts and effective collaboration as well as a common vision for digital integration.

IBM is delighted that the MyDigital initiative will give more room for the public and private partnership to create new business models and business resiliency whereby technology enhances the Malaysian business operation to be more efficient, productive and resulting in cost-savings and new revenue streams. Only by working together can we navigate the best route through the river of change ahead.

One example would be IBMs collaboration with SMART Modular Technologies (SMART), a global leader of specialty memory and storage solutions manufacturer based in Penang. SMART will deploy IBM Maximo Visual Inspection integrated with AI-powered collaborative robots (COBOTS) to develop innovative manufacturing solutions.

SMARTs memory components are embedded in systems that face some of the most demanding physical conditions from military and aviation to outer space applications where extreme quality is a truly critical performance benchmark. SMARTs inspectors examine memory chips under a microscope for defects such as cracked solder joints, damaged components, or any other kinds of defects in a traditional manufacturing process environment.

(Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)

Apart from that, in 2020, the City Council of Penang Island (MBPP) announced the continuation of its collaboration with IBM Malaysia in accelerating Penang smart city initiatives and enhancing State Government service delivery to the public and business sectors. IBM provides advisory, technical expertise, and consultation around four key technologies, namely Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, and Internet of Things (IoT); that are related to MBPPs smart city implementations.

At the same time, Catherine pointed out the combination of 5G, edge computing and the hybrid cloud represents emerging technology in a new computing model capable of transforming and accelerating digitalization and automation in businesses across multiple industries in Malaysia. This includes helping people and machines to work closer together, improving flexibility in production, creating safer working environments, and enhance customer experience.

5G will enable the cutting-edge manufacturing concepts to be implemented and enables highly reliable, secure, and high-speed data transmission with short response times, making manufacturing more flexible, mobile, and productive. Therefore, 5G forms an essential prerequisite for the factory of the future, said Catherine.

As with any developing nation, access to a skilled workforce is still a problem for most. Increasing emerging technology adoption in ASEAN countries means Malaysia will also face a bigger shortage of digital talent.

Today, in almost every organization, be it large enterprises or small and medium businesses, the shortage of skilled employees, especially in IT has been seen as a contributing factor to why some organizations are still not fully implementing new technologies.

(Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP)

For Catherine, there is no quick and easy solution to closing the digital skills gap, especially with the growth of emerging technology. She said one way of reducing the shortage is by collaborating with higher learning institutes.

For that, IBM continues to invest and expand its belief in people by collaborating with the public and private sector to bridge the digital talent gap in Malaysia through our programs and platforms.

IBM partnered with Ministry of Education and MDEC to address the digital skills shortage and to prepare a future-ready workforce through P-TECH program. P-TECH (The Pathways in Technology) program is designed to break the cycle of inequity in education and to address skills gaps in the labor force by linking education and workforce development.

Through the P-TECH model, high schools, tertiary-level universities, and industry partners collaborate to enable students to earn recognized university-level credentials that provide a direct path to competitive, in-demand STEM careers in all industries.

At IBM, we believe that learners at all stages of the employment continuum need access to the skills that will allow them to compete in an ever-evolving economy. Our goal is to help everyone, no matter their circumstances, prepare themselves for the workforce of tomorrow, concluded Catherine.

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IBM foresees faster emerging technology adoption in Malaysia - Tech Wire Asia

The most popular sessions featured some of the top yielding farming operations in the United States. Kelly Garrett, a Denison, Iowa, farmer and the National Corn Growers Association Corn Yield Contest winner, said he continues to push corn and soybean yields on his farm through the use of foliar fertilizer applications, hybrid and varietal selection, use of plant growth regulators, seeding populations, as well as use of variable rate seeding. He said any of those alone wont produce results; its the combination that makes the difference.

Its very much attention to detail. There isnt one silver bullet at all," he said. "Theres 10 or 12 or 15 things that you need to do correctly.

When talking to other farmers, Garrett said some of the most common areas they overlook include the use of plant growth regulators, which have been a big plus in his operation because they direct the energy in the plant towards yield and not just the height of the plant.

A plant growth regulator makes the plant grow more efficiently, he said.

