Category Archives: Technology

DALLAS, Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- River Logic today announced the successful expansion of a partnership with Phillip Morris International (PMI), a leading international tobacco company working towards a vision of a smoke-free future. To drive a series of its supply chain digitization efforts, PMI leverages River Logic's advanced Digital Planning Twin Technology.

Carlos Centurion, President of River Logic, commented, "We are honored to continue supporting PMI in accelerating data-driven decisions by utilizing the real-world scenarios suggested by our Digital Planning Twin Technology platform. Our team's experience with large global consumer product manufacturing clients enables us to manage the sheer volume and high degree of data complexity that PMI requires. We are excited that our technology is helping PMI visualize optimization scenarios and make decisions that are having a truly substantial impact on operational efficiency and cost savings."

"As PMI continues its transformation journey towards a smoke-free future, we have found River Logic's digital twin technology to be a valuable decision-support tool within our supply chain. By replicating some of our network in this platform, we can accelerate our data-driven decision-making through simulations and scenario planning," said Sunanda Ramakrishnan, Director Strategy Digital & Analytics at Philip Morris International.

To learn more about River Logic, visit http://www.riverlogic.com.

About River Logic

River Logic is a US based technology provider that creates the confidence leaders need to solve complex supply chain planning problems across the enterprise. Purpose-built for business users, River Logic's platform enables end-to-end business optimization via advanced analytics and a revolutionary cloud experience that offers rapid scenario collaboration, data management, workflows, BI reporting, scalability, and more. For more information, visit: http://www.riverlogic.com.

Media Contact:Hila EyalChief Marketing Officer[emailprotected]m

SOURCE River Logic, Inc.

Read more here:

Philip Morris International Expands Use of River Logic's Digital Planning Twin Technology Solution - PR Newswire

If youre reading this during work hours, theres a chance your boss knows about it. The market for bossware digital tools that enable managers to keep tabs on what workers are up to is reportedly booming.

News reports recount tales of health-care workers being ranked idle for not typing while counselling drug patients, and hospice chaplains losing productivity points for spending too long with the bereaved or dying.

In the United States 60% of employers with more than 200 workers now use employee productivity monitoring technologies, according to market research firm Gartner.

Once loaded on your computer, these tools (with names such as Clever Control, Time Doctor, Staffcop and Work Examiner) can track a dizzying array of data key strokes, how often you move your mouse, if you are using messaging apps, your search queries and the websites you visit.

They can view your screen and record video from your webcam. Work Examiner boasts it can record every second of an employees screen activity.

They then turn this into easily digestable data on a dashboard (for your manager), highlighting your active hours and idle time, awarding you a productivity score, and ranking you against your colleagues.

This may be happening without you even realising. Even if you are informed, its done without your input. Too few mouse clicks? There may be a very good reason, but the software doesnt care.

These technologies are relatively new but the thinking behind them that productivity can be reduced to simple measurements, and that workers must be constantly surveilled and managed for maximum efficiency is relatively old.

Read more: 'They track our every move': why the cards were stacked against a union at Amazon

More than a century ago techniques to observe and control workers movements intensively were developed into a theory of scientific management by US engineer Frederick Winslow Taylor. Tracking mouse clicks remotely is a high-tech version of the same game.

The promises of bossware of better performance and more control are tempting to management. But they are also profoundly wrong.

Taylor, who was born in 1856, developed his management ideas while working at the Midvale Steel Works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he rose through the ranks to become chief engineer.

His book Principles of Scientific Management was published in 1911. The fundamental science of management involved intensive surveillance of workers activities, breaking them down into constituent parts, and determining the most efficient way everything should be done.

If workers went about drilling holes in different ways, for example, the scientific manager should time each method and then require everyone do it the fastest way. Even if the manager had never handled a drill, the stopwatch enabled them to judge what was most efficient.

Taylors book went on to become one of the most influential management books of the 20th century. But it has also been blamed for a ghastly sublimation of the human spirit.

So whats wrong with excessive managerial surveillance?

