Category Archives: Technology

Facial recognition has become much more prevalent in our everyday lives as many of us use it daily to unlock our devices such as smartphones. But how else is this futuristic technology transforming our lives? Read on to find out 10 ways facial recognition is transforming different industries and our lives.

RS Components have taken a look at existing uses of facial recognition and worked with a futurologist to make predictions about how the future could look if facial recognition was in every industry in the world.

Which of these uses of facial recognition technology would benefit you most? And which one do you think will be rolled out first?

Read next: Are Internet Users more Concerned about Sharing a Certain Personal Data Type than Others?

Featured photo: izusek via Getty Images

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This infographic reveals the top ten ways in which facial recognition technology could transform our lives - Digital Information World

November 30, 2019 Fujifilm Medical Systems U.S.A. is showcasing REiLI, the company's global medical imaging and informatics artificial intelligence (AI) technology initiative at the 2019 Radiological Society of North America's (RSNA) annual meeting.

"At RSNA 2019, we look forward to sharing the AI insights and advances we've made by working closely with clinical and research partners for several years," said Takuya Shimomura, chief technology officer and executive director, Fujifilm. "Ultimately, the long-term goal of our AI initiative is to help providers make better decisions that improve patient lives."

Under the REiLI brand, Fujifilm is developing AI technologies that strongly support diagnostic imaging workflow, leveraging the combination of its deep learning innovations and distinct image processing heritage. Applications currently in development include, but are not limited to: Region Recognition, an AI technology that helps to accurately recognize and consistently extract organ regions, regardless of deviations in shape, presence or absence of disease, and imaging conditions; Computer Aided Detection, an AI technology to reduce the time of image interpretation and support radiologists' clinical decision making; Workflow Support, using AI technology to realize optimal study prioritization, alert communications of AI findings, and report population automation.

"Our latest Synapse 7x brings diagnostic radiology, mammography and cardiology together on the server-side, enabling immediate interaction with these modality imaging data sets through a single AI-enabled platform," said Bill Lacy, vice president, medical informatics, Fujifilm. "We're excited to debut this solution for our U.S. customers at RSNA 2019, showing our commitment to progressing AI technology to empower physicians to make more efficient and impactful care decisions."

RSNA attendees are encouraged to learn more about REiLI at Booth #4111 and participate in the following Fujifilm-hosted activities.

At booth #4111, attendees can visit Fujifilm's AI Lab. The lab will feature dedicated workstations demonstrating REiLI use cases within Synapse PACS. Attendees can witness first-hand the speed and depth of the integrated workflows achieved by unifying Fujifilm's REiLI technology with the company's server-side PACS system. Featured in the AI lab will be Fujifilm developed algorithms, to include CT lung nodule, intracerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction MR and CT, spine label and bone temporal subtraction to name a few. In addition to the Fujifilm AI development, the AI lab will showcase its strengths by supporting a multitude of integration points in support of partner vendor and provider developed algorithms. This will include Riverain's lung nodule, MaxQ's stroke, Lunit's Chest and 2-D Mammography, LPixel's MR Aneurysm, Koios' US breast, Aidoc's pulmonary embolism and Gleamer's bone fracture.

For more inform rsna.fujimed.com

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Fujifilm Showcases Artificial Intelligence Initiative And Advances at RSNA 2019 - Imaging Technology News

Computer Weekly has announced the 10th annual UKtech50, our definitive list of the movers and shakers in UK technology the CIOs, industry executives, public servants and business leaders driving the role of technology in the UK economy.

Our aim was to identify the 50 most influential leaders in UK IT. An expert judging panel representing every aspect of the IT profession helped decide the results, along with a reader vote, to determine who holds the most influence over the future of the UK tech sector and of IT professionals across the country as we enter a new decade.

Here is the list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology for 2019:

Demis Hassabis founded artificial intelligence (AI) company DeepMind in 2010. The company, which was bought by Google in 2014 for about 400m, is involved in several AI projects across sectors, including the NHS. Before founding DeepMind, Hassabis completed a PhD in neuroscience at UCL. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society, Royal Academy of Engineering and the Royal Society of Arts, and in 2018 was awarded a CBE for services to science and technology. DeepMind is a British pioneer in a field that is set to dominate the IT scene in the decade to come.