Garrett also recommends checking the pH of the water on the farm, because water that is too hard due to high levels of iron and magnesium can tie up herbicides, fungicides or foliar fertilizer applications, making them unavailable to the crop.

Specifically on seeding populations, Garrett said they have backed off their rates.

More plants dont equate to more yield. What equates to more yield is a healthier plant, a more viable plant that can produce more for you, he said.

Garrett also reminds farmers to make sure their planter is in good working order because proper seed establishment is critical in setting yield.

Farmers also travel for thousands of miles to see the newest technology in the AgPHD field trials at the Hefty Farm near Baltic. They displayed hundreds of plots in cooperation with nearly every major seed and crop protection company so farmers could make comparisons and see what is working the best under different field conditions.

Glenn Herz oversees research for Hefty Seed. He said the biggest area of growth has been with the biologicals especially with the major players in the industry.

Guys continue to improve soil health and soil fertility, and, you know, some of the things that in the Midwest we deal with. We may have organic matter and stuff but theres also times when we have nutrients that are tied up and thats where the biologicals come in, he said.

Another big growth area is fungicides, which Herz says has come about after the recent company mergers. That has allowed more dollars to be invested into research.

And fungicides continue to improve. The longevity of fungicides, and then different modes, multiple modes of action on fungicides, theyre really getting into that, he said.

He admits its difficult to put a number on the yield increase from using these fungicides, but especially in a drought year like 2021 in the northwestern Corn Belt, it is keeping the plant alive longer.

Herz said there are also some new tolerant crops to certain chemistries.

Weve got grain sorghum out here thats showing some tolerance to almost like a Clearfield grain sorghum, he said. According to Herz, that will allow some farmers to grow sorghum that hadnt in the past because of the weed pressure.

Attendees of AgPhD Field Day near Baltic, South Dakota, on July 29, 2021, got to see a demonstration of an autonomous tractor with a grain cart.Michelle Rook / Agweek

To watch that thing in operation and to be within inches of me and Im controlling where I want the grain cart to go and then all I do is push a button and it goes back to a staging area that was really neat to see, he said.

A new strip-till system from Environmental Tillage Systems Inc. was on display at the AgPhD Field Day near Baltic, South Dakota, on July 29, 2021. The SoilWarrior Edge platform is a three-point mounted strip-till system, which goes from eight rows up to 18 rows depending upon row spacing.Michelle Rook / Agweek

Its convertible from shank to coulter and back and forth. You can run a single coulter, a shank/knife and coulter or three coulters. And you can convert to any type of fertilizer system, he said.

He said strip tillage systems have been increasingly popular in the western Corn Belt for its environmental benefits and yield response.

Being able to get the fertilizer underground and getting into that zone right where the plant needs it both increases efficiency and it makes it available for the plant when it needs it, he said.

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AgPhD Field Day draws crowds with top producers, seed technology and autonomous demonstrations - AG Week

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (CCC), a leading SaaS platform for the P&C insurance economy, names John Goodson Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Goodson joined CCC in 2020 successfully driving innovation across the business, accelerating application of AI throughout solutions, and expanding industries served by the CCC Cloud platform which today serves 30,000 businesses. Goodson succeeds Pete Morowski who is retiring after eight years with the company.

As Chief Technology Officer, Goodson will lead research and development, product development, architecture, security, IT operations and infrastructure, business applications and data science. This will enable CCC to continue powering mission critical workflows, intelligent automation, and better experiences for clients and the millions of drivers they serve.

The announcement follows CCCs return to the public markets listing on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, August 2. The return to the public market will accelerate investments in innovation across the P&C insurance economy, including the recently announced plans to incorporate advanced AI into its CCC ONE collision repair platform, as well as full digitization of the estimating process for a portion of repairable claims with the launch of CCC Estimate - STP.

Johns depth of experience will serve CCC well as we enter our next phase of growth driving new innovation and applied AI that powers our customers digital transformation and their ability to improve experiences for the millions of drivers they serve," said CCC Chairman and CEO Githesh Ramamurthy. CCC will continue to deliver industry leading solutions expanding on the reputation Pete Morowski and our technology team earned CCC as a leading AI, SaaS, telematics, IoT provider to the industry. We thank Pete and wish him well in his retirement.