First, it can be harmful to health both mental and physical. This has been well-documented by research on call centres, which pioneered many of the white-collar surveillance techniques now spreading to other workplaces.

Read more: 3 ways 'algorithmic management' makes work more stressful and less satisfying

Second, measurement techniques create misleading accounts of what workers do. We have reviewed 100 years of performance management research and found that performance management systems are far from scientific.

Measurement is not just observation. It requires reducing work to elements that can be categorised and compared.

A productivity score based on measuring keystrokes and mouse clicks illustrates this starkly. It involves a misleading simplification. A stopwatch cannot tell whether a hole was drilled with precision or not. Neither can a mouse tracker capture a workers thoughtfulness and experience.

Third, intensive surveillance can actually decrease outcomes. This has been shown in multiple studies. For example, a 2016 study found intensive surveillance of cleaners prevented them cleaning rooms well. With just three minutes allowed per room, some resorted to scrubbing school floors and bleaching toilets for free on their weekends.

A 2107 study of electronic monitoring of nurses providing home care to the elderly and disabled found a similar loss of work quality.

If they want to improve productivity, managers need to talk with workers. E-surveillance and performance dashboards that allow judgement from a distance, without context, undermine this relationship.

The resurgence of management surveillance is a worrying trend.But the fundamental problem is not the technology. It is managers desire which technology enables to know more than they can, and to trust workers less than they should. Bossware promises managers that illusion.

A different path would be to accept that most people want to work well, and generally know best how to do so. Managers might then measure less, but understand more.

See original here:

3 ways 'bossware' surveillance technology is turning back the management clock - The Conversation

CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Workspot, the Cloud PC company, will host the panel Changing the World on Thursday, September 29 at 9 am PT. The panel brings together key technology visionaries to discuss how technology has shaped society and how innovation continues to transform the way we experience the world.

The panel will focus on the impact technology has had on every aspect of life, including the real story behind how the internet began and the unexpected outcomes that occurred over the last decade. These change leaders will also discuss:

The all-star panel of change leaders includes:

Join the discussion with those that created and shaped the digital world we live in today. To register and attend the panel please visit: https://bit.ly/3DfDKML

About Workspot

Workspot is the only cloud-native solution that delivers enterprise-class Cloud PCs. This innovative service lets IT securely stream the right compute capabilities for each user, on any device, anywhere they want to work. As the only Cloud PC solution that operates across all the major public clouds - Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Google Cloud - Workspot is uniquely positioned to address todays remote work challenges by providing a multi-cloud and multi-region approach to end user computing. Simple to deploy, scale, and operate, Workspots award winning Cloud PC solution benefits IT as well as end users with a seamless work experience that enhances productivity while maintaining the highest performance standards for intensive workloads. For more information on Workspot Cloud PC solutions please visit http://www.workspot.com.

Follow on LinkedIn and Twitter.

See original here:

Technology Visionaries Share Invaluable Industry Insights in the Panel 'Changing the World' - Business Wire

Schuylkill Technology Center (STC) is hosting an Open House, on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 6-8pm at the North and South Campuses.This event is open to current STC Students and their parents, STC Alumni as well as prospective students and their parents who are interested in learning more about the school.

The theme for the House Event is 21st Century Career and Technical Education to raise awareness about the highly technical skills training that prepares STC graduates to meet the needs of business and industry partners. Visitors will have a chance to visit each of the programs of study, meet teachers and talk to other students enrolled in the program. STC will also have some industry partners and post-secondary colleges on site to discuss career opportunities.

The first 40 prospective STC students at each campus will receive an STC T-shirt. Promotional prizes will be distributed throughout the event. The North Campus offers Early Childhood Education, Health Careers, Emerging Health, Electro-Mechanical Technology (for both Adults and High School Students), Carpentry, Culinary, Masonry, Automotive Technology, Diesel Technology and Outdoor Power Technology. The South Campus offers Cosmetology, Criminal Justice, Marketing & Business Administration, Computer Information Systems, Logistics Technology, Culinary, Welding (for both Adults and High School Students), Auto-Collision, Plumbing, Carpentry, Residential Industrial electricity, and Precision Machining. In addition, STC offers adult on programs in CDL, Practical Nursing and Heavy Equipment Operation. The school is working to expend adult evening courses in the coming year.