Cindy Rose was appointed CEO of Microsoft UK in July 2016. As part of her role, she is responsible for all of Microsofts offerings and products in the UK. Before joining Microsoft, Rose spent three years heading up Vodafones UK consumer division, following her role as executive director of digital entertainment at Virgin Media. She has also held several senior executive positions at the Walt Disney Company. In 2019, she was awarded an OBE for services to UK technology.

As information commissioner for the UK, Elizabeth Denham is responsible for ensuring information rights are in the public interest and leads the office dealing with the UK Data Protection Act, the UKs implementation of the EUs General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Her role is taking ever greater prominence as technology heightens public concerns around privacy and data protection. Before becoming information commissioner, Denham was the information and privacy commissioner for British Columbia, responsible for compliance with public and private sector privacy legislation and access to information law.

Matt Gould became CEO of a new health service digital unit, NHSX, in July 2019, tasked with leading the NHS technology vision introduced by secretary of state Matt Hancock. Gould previously worked for Hancock as director general of the digital economy unit in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) from October 2016. Before joining DCMS, Gould was the UKs ambassador to Israel, where he launched theUK Israel Tech Hub. He has previously led the cyber security unit at the Cabinet Office.

Jacqueline de Rojas has 25 years experience in leading technology businesses. In 2015, she took over as president of IT industry trade association TechUK, where she is also board champion for women. The same year, she was voted the most influential woman in UK IT in Computer Weeklys annual poll, and in 2016 she entered the Most Influential Women in UK IT Hall of Fame. In the past year, she has been one of the leading voices promoting the UK tech sector and has advised the government on digital policy. She also chairs the board of Digital Leaders.

Tech entrepreneur Anne Boden founded mobile-only Starling Bank in 2016. As CEO, she oversees the banks leadership team and drives forward her vision of building the best bank account in the world. Before setting up Starling Bank, Boden worked in various roles in the banking industry, including a stint as COO for Irish Allied Bank.

Philip Jansen became CEO of BT in 2019, replacing long-term chief executive Gavin Patterson. Jansen was in charge of Worldpay since 2013, overseeing both its 2015 flotation and a merger with e-commerce firm Vantiv. Before that, he spent time in the catering trade at Brakes and Sodexo Group, as well as a spell managing the consumer operations of Telewest, a predecessor of Virgin Media.

Ciaran Martin was director general for government and industry cyber security at GCHQ before becoming head of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The centre, which was officially launched in October 2016, aims to bring together the UKs cyber expertise to transform how the country tackles cyber security issues. Martin is also a member of the GCHQ board. He joined GCHQ in 2014, following a role as constitution director at the Cabinet Office. He also spent three years as head of security and intelligence at the Cabinet Office.

In his role as chief technology and product officer, Matthew Postgate is in charge of the BBCs technology and systems. He is also led the BBCs project to consolidate the technology teams for BBC Digital, BBC Engineering and BBC Worldwide. Before becoming the BBCs CTO, Postgate was part of the management team that launched iPlayer and worked with BBC Mobile to build the firms mobile services for customers.

Joanna Shields is CEO of BenevolentAI, a leader in the development and application of AI and machine learning to understand the underlying causes of disease, accelerate drug discovery, and develop new and more effective medicines. She previously served as the UKs first minister for internet safety and security, as a government special adviser on the digital economy, and was chair and CEO of TechCityUK.

A serial entrepreneur in financial services technology, Tom Blomfield founded challenger bank Monzo in 2015 after working for rival Starling Bank. In 2013, he was co-founder of another fintech, GoCardless. The mobile-only Monzo has gathered more than three million customers and has proved particularly popular among young people and millennials.

Sarah Wilkinson joined NHS Digital as its CEO in 2017. In her role, she is responsible for leading on digital transformation delivery across health and social care. Previously, Wilkinson was chief technology officer at the Home Office, where she led many of the most critical IT systems supporting UK borders and policing. She was previously managing director and head of corporate systems technology at Credit Suisse for over two years, having previously worked at HSBC, UBS and Deutsche Bank in various senior IT roles.