Goodson joined CCC following successful tenures at multi-billion-dollar technology companies. He has succeeded in advancing the companys global transformation objectives using AI and data to improve customer experiences. Goodson, who owns numerous technology patents, helped establish several industry standards, such as Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC). He is also a published author (The Data Access Handbook).

Im excited to expand my role at CCC to and expand the impact our technology can have on the industry and on the lives of drivers, said Goodson. The CCC Cloud connects trillions of points of data, massive and micro businesses, and the latest technology to power mission critical workflows, improving response times, experiences, and how providers interact on behalf of their shared customers. It is an exciting time to be at CCC and to support an extremely talented team of data scientists, engineers, and leaders as we work together to transform the industry.

Learn more about CCC at http://www.cccis.com.

About CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc. (NYSE: CCCS) is a leading SaaS platform for the multi-trillion-dollar P&C insurance economy powering operations for insurers, repairers, automakers, part suppliers, lenders, and more. CCC cloud technology connects more than 30,000 businesses digitizing mission-critical workflows, commerce, and customer experiences. A trusted leader in AI, IoT, customer experience, network and workflow management, CCC delivers innovations that keep peoples lives moving forward when it matters most. Learn more about CCC at http://www.cccis.com.

CCC and the CCC logo are registered trademarks of CCC Intelligent Solutions Inc.

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by the following words: may, will, could, would, should, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, continue, ongoing or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology, although not all forward-looking statements contain these words. These statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the acceleration of the deployment of AI, IoT, and mobile technology in the auto claim and repair process. Such differences may be material. We cannot assure you that the forward-looking statements in this press release will prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, among others, challenges inherent in product research and development; competition, including technological advances and new products marketed by competitors; changes to applicable laws and regulations; and other risks and uncertainties, including those included under the header Risk Factors in the definitive proxy statement/prospectus filed by Dragoneer Growth Opportunities Corp. with the SEC on July 6, 2021, which can be obtained, without charge, at the SECs website (www.sec.gov). The forward-looking statements in this press release represent our views as of the date of this press release. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments will cause our views to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we have no current intention of doing so except to the extent required by applicable law. You should, therefore, not rely on these forward-looking statements as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

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CCC Promotes John Goodson to Chief Technology Officer - Business Wire

TYSONS CORNER, Va., Aug. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pangiam, a technology-based security and travel services provider, announced the appointment of Iyad Hindiyeh, a tried and proven leader in aviation and technology, as CEO of a newly founded division of Pangiam that will provide innovative technology solutions focused on addressing all touchpoints in the traveler journey.

Former Aviation and Security Executives Join Pangiam to Deliver Technology to Augment the Traveler Journey

"We are delighted to welcome Iyad to the Pangiam family," said Kevin McAleenan, Pangiam's Chief Executive Officer. "He has remarkable experience in the global travel industry. We know that Iyad's expertise, particularly in the aviation and technology sectors, will be an asset to our business as we continue reinventing global travel."

Prior to joining Pangiam, Iyad served as the Senior Vice President for Strategy, Business development and Marketing at Amadeus IT Group, S.A., holding a worldwide responsibility across the Amadeus Airport business unit. Iyad is member of the ACI World Airport IT Strategic Committee (WAITSC) and has successfully directed and led multiple complex projects in the Aviation Sector worldwide. Additionally, he has held senior positions at the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Smartworld and SITA. Iyad holds a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California.

Joining Iyad as Vice President of Sales for the Americas is DeMeakey Williams, Sr, who brings more than 20 years of experience in B2B sales and leadership in the aerospace and defense industries. DeMeakey joins Pangiam from The Crane Consulting Firm, an international consulting firm, where he served as Founder and CEO. During his tenure, he focused on market expansion and business development for large public organizations.Prior to The Crane Consulting Firm, DeMeakey served as Vice President of VMI Security from 2017 to 2019 and as Director of North America Sales for Smiths Detection from 2012 to 2018. DeMeakey will lead Pangiam's revenue generating activities across travel sectors.