The Grille at the South Campus and The Restaurant at the North Campus, which are restaurants operated by the STC Culinary Programs, will be selling food during the open house. For more information, please contact STC at (570) 874-1412.

View original post here:

Schuylkill Technology Center Campuses to Hold Open House This Wednesday - Skook News

SAN JOSE, Calif., Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ --ScreenBeam Inc., a global leader in wireless display and conferencing solutions, today announced its partnership with MAXHUB to combine ScreenBeam 1100 Plus, its wireless screen sharing and conferencing solution, with MAXHUB's next generation cameras. The technology alliance brings organizations access to effortless video conferencing and Bring Your Own Meeting (BYOM) experiences in any working space.

The ScreenBeam 1100 Plus wireless presentation platform also provides agnostic support for all major video conferencing services with ScreenBeam Conference software to support hybrid work environments. The award-winning platform delivers app-free wireless presentation from any device. Users simply tap once to wirelessly present and markup content on in-room displays from their own device. ScreenBeam Conference, included free with each receiver, wirelessly connects user devices to the room USB peripherals to support BYOM web conferencing needs.

"We at MAXHUB recognize ScreenBeam's cutting-edge technology for its ability to meet the need for wireless video sharing with a simplified interface that is vendor agnostic," said Charles Montoya, Director of UC sales for North America at MAXHUB. "We anticipate our customers will be delighted by ScreenBeam's tested compatibility with our popular cameras for seamless unified communication and collaboration (UCC)."

MAXHUB cameras tested for compatibility with ScreenBeam include the UCS 10 video bar, UC P10 camera, UC M31 panoramic camera and the UC S05 all-in-one Unified Communication bar. Additional camera support and future engineering integration announcements will be made as they become available.

"MAXHUB's broad array of high-quality camera and audio solutions have expanded conferencing capabilities to workspaces, large and small, across the globe," said Jay Taylor, Director of Strategic Alliances for ScreenBeam. "Our individual and joint innovation, technology and performance is exactly what the hybrid workforce needs with plug-and-play simplicity we are both recognized for."

About MAXHUB

As an innovation-driven team, MAXHUB focuses on developing collaboration solutions that enable immersive communications. We have enhanced team creativity and productivity worldwide by providing advanced audio-visual technologies and one-stop solutions. MAXHUB products can be found in leading venues the world over. For more information, visit MAXHUB at https://www.maxhub.com/us.

About ScreenBeamScreenBeam Inc., is a leading wireless display and conferencing innovator delivering an OS-native screen sharing experience on any modern device with agnostic support for all major video conferencing platforms. ScreenBeam solutions power seamless hybrid collaboration in any meeting or learning space, and only ScreenBeam is Microsoft's co-engineering partner for wireless display. Headquartered in San Jose, CA, ScreenBeam has offices across the United States, Europe and Asia. To learn more about ScreenBeam, visithttps://www.screenbeam.com.

ScreenBeam and the ScreenBeam logo are registered trademarks owned by ScreenBeam Inc. ScreenBeam/LinkedIn/@screenbeam

ScreenBeam Contact:Christina Armstrong[emailprotected]

MAXHUB Contact:Matthew Parsons[emailprotected]

SOURCE ScreenBeam

Read more from the original source:

ScreenBeam and MAXHUB announce technology alliance to deliver seamless video conferencing experiences to their customers - PR Newswire

Tony Burton, MD Cyber Security & Trust

By Tony Burton, Managing Director Cyber Security & Trust at Thales in the UK

The main trends that I expect to see for the operational technology security domain over the next year are threefold: there is an element of the threat evolving, an element of how people are responding to this threat and there are the ways in which operational technologies are being used and how this is likely to change going forwards.