Russ Shaw founded Tech London Advocates in April 2013, as a private sector group promoting Londons technology sector and connecting startups with enterprises. He has founded similar organisations under the Global Tech Advocates banner in 16 locations worldwide. He has since been appointed a London tech ambassador by the Mayors Office and a member of the Tech City Advisory Group, as well as being part of the London Technology Week steering group and a member of the UK Digital Skills Taskforce.

Debbie Forster is CEO of government-backed initiative Tech Talent Charter, which aims to boost diversity and inclusion in the tech sector. She is also director at consultancy Novel Design, and director for international development at NCSSS. She was voted Computer Weeklys most influential woman in UK technology for 2019.

Isherwood is a UK IT industry veteran who took over running the European arm of Amazon Web Services in March 2018. He previously held a similar role at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and was head of HPs UK and Ireland business until April 2016. He worked for HP since 2001.

Joanna Davinson became chief digital, data and technology officer at the Home Office in November 2017. She oversees IT across the department, which includes UK borders, immigration, biometrics, security and law enforcement. She previously led IBMs cognitive consulting, process consulting and business process outsourcing businesses in Europe, part of a 28-year career with IBM and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Marta Krupinska has run Googles UK startup support organisation since December 2018. Previously, she co-founded fintech startup Azimo in 2012, to make sending money easy and accessible for everyone. She has also been entrepreneur in residence for govtech accelerator Public and co-founded FreeUp.io, an ethical fintech firm that was acquired by fintech investor Greensill in October 2019.

Julian David was appointed director general of technology trade body Intellect in March 2012 and led itsrelaunch as TechUK in November 2013. He has introduced a strategy for TechUK that aims to establish the organisation as the leading representative of the IT sector to government and a major influence over the role of technology in the UK economy. In the past year, David has been one of the leading voices representing the tech sectors views on Brexit, and has advised the government on tech policy.

Jane Moran, global CIO at Unilever, was the first winner of Computer Weeklys Most Influential Woman in UK IT when it was launched in 2012. At the time, Moran was CIO at Thomson Reuters, where she took part in the Thomson Reuters Womens Network, Women in Technology International and the National Centre for Women in Technology. Alongside her duties as CIO of Unilever, Moran is a non-executive director for JP Morgan Securities and Institutional Cash Distributors, actively participating in the IT community, and is an advocate for leadership skills and ensuring more women consider a technology career. In 2014, Moran was placed first on the annual Computer Weekly UKTech50 list.

In 2015, Bob Strudwick became the first-ever chief technology officer for online fashion retailer Asos, following various other roles within the company. In his role, he is both creating and driving a technology strategy across the company. This includes transforming the retailers software design and development capabilities, ensuring it stays on top of the rapid transformation of the sector.

Goldstaub is the co-founder of CognitionX, a platform and network that helps to build and accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven systems. She is a serial entrepreneur, having co-founded several businesses, and has also worked with organisations such as Founders4Schools and Teens in AI, and is the chair of the governments AI Council.

Former BP technology chief Aidan Hancock became CIO of Network Rail in May 2019, where he leads a 969m IT plan supporting the continued modernisation of the UKs railway system. Hancock spent 12 years at oil and gas giant BP, where he held a range of senior technology roles, including chief network architect and, most recently, CIO and vice-president for BP Middle East.

Gustafsson has had several roles at AI and cyber security firm Darktrace, including chief financial officer and chief operating officer, before becoming co-CEO in 2016. She is recognised in the sector for her work across firms such as HP Autonomy, Amadeus Capital Partners and Deloitte, earning her places in lists such as the Management Today 30 under 35 list, and was a winner in the Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Awards in 2019.

Pritchard took over as interim director-general of GDS after the departure of predecessor Kevin Cunnington in summer 2019. She was previously director for EU exit and transformation at GDS. A career civil servant since 1987, prior to GDS, Pritchard was director of transformation at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and has worked across a range of departments, including the Ministry of Defence, HM Treasury, the Cabinet Office, the Home Office and DCMS.

Paul Clarke is responsible for technology strategy at online grocer Ocado, a position he has held since 2012. Ocado runs mostly in-house systems and sees technology as a key differentiator. The technology estate includes real-time control systems, robotics, machine learning, simulation, data science, forecasting systems, routing systems, inference engines and big data.