About Pangiam

Pangiamis a public-private partnership company creating a network of industry partners aimed at revolutionizing the future of operations, security, and safety at airports, seaports, and land border crossings using emerging technologies. As a team of customs and security professionals with over 50 years of collective experience at senior levels of the U.S. Government, Pangiam has an intimate understanding of the security, facilitation, and disaster response challenges facing governments and industry leaders around the world.

About AE Industrial Partners

AE Industrial Partnersis a private equity firm specializing in aerospace, defense & government services, space, power generation, and specialty industrial markets. AE Industrial Partners invests in market-leading companies that can benefit from its deep industry knowledge, operating experience, and relationships throughout its target markets. AE Industrial Partners is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.

[emailprotected]

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SOURCE Pangiam

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Pangiam Announces the Appointment of Iyad Hindiyeh as CEO of Pangiam Technologies - Johnson City Press (subscription)

Kalispell city staff will break down some of the city's most advanced technology at a work session Monday evening with the City Council.

Jason Singleton is a specialist who works on numerous high-tech initiatives in several city departments. On Monday, he will give a presentation to the council about the city's use of drones and geographic information systems, or GIS mapping.

Various city departments use GIS to create, manage, analyze and map data. According to council meeting documents, benefits of the technology include streamlining workflow and increasing public access to data.

Last month, Kalispell added a GIS "hub" to the city's website to provide public access to all the city's GIS features in one place, including crime statistics, snow plow routes and building permits.

On Monday, city specialists will discuss GIS uses for internal staff operations and the public, as well as ways the technology might be utilized in the police, planning, public works, and parks and recreation departments.

GIS specialist Angie Thomas will go over topics like utilizing GIS data for utilities and other asset management programs; gaining access to real-time infrastructure data and record drawings; and providing public access to mapping resources.

The City Council also will learn how the city uses remote-controlled drones.

Kalispell set up its drone program in 2017. The city uses drones to collect mapping imagery, perform volume calculations, carry out 3D modeling and record video of city projects, such as the ongoing construction of the Parkline Trail.

The city periodically uploads videos that provide visual updates of the trail's progress.

The Federal Aviation Administration regulates when and where drones can be flown, as well as training and certification requirements. There are specific guidelines that pertain to flying drones above people and motor vehicles, all which Singleton will outline on Monday.

The work session will start at 7 p.m. at Kalispell City Hall, 201 First Avenue East.

Reporter Bret Anne Serbin may be reached at 406-758-4459 or bserbin@dailyinterlake.com.

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Kalispell reviewing use of drones, other technology - Daily Inter Lake

CMU/WCCC launch invaluable partnership with Violet Gro

The question around how technology will influence agriculture in the future will soon be explored by students in a 1,500 square foot greenhouse at Western Colorado Community College. Western Colorado is focused on becoming a national leader in unique agricultural practices that will push the industry forward thanks to a promising partnership with Violet Gro, a team of innovative thinkers who are developing technologies that will change the way we think about and grow our food.

With this invaluable partnership, we will be able to educate students and the community on the various indoor agricultural growing techniques, said Western Colorado Community College Vice President of Community College Affairs Brigitte Sundermann. I also want to thank Violet Gro Chief of Staff Ali McKenzie for working so diligently during the pandemic to bring this opportunity to her hometown. It started with two lights and a table in the back of a classroom and has evolved into a fully dedicated greenhouse research facility.

With this invaluable partnership, we will be able to educate students and the community on the various indoor agricultural growing techniques." - Western Colorado Community College Vice President of Community College Affairs Brigitte Sundermann

The Grand Valley established itself as an agricultural haven over a century ago, and its rich traditions have proven successful thanks to its adaptability. As land availability decreases, and land costs as well as demand for food increases, industry experts are being forced to look indoors to discover alternative ways to optimize plant growth or risk global food shortages in the future. Violet Gro, which is part of the Colorado Rural Jump-Start program, has been committed to advancing the science behind its LED grow lights through strategic research partnerships. Now, theyre collaborating with CMU and WCCC to research and explore the impact of lighting on plant yields, color, appearance, nutrition and flavor.