I dont think that theres anybody in the world that doesnt recognise that the risk of cyberattacks is increasing. The geopolitical landscape is really challenging right now and what were seeing from our threat intelligence is that there is increased activity across all of the critical national infrastructure sectors and I dont see that this will change in any way. The Thales 2022 data threat report, for example, found that malware and ransomware are the leading sources of security attacks for critical infrastructure organisations. The threat is becoming more complex, more accessible and I see this continuing as an upward trend.

From the response perspective, we are seeing more and more businesses now engaged with operational technology security and resilience programmes. Business are typically going through a cycle where the first stage is to understand and map out what they have in their estate. After this, it is about understanding the extent of the risk and how you close the risk gap before you move on to the detection and response capabilities so that you can respond to, and recover from, any events that might happen in an organisation.

It is good to see that there are many companies now engaging in this process. Some companies are at much earlier stages than others, but I see this continuing to mature over the next year and beyond.

Increasingly, we are seeing operational technology become more interconnected and, therefore, interdependent. Previously, sectors such as automotive and energy lived in isolation and for many years this was a position of comfort. However, with the increased uptake of electric vehicles and the general energy supply and demand characteristics becoming more challenging, there is a clear need to share information. This required information relates to energy generation, transmission, distribution and storage, as well as the electric vehicles themselves in order to enable the adaptive system to cope.

In order to balance the energy supply and demand equation we must also be able to trust the data. We need to have confidence that it is being shared within trusted communities that change constantly as vehicles and energy infrastructure components are connected and disconnected from the system. The move towards this trusted information-based security architecture will be essential as more complex and interdependent systems are developed. From an operational technology perspective, trust and resilience needs to be incorporated into the design of vehicles, as well as the power generation, distribution and consumption components of the model. All of this is becoming one large, complex operational technology ecosystem. Over the next 12 months, I expect to see an increase in the use of such complex ecosystems, which will require fresh imagination when it comes to their approach to information-based cyber security architecture.

The rest is here:

Operational Technology Security Trends to Expect in 2022 and Beyond - Thales

BLYTH, England, Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- DraegerSafety UK, a leader in the fields of safety and medical technology, has today launched a new mobile gas detector, the X-am 2800, to add to its extensive safety and gas detection portfolio.

Drger, which has over 100 years' expertise in gas detection, has developed the new device, whichoffers simultaneous measurement of up to four different gases, for application in confined spaces to safeguard employees working in areas at risk of oxygen depletion, explosive atmospheres, or those where toxic substances may be present.

With integrated Bluetooth connectivity, live gas readings and alerts can be transferred in real-time to Drger's Gas Detection Connect cloud solution. This provides users with secure access to critical data at any time, from anywhere, through an internet browser.

Adam Pope, Marketing Manager, Mobile Gas Measurement, Draeger Safety UK, comments: "The new X-am 2800 will provide customers with the combined benefit of the latest connected technology plus a range of new features which mean that the X-am 2800 is a highly reliable and robust product."

Mobile gas detectors are worn on the body, so robustness is key to their functioning reliability and the X-am 2800 has been independently drop-tested to withstand a fall of more than two metres on concrete: a result of its resilient design.

Another key advantage of the X-am 2800 is its suitability to be used in wet environments and, as part of its development the X-amhas been tested in line with International Protection Rating Class 68 which measures the resistance of a device againstdust andwater. This makes it particularly useful for both utilities and energy industries, and when combined with support and service offerings, the X-am provides a total mobile gas solution.

Furthermore, efficient fleet management is provided by the cloud-connected Drger X-dock test station, which automates the process of detector testing and calibration. All data on testing, calibration and device event history can be automatically transferred to Gas Detection Connect and reported on, to ensure personnel equipment is consistent, reliable, and accurate.

Adam Pope adds: "Our research has indicated that the introduction of new technology, which includes the use of connectivity, provides considerable opportunity to improve safety in the workplace, through advances such as real-time monitoring using systems such as Drger Gas Detection Connect to provide additional safeguards to employee safety."