Charles Forte became CIO at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in January 2018, replacing Mike Stone, who left the department in March 2017. Before taking on the MoD role, Forte spent six months as interim CIO at Thames Water. Previously, he was CEO of group IT services at Prudential from March 2015 to the end of 2016, and before that, deputy group CIO and CIO of global operations at BP as well as spending time as an independent consultant.

Tennisons career has been focused on the collection and use of data, having been a technical architect and lead developer for Legislation.gov.uk, a member of the Open Data User Group, and an executive director for Open Addresses UK, as well as CEO of not-for-profit the Open Data Institute. In 2014, Tennison was awarded an OBE for services to technology and open data.

Matt Brittin has been president of Googles EMEA business and operations since 2014, and first joined Google in 2007. During his time working for the company, Brittin has defined himself as fiercely supportive of the UK media landscape and has positioned Google as a key player in a new environment where traditional publishers are still working out how to survive in the digital age.

Tombs is CEO and co-founder of Yoti, a free digital identity app. Previously, he was co-founder of Gamesys, an online gaming operator with more than 1,100 staff and offices in six countries. He worked at PwC as a chartered accountant from 1993 to 1997 in London before co-founding IDM with Noel Hayden, a web game business which they sold in 1999.

As group CTO, Hammady owns the Sky-wide technology strategy. His team oversees all the technology systems underpinning Skys European TV services, broadband, mobile and digital platforms, as well major strategic programmes such as cyber security. He joined Sky in 2007 as director of network services, leading the team that built and operated the UK network, which now delivers broadband and telephony to several million Sky UK customers.

Reshma Sohoni is managing partner at Seedcamp, a venture capital firm that specialises in early-stage investments in tech startups. She co-founded the company in 2007 after working for 3i and in commercial strategy for Vodafone. She is also a senior adviser to Anthemis Group.

Since 2016, Rachel Coldicutt has been chief executive of Doteveryone, a UK think-tank working to make the internet, and digital society, a fairer place. She is stepping down from the role by the end of this year. Coldicutt has previously worked for Microsoft, Encyclopaedia Britannica, the BBC, BT, the V&A, Endemol and the Royal Opera House. She has also worked as a consultant in finance, energy, healthcare and the third sector.

Adrian Joseph is a partner at EY, where he leads on artificial intelligence in financial services across the UK and Europe, and also sits on the consultancys UK advisory executive committee. He joined EY in 2017 after 10 years working in a variety of roles at Google. Joseph is also a non-executive director to the Home Office on developing its data, digital and diversity strategies.

Jo Twist is CEO of UKIE, the games industry trade body that aims to make the UK the leader in games and interactive entertainment. With a long career in the entertainment industry, Twist was previously commissioning editor for education at Channel 4, and was multi-platform commissioner of entertainment and Switch for the BBC in the early 2000s. In 2016, she received an OBE for her contribution to the creative industries.

Adam Banks joined Maersk in August 2015 as vice-president and head of simplification in Maersk Line, before being appointed CIO for the shipping firm in 2017. He was previously CTO at Visa Europe, where he worked for 16 years. He is based in Copenhagen and spends time in the IT centres across Denmark, the UK and The Hague.

Damian Collins came to prominence in technology as chair of the Commons Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Committee, which has conducted a high-profile investigation of Facebook and other tech giants. He has been Conservative MP for Folkestone and Hythe since 2010.

Eileen Burbidge is a partner at Passion Capital, the London-based venture capital firm she established with Stefan Glaenzer and Robert Dighero.She brings extensive operational experience to her investment activities, gleaned from business and product development roles at Yahoo, Skype, PalmSource, Openwave, Sun and Apple. She also serves as chair for Tech Nation and was special envoy for fintech for HM Treasury, as well as a member of the prime ministers business advisory group.

Serial entrepreneur Brent Hoberman is the chairman and co-founder of Founders Factory, a London-based accelerator and incubator. He is also a non-executive director and co-founder of Made.com and has sat on the board of several companies, including EasyCar and Shazam. In 1998, he co-founded Lastminute.com with Martha Lane Fox.

Phil Swan was appointed CIO for the new Greater Manchester metropolitan region in 2017, working for mayor Andy Burnham. He has been a leading figure in local government IT for many years, following a six-year stint at Accenture.