This project has the opportunity to truly advance the science of indoor agriculture, which can benefit growers throughout the region and world. That alone is tremendously rewarding, but to get to do it in my hometown, support the local academic and business community, and build on the rich history of Colorado is a real honor, said Violet Gro Chief of Staff Ali McKenzie.

Phase one of the partnership consists of building an educational greenhouse that will be led by a full-time program director where agricultural students as well as those in other fields can engage in hands-on research projects.

This research facility will not only allow us to build on the partnerships that first drew us to set up our headquarters in Grand Junction, but also to establish a world-class academic research facility that will advance our technology and product offerings, and contribute to the broader knowledge base for how to effectively grow plants indoors, said Terrance Berland, CEO of Violet Gro.

This research facility will not only allow us to build on the partnerships that first drew us to set up our headquarters in Grand Junction, but also to establish a world-class academic research facility that will advance our technology and product offerings, and contribute to the broader knowledge base for how to effectively grow plants indoors. - Terrance Berland, CEO of Violet Gro.

The second phase is making the facility a smart house, which will include alternative energy, sensors, automation, specialty imaging and a master control system which can enhance and compliment tried and true farming techniques, therefore expanding our ability to become sustainable.

Violet Gro is an excellent example of how the Rural Jump-Start program succeeds in fostering innovation and is helping to diversify the economy here in Mesa County. Violet Gro came here from Florida with a product not found elsewhere in the region and is now expanding, building local partnerships and investing back into the community, which in turn helps to grow our entrepreneurial ecosystem," said Grand Junction Economic Partnership Executive Director Robin Brown.

WCCC continues to open up alternative pathways for our students. Were thrilled about this partnership and are excited to see it flourish, said Mesa County Valley School District 51 College and Career Readiness Director Cheri Taylor.

WCCC continues to open up alternative pathways for our students. Were thrilled about this partnership and are excited to see it flourish. - Mesa County Valley School District 51 College and Career Readiness Director Cheri Taylor.

This partnership between WCCC, Violet Gro and the larger Grand Junction community aspires to further advance the knowledge, techniques and products used by the worlds top indoor growers.

More:

Technology: The Future of Agriculture | CMUnow - CMUnow

Sales rise 29.63% to Rs 146.31 crore

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First Published: Mon, August 09 2021. 15:38 IST

Original post:

Clean Science & Technology standalone net profit rises 30.27% in the June 2021 quarter - Business Standard

HIGH POINT Development of new mechanisms and components driving furnitures most technology intensive category continues apace as suppliers to motion seating manufacturers look ahead in anticipation of consumer preferences and behaviors.

Particularly on the component side, suppliers are adapting product development to address habits acquired during the pandemic more time at home both for work and leisure, and health concerns, for example that demonstrate staying power in the years ahead.

Mechs and components, as well, are popping up with greater attention to the needs of the large, aging baby boomer segment.

A look at mechanisms

On the mechanism side, adapting motion to higher styles is a priority, but a more holistic approach is coming to the fore.

Our innovation team has always focused on comfort and styling, but were looking more and more into health benefits, said Richard Weeks, vice president of sales and marketing for retail systems at Leggett & Platt.

He pointed to Leggetts Cloud Zero zero-gravity mechanism as an example of recent wellness-related mechanisms.

On the style side, weve developed more compact mechanisms and more off-the-floor mechanisms versus the traditional metal-to-floor, Weeks said, adding other style-focused developments include mechs that accommodate features found more often in stationary such as T-backs and T-cushions. Were trying to broaden those horizons so we can get more stationary styling options into motion that you couldnt have before.

At CIAR, the latest and greatest include the CardioRelax enhanced zero-gravity mechanism, automatic rocking and swinging with the PSG system, and YogaFlexx, a lumbar backrest system with special electronics for spine mobilization.

Eric Knott, senior vice president of marketing and sales at CIAR, said the company has identified three megatrends for its product development direction: consumer interest in personal health, new work patterns and silver society, which addresses a large market approaching senior years.

Knott envisions hybrid products for home office, allowing laptop (and) tablet work in best ergonomic position, plus back health and relaxation features.