"The new X-am also supports businesses' sustainability goals both directly in relation to its reduced packaging and durable long-life sensors, and indirectly through its compatibility with existing X-am accessories."

For more information on the X-am 2800 go to this link.

Drger. Technology for Life

Drger is an international leader in the fields of medical and safety technology. Our products protect, support, and save lives. Founded in 1889, Drger generated revenues of around 3.3 billion in 2021. The Drger Group is currently present in over 190 countries and has more than 15,000 employees worldwide. Please visit http://www.draeger.com for more information.

SOURCE Draeger Safety UK

Read this article:

Draeger Safety UK combines reliability with new connected technology in latest addition to its gas detection portfolio - PR Newswire

By Anthony O. Goriainoff

AdEpt Technology Group PLC said Tuesday that anticipated business growth was being hurt by global chip shortages and that inflationary pressures are expected to increase product and operational costs in fiscal 2023.

The U.K. IT services provider also said it was reinstating interim dividend payments with the board declaring an interim dividend of 2.50 pence a share. The company said this was due to a strong underlying recurring revenue and margin stream, combined with operational efficiency, generating strong organic cash flow.

The company said that cash generation to date was in line with management's expectations and that it was making progress on its strategy to strengthen the balance sheet.

AdEpt said it was working closely with its partners to mitigate the supply chain delays and that where possible it was passing on cost increases, particularly those linked to connectivity and telephony charges.

The company said this cushioned the business in part from the inflationary pressures within its supplier base.

"Underlying demand for digitization and cloud-based services remains strong, as businesses and government continue to seek efficiency benefits, and we expect growth in the group's markets to return to anticipated levels as the supply chain blockages ease and the economy returns to more normal trading conditions," the company said.

Shares down 6.50 pence, or 5.4%, at 115 pence.

Write to Anthony O. Goriainoff at anthony.orunagoriainoff@dowjones.com

Read more:

AdEpt Technology Business Growth Hurt by Shortages, Inflation to Affect FY 2023 Costs - MarketWatch

Agreement supports NASAs Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator technology, which is developing ultra-lightweight heat shields for maximizing payload delivery to planetary surfaces.

SANTA MONICA, Calif., September 20, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Outpost Technologies Corporation ("Outpost"), the first space company to develop a platform for returning satellites to Earth, today announced that it has signed a Reimbursable Space Act Agreement (SAA) with NASA Langley Research Center for the use and development of their flight-tested Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) to provide industry-leading payload Earth return capabilities from orbit.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220920005504/en/

Credit: NASA

The SAA enables Outpost to collaborate with NASA on developing HIAD technology for safely returning Outpost satellites to Earth. NASA first developed their revolutionary HIAD to provide more options for planetary missions by allowing spacecraft to carry larger, heavier payloads and survive the harsh conditions of atmospheric re-entry. Outpost will expand the scope of HIADs capability for enterprise-class satellites to return to Earth. Through this partnership, Outpost will act as a commercialization partner of the HIAD technology to enable broad industry adoption.

"Earth return of satellites offers a new ability to lower mission cost by introducing reusability to the satellite cost equation," says Outpost Founder and CEO Jason Dunn. "Conventional ablative heat shield tiles work fine on very large space vehicles, but at the satellite-scale they take up so much of the mass that very little room is left for payload. The fabric-based inflatable HIAD is a game changer because it magnifies our payload margin well beyond anything others are doing."

"Developing HIAD technology could enable entirely new mission concepts to become possible," added Neil Cheatwood, the Senior Technologist for Planetary Entry, Descent, and Landing at NASA Langley. "Leveraging the deep expertise of the HIAD team can help industry develop the technology needed to safely re-enter the atmosphere and navigate to the landing site."

Story continues

About Outpost

Outpost, the sustainable space company, is spearheading a new way of space development thats reusable, not disposable. With its very first product, Outpost is building reusable satellites that deliver customer payloads to space and back to Earth. By flying payloads with Outpost, users can put their product into space, iterate, and learn how they performed in space. Outpost facilitates iteration in space at a quicker pace than anything else available. The future of space (and Earth) requires a focus on low-cost reusability to create a sustainable industry. At Outpost, we are proud to be leading the charge to develop products with sustainability as the core design. Learn more at http://www.outpost.space

Join us on Social Media: @outpostspace

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220920005504/en/

Contacts

Diane Murphy (Diane@aquariusgroup.net) T. +1.310.658.8756.