Toon is co-founder and CEO of Graphcore, a rapidly growing British semiconductor company that specialises in accelerators for AI and machine learning. He was CEO of two venture capital-backed silicon companies before founding Graphcore Picochip, which was sold to Mindspeed in 2012, and XMOS, in which Graphcore was incubated for two years before being established as a separate entity in 2016.

Bentinck is the co-founder of Entrepreneur First, a firm focused on supporting technology startups from around Europe. As part of the Entrepreneur First initiative, Bentinck also co-founded Code First: Girls, an organisation that provides part-time coding courses across university campuses. She was on the advisory board of Founders4Schools for two years, and is on the Computer Science Department Industrial Liaison Board for Imperial College London.

Holt is chief technology officer for Trainline, the train ticketing app that floated on the London Stock Exchange this year. He is responsible for the systems that support 80 million people every month from 173 different countries buying 204 tickets every minute. After spending his working life fulfilling roles in a range of entrepreneurial businesses, Holt became CTO Trainline in 2014.

Verma is director of strategy and chief technology officer at Transport for London (TfL). He has been CTO since March 2016, responsible for the IT systems that run public transport across the capital, including the Oyster card scheme. He has worked at TfL since 2002. He was previously at consultancy McKinsey.

Burnett is the executive vice-president and distinguished analyst at Everest Group, where she uses her skills to lead the group on global service delivery automation research and European practice across its global services research areas. Before joining Everest, Burnett was vice-president of research at Nelson Hall, covering areas such as infrastructure IT outsourcing, cloud, and government business process outsourcing. Burnett is now chair of BCSWomen and in 2017 launched the BCSWomen AI Accelerator.

Alexandra Bolton has been CDBBs executive director since the centre moved to Cambridge in August 2017. Most recently, she has held roles within the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge. Previously, she has worked in industry and the City. CDBB is a partnership between the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy and the University of Cambridge to deliver a smart digital economy for infrastructure and construction.

The 2017 winner of Computer Weeklys Most Influential Woman in UK Tech title, Coutu is a serial entrepreneur, having founded or co-founded companies such as Founders4Schools, Workfinder, the Scaleup Institute and Silicon Valley Comes to the UK. She now chairs these companies, is an angel investor, and sits on the boards of several companies, charities and universities. Coutu is a non-executive member of Pearson, DCMS, the Royal Society, Raspberry Pi Trading and the London Stock Exchange.

Hall holds several positions at the University of Southampton, including professor of computer science and pro vice-chancellor (international engagement), and is an executive director of the universitys Web Science Institute. She was named a Dame CBE in 2009, and is a fellow of the Royal Society. As well as being a member of the prime ministers Council for Science and Technology, Hall was co-chair of the UK governments 2017 AI Review, and was appointed as the UKs first skills champion for AI.

Gerard Grech succeeded Joanna Shields as CEO of Tech City in February 2014, having previously held a global marketing role at BlackBerry. In his current job, he leads the promotion and support of UK startups now that Tech Citys remit has expanded beyond its original east London base. He has supported technology entrepreneurs for several years.

Theo Blackwell was appointed Londons first chief digital officer in August 2017, where he is helping to develop a Smart London Plan. He is also working to promote pan-London collaboration on connectivity, digital inclusion, cyber security and open data, and contribute to plans for aLondon Office for Technology and Innovation.Blackwell has spent 15 years as a councillor in the London Borough of Camden, where he has led the implementation of an ambitiousdigital strategy for the borough.

Warman was appointed minister for digital and broadband in July 2019, responsible for government policies such as online harms, digital skills and cyber security. He became a Conservative MP in the 205 election, having previously worked as a technology journalist at The Telegraph.

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UKtech50 2019 the most influential people in UK technology - ComputerWeekly.com

Silicon Valley has seized on an ever-expanding market.

November29, 20193 min read

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Silicon Valley seems to have itself a new pet project. But its not just any kind of project. Its for an industry thats projected to be worth $281 billion by 2023. The pet-related business has been gaining grounds, with sales exceeding $225 billion in North America alone in 2018. The market size among Gen Z and millenialsis huge, andwhether the economy is tough or not, owners haveto take care of their furry friends.

As withall other aspects of a savvy young consumer's lifestyle,there's an expectation of techie solutions to their pet-related problems. And frankly, since mostpet owners are not afraid to spend, all technology had to do was to grant their wish. Hence, several revolutionaryinnovations are springing up in the pet-care industry. Here are three that you -- and your cat or pup -- might find intriguing.