CIARs Digital Comfort Zone @ Home is a combination and integration of multi-positioning furniture with AR and VR options, Knott said. Examples there include furniture for meditation and breathing exercises featuring parallel control with biosensors and wearable units.

While the pandemic seemed to put the world on hold for a time, Leggett & Platts Weeks pointed out that created an opportunity to sit back and examine the companys R&D group and refocus efforts there. For example, in terms of what he called ideation and concepts, Leggett & Platts research team is getting out of the lab and into the field to stay abreast of needs in the marketplace.

Were more robust in trying to understand the needs of not only our customers but also the motion consumers, Weeks said. We need to be more out in the field talking with customers, and weve ramped up that part of our innovation team. Were putting more resources into that research arena versus sitting back in the lab.

What can we expect five years down the road in terms of mechanisms?

I think the whole motion industry would go more mechatronics to provide structural space optimization and cost-effective, functional products with multiple patents, said Okin North American Sales Manager Kevin Du. We hope the motion furniture can move forward faster like smartphones, with more tiny, intelligent, comfortable, easy to use, simple and smart components.

With the growth of power motion in particular head and back support, lumbar, lift function, smart applications Weeks said future development is all about offering new options.

Particularly on the health side, were going to see great technological development in those areas, he noted.

Knott believes stress-relief, back-health and cardio-health functions will become integrated, added-value elements in furniture.

The credibility of product claims and benefits can be proven with wearables and biosensors, he said. Presentations of complex functions and benefits and subsequent sales become much simpler and will happen increasingly outside of furniture stores.

Du said the pandemic has affected Okins long-term strategy in the U.S. market, particularly regarding a broader sourcing approach.

The pandemic has changed the world and the international supply chain, he said. Our next-five-year strategy would be global resourcing, managing new factory bases all around the world I think.

Looking at components

On the components side, a lot of technological development centers around two areas: battery packs and components addressing consumer behaviors and needs emerging from the pandemic.

Tom Peper, partner at Enouvation pointed out that power motion features such as LED lights, lighted cup holders, handheld wand controllers, touch pad controllers, touch sensitive buttons and switches with USB ports draw constant power even when the furniture isnt being used. Thats led Enouvation to constantly work with suppliers and manufacturers the past few years to address the need for what Peper called efficient electronic components.

Having the ability to make power motion furniture cordless is a demand today, and we believe it will be the future of power motion, he said. To overcome the challenge of constant power draw, Enouvation introduced the E10 battery, which features a patent-pending power pack that can be controlled via app to allow the user to turn off the pack with the swipe of a finger.

This feature, while it sounds extremely simple, will now allow a consumer with power motion furniture with constant drawing features the ability to go cordless, Peper said. The biggest disappointment consumers experience is trying to use their furniture (and) in a few days or weeks to find the furniture none functioning. The user can name the pack, set location of the pack, see the current power level, complete charging history, set reminders to recharge the pack when it reaches selected charge levels and enable push notifications to assist users with overall power pack maintenance. The ultimate goal is for the consumer to be able to enjoy their furniture wherever and whenever, not having to design their space around wall outlets.

Battery packs are an area where Raffel Systems also sees continued growth. Raffel has had battery packs for several years but is developing more powerful batteries to accommodate larger motion configurations and to improve battery operation and efficiency.

Well be introducing in an August-September time frame a 5,000 milli-amper hour (mAh) pack for motion pieces with three to six seats, said Mark Stecker, Raffels vice president of sales and marketing. Based on market research and feedback from the industry, our engineering team and software development created custom circuitry that allows what we call balanced charging that allows the battery pack to charge and deplete at the same rate, a feature Stecker said is unique in the industry. For the consumer that means no unnecessary charging, extended battery life and provides for longer operation time.

The 5K mAh also features active charging: When your battery needs charging, you can plug it into the wall but continue to use the piece of furniture while charging the battery, Stecker explained.

At Emomo, addressing consumer demand for more convenience and functionality integrated into her seating experience has inspired its most recent innovations. Examples include the eMoMo Smart Tabletop, is a built-in control panel for motion functions plus integration with speakers, power outlets and other functions.