Originally posted here:

Outpost Signs Agreement with NASA to Utilize Revolutionary Heat Shield Technology That Will Enable the Company's Unique Platform to Return Satellites...

While the life sciences industry has been historically cautious to adopt technology trends, the COVID-19 pandemic forced an immediate transformation and modernization of clinical trial processes. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the operational disruption of clinical trial sites and hospitals, sponsors realized the need for more agile tools to help capture patient data in a remote capacity. Regulators across the globe released guidance for the continuation of clinical trials amidst these new hurdles.

In March of 2020, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) expressed strong support for electronic clinical outcome assessments (eCOAs) and encouraged sponsors to provide devices to patients lacking access. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) took an even more direct stance, suggesting that patients use their own technology devices to record this information, ushering in adoption of the bring your own device (BYOD) model. Today, BYOD has become an essential cornerstone of modern clinical trials.

Eager to resume clinical trials while also complying with COVID-19 safety measures, the life sciences industry accelerated their adoption of new methods for collecting patient data, with BYOD at the forefront of that effort. Using personal technology such as mobile phones, tablets and wearables in a clinical setting presents unique opportunities for improving patient engagement, while also cutting costs.

These digital assessments simplify the tracking of patient progress outside the confines of the site environment, allowing sponsors to collect data and support the safety and efficacy of a treatment and its impact on patients quality of life. Enabling patients to use their own devices also eliminates the time and cost of commissioning devices for every patient, which can drastically reduce a trial budget while accelerating study start-up.

Beyond the budgetary benefits, the BYOD option has also been proven to increase compliance. Giving patients the option to complete tasks on a device they are familiar with lessens patient burden and ultimately yields better engagement.

Electronic patient reported outcomes make it easy for patients to input their health data, and to use alerts, reminders and other embedded tools to weave the trial into their daily lives. This allows sponsors to keep patients engaged while incorporating their personal feedback into the research environment.

The adoption of virtual models encourages sponsors to think about how patients interact with trials, how much time they really need to spend at on-site appointments, and what technology and services can be leveraged to enhance the experience while capturing a consistent stream of quality data. BYOD benefits patients by giving them the option to download study apps directly to their devices without the hassle of lugging around an extra piece of technology just to record their health data. A study found that 94% of participants would definitely or probably be willing to download an app onto their own mobile device for a forthcoming clinical trial. Through this capability, patients are able to use the device they are familiar with to access their own health data, alerts and calendar data. As a result, BYOD effectively eliminates barriers to participation while simultaneously enhancing the overall engagement experience of each individual patient.

While the benefits of BYOD are undeniable, sponsors still have an obligation to address concerns surrounding data security, app performance and regulatory compliance. This includes adhering to the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for Minimal data collection where required. Working with technology partners who understand the demands of the clinical regulatory environment is invaluable in ensuring eCOAs and other digital tools follow all regulations and can prove compliance. Taking the time to strategically plan and implement new technologies will mitigate these concerns and make for a hassle-free BYOD trial experience.

Across organizational functions, we are keenly aware today that the pandemic has been instrumental in inciting digital transformation. In the area of clinical research, it has become undeniable that, through BYOD, everyone can win in the decentralized trial environment. BYOD provides a safe, accessible, convenient and cost-effective way to collect endpoint data for regulatory submissions. Patients enjoy the ease and comfort of using their own devices, sponsors achieve time and cost savings, and regulators experience increased compliance. As remote capabilities take their place as the new standard across all industries, BYOD will continue to gain momentum and facilitate a more streamlined and high-quality clinical trial experience for patients and sponsors alike.

Excerpt from:

BYOD: The Future of Clinical Trials - Technology Networks