Related: 6 Reasons You Can't Go Wrong With the Pet Industry

One of the most prominent ways technology has changed the pet-care industry is by creating an ecosystem in which owners can easily connect with reliable services. A good example of this is Rover, which helps match dog sitters with pets in the area has recorded considerable success. However, there also more robust applications . For example, BabelBark makesit possible to connect pet owners to a network of vets and myriad other pet services.

Yes, technology has touched the nutrition and fitness routines of your pets as well. For example, PitPat is a fitness tracker that monitors your dog'sactivityand determines if it'smeeting required levelsfor the day. Of course, PitPat is not the only kind in the market. FitBark also works in the same way. And how about the smart food bowl, Obe ProBowl, which determinesjust the right amount of food and waterfor your pet based on its breed and weight?All these products suggest that we're slowly starting to mirror our regard for fitness and nutrition when it comes to pet care, and technologymakes it that much easier.

Lets face it: As much as you'd like to, you cant be with your pets 24/7.One of the ways technology has helped tackle this problem is by creating smart physical products that pets can interact with.A nice example of this is CleverPet's hackerpet, a console that helps not only to preoccupy your pets -- especially dogs --but also improve their cognitive behavior.

Not home in time to take your pooch for a walk?Wagis here to the rescue,helpinglocate someone who can help, a la how Rover connects pet owners and sitters.

Related: These Startups are Making Pet Care Easy

These examples are just the beginning. As the demand for smarter products and innovative services increases, so will creative inventions in the pet-care space. The thought of integratingsmart solutions, theInternet of Things (IoT) and even AI makes exploring this trend intriguing as both a user and developer. Andfor uspet owners, these advancements are a blessing. Now you can snuggle up with that furry friend of yours and know that techs got both of you covered.

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3 Ways Technology Has Changed the Pet-Care Industry - Entrepreneur

HAUPPAUGE, N.Y., Nov. 30, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Video conferencing equipment supplier, IVCi, lists and explains the top AV technologies for government services.

Government agencies have an increased need for transparency and a responsibility to keep the public informed. Therefore, providing access to meetings, displaying information clearly, and assisting those with impairments is essential. AV technology solutions can make it easier for governments to better serve their constituents with transparency.

Here are some of the top AV technologies that government services should invest in.

Video conferencing systems.Video conferencing removes distance, weather, and accessibility barriers that could prevent people from attending an important meeting. Agencies can get simple conferencing solutions with data encryption to allow for the dissemination of information without risking data security. AV technology set-ups can be simple yet highly impactful.

Wireless presentation systems. When people do attend meetings in person, it's important that the presentation runs smoothly. Clear audio and visuals are important in keeping the public informed, but wires, connectors, and adapters can be costly and hard to connect in certain spaces. A wireless presentation system is compatible with many different devices and can be implemented in almost any environment.

Digital signage and video walls. Digital signage and video walls help keep the public informed when meetings are not in session. They can provide highly visible indicators of when the next meeting is, any upcoming hearings, or important announcements. Content on digital signage and video walls is dynamic, so multiple messages can be displayed.

Assistive listening devices.Government services are required to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, which also applies to those with auditory impairments. Assistive listening devices allow governments to meet audio requirements and ensure that every member of the public can access important information.

Although AV technologies are beneficial (and in some cases necessary) for government services, there is still some hesitation around its implementation. Tightened budgets and historically preserved locations can cause some government agencies to shy away from AV technology installation. But with the right supplier and partner, government services can greatly benefit from the top AV technologies listed above.

ABOUT IVCi

IVCi video conferencing company is a global technology leader for standardized, yet scalable, collaborative meeting spaces, unified communications, video conferencing, cloud based services and industry leading back-end managed services. We partner with you to set a collaboration & migration strategy, which includes identifying, deploying, and managing the ideal technology mix to improve your business' bottom line and support the most ambitious ROI models that support and justify your investments.

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Video Conferencing Equipment Supplier, IVCi, Lists and Explains the Top AV Technologies for Government Services - PRNewswire

Most ocean plastic starts off in rivers. From bubble curtains to googly-eyed trash wheels, here are four technologies designed to intercept river plastic before it gets to the sea.