Even more, the wireless charging zone can be easily converted to a cup holder, said Emomo Vice President Rosary Tang. When mounted between seats, both the left- and right-side user will be able to control through the table top or the iCtrl app.

In addition to comfort-related function, Copper River Home continues development of its Bluetooth-enable Soundstage immersive sound system and the Aura system for personalized sound amplification.

Our focus has been on Solution Based Amenities, said Managing Partner Joe Savovic. By paying attention to common things in the areas of electronics that we use subconsciously and automatically in our everyday lives, our company has brought these particular amenities into the seating products we offer.

Crossing over

Component resources also are examining how motion-associated technology will move into other product categories creating opportunities to address various markets for work, leisure and health.

Raffel, for example is looking hard at what Stecker called adjacent markets for components typically associated with motion, incorporating AC outlets, additional USB ports and such in other furniture categories.

Were working with some case goods manufacturers, he said by way of example. Were coming up with retrofit items that can be placed on case goods or ottomans. The pandemic created bubbles where people are spending more time and working at home, and they need to charge or access their devices across the home.

Emomo also has a heavy development focus on bringing innovations originally created in motion into stationary upholstery and other categories throughout the home.

As a component supplier, we know traditional motion furniture will continue to evolve and that our Emomo solutions will play a critical role in the process, Tang said.

Health, wellness and looking ahead

While mechanism producers have been addressing health-related functions such as zero-gravity and other enhanced positioning features, component resources are and will pay greater attention to health and safety features in coming years.

We have already seen many changes but we are confident that the value of furniture will extend from traditional criteria of style, comfort and price to a much more concentrated focus on functionality, Emomos Tang said. This is where eMoMo is focused and why we are spending resources to meet this next generation of furniture consumer who is seeking these types of wellness and functional features as part of their seating experience.

Those include UV sanitization function in chargers and other components such as a new Steri-Doc charger.

Raffel also has developed UVC components for sanitization of devices.

Thats something where well see continued demand coming out of the pandemic as consumers have become more health conscious, its part of everyones life now, Stecker said. They want to do everything they can to make their home as safe as possible.

Holdover behaviors from the pandemic and health-related issues are two keys that will drive component innovation down the road, according to Stecker.

In our blue sky meetings with customers, all we hear about is demand for new technology and adding additional function to motion furniture, he said. Well see more accessories that utilize things like cupholders for charging not just cell phones, but tablets and laptops, grommets. Well see UVC (sanitizers) that will charge laptops.

In health- and wellness-related areas, he sees wider adaptation of air massage.

Weve been working with customers in residential as well as health care to add massage in the seat as well as backs, Stecker said. We see that utilizing residential furniture for home healthcare, and with treatment furniture like dialysis when theyre in a chair for hours. I think youll see the residential and health care markets collide a little bit and overlap.

Peper at Enouvation said consumers are requesting fewer limitations in everything they buy, and cordless function that allows unlimited placement of furniture and function is the future.

Look around our daily lives, we have more electronic cars (and these numbers are only getting larger every year), we have solar for our houses, and the next wave is battery storage, he said. When was the last time you used a phone that had a cord? No one wants to be tethered to the wall.

With open floor plans and indoor/outdoor mixed use spaces being key selling points for homes, we as consumers are responding to these concepts because were not being confined to the traditional spaces. Were taking down walls and living inside and outside.

As a market leader in power-pack technology, we would be letting our customers down if we didnt keep pressing the technology limits, Peper said. Efficient power drives, simplification of features, higher consumer awareness of power consumption from furniture, and consumers will be demanding cordless furniture. Furniture has too many bells and whistles that are starting to take away from the consumer experience. Ill be shocked if power motion furniture has to plugged into the wall in five years from now.

Savovic at Copper River also noted that no one is looking for yet another reading light or USB port at this point.

The technologies that win will be the ones that we are currently using every day but can seamlessly be integrated into our home furnishings in ways that are not necessarily visual or obvious, he said.

Read more from the original source:

Technology marches on: Innovation addresses how consumers live, and their health, wellness - Furniture Today