Last month The Ocean Cleanup turned its attention to river plastic and launched the Interceptor, a floating device it claims can harvest up to 100,000 kilograms of plastic waste per day.

"To truly rid the oceans of plastic, we need to both clean up the legacy and close the tap, preventing more plastic from reaching the oceans in the first place," said Boyan Slat, founder of the organisation that has until now focused on trying to remove plastic already in the oceans.

However many experts believe that extracting plastic from the ocean is the wrong approach."To be very honest, I don't believe that we're going to clean up the oceans," said Cyrill Gutsch, founder of Parley for the Oceans, in an interview with Dezeen earlier this year.

Of the 300 million tonnes of plastic produced every year, up to eight million tonnes ends up in the ocean.

A 2017 report published in the Environmental Science and Technology journal revealed that 88 to 95 per cent of the plastic waste transported to the ocean via rivers comes from just ten rivers. These include the Nile, the Yellow River and the Ganges.

An estimated 4.8 to 12.7 million tonnes of plastic end up in the oceans each year. Circular-economy charity the Ellen MacArthur Foundation estimates that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans.

Here are four projects attempting to stop plastic from reaching the ocean:

Interceptor, by The Ocean Cleanup

The Ocean Cleanup's attempt at cleaning up ocean plastic has gotten off to a rocky start. The floating barrier designed to catch plastic from the sea has suffered setbacks with damage from wind and waves. While the project is still going ahead, the organisation has also turned its attention to river plastic.

"Combining our ocean cleanup technology with the Interceptor, the solutions now exist to address both sides of the equation," said Slat, the organisation's founder.

The Interceptor is an autonomous solar-powered device that uses a barrier stretching across a river to collect plastic. Rubbish is funnelled towards a floating processing plant that resembles a barge. The trash is passed up a conveyor belt and deposited into bins, which signal to the system when they are full so that a boat can come and pick them up for recycling.

Currently there are Interceptors operating in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, with more planned for the Dominican Republic and the USA.

Read more about the Interceptor

The Bubble Barrier, by The Great Bubble Barrier and Waternet

Waternet, which managesAmsterdam'swaterways, deploys five garbage boats that fish out 42,000 kilograms of plastic every year.Earlier this year Waternet also deployed a barrier of bubbles to tackle plastic waste in the city's canals.

"Plastic in our water is becoming an increasing problem," said Sander Mage, executive member of Amsterdam's water board."It has profound effects on the quality of our water and therefore on everything that lives in or near the water."

The Bubble Barrier is a perforated tube laid across the bottom of the canal with compressed air pushed through it. It runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, forming a screen that catches floating debris.

Plastic pieces are caught by the bubbles and pushed to the surface, where they are carried by the current to a catchment pool.

Waste collected by the Bubble Barrier will be tested by the Plastic Soup Foundation to measure how much plastic is caught, what kind of objects they are, and what the most common brands are.

Mr Trash Wheel, by Clearwater Mills and the Waterfront Partnership

Mr Trash Wheel, an anthropomorphic trash interceptor with googly eyes and his own Twitter account, has been scooping rubbish out of the Jones Fall River in Baltimore since 2014.

In 2016 he was joined by the female-gendered Professor Trash Wheel, with the gender neutral Captain Trash Wheel launched in 2018. The fleet of trash-collecting vessels has collected a total 907 tonnes of rubbish.

The vessels are powered by waterwheels and the river's current, with solar panels for backup on slower days. Debris is collected by floating barriers and the wheels power a conveyor belt that transfers the rubbish out of the water and into a bin.

As well as stopping plastic reaching the ocean, the wheels are contributing to the goal of making the harbour swimmable by 2020.

Floating boom, by CLAIM and New Naval

As oneof the five Cleaning Litter by Developing and Applying Innovative Methods in European Seas (CLAIM) projects run by the EU, a floating boom has been installed at the mouth of the Kifissos River in Athens, Greece.

The floating boom is called the Tactical Recovery System Hellas, or TRASH, and was manufactured by New Naval.

Using technology New Naval developed for responding to oil spills, the mesh barriers collect river plastic and channels it towards a floating cage. This is used to lift the plastic up to the level of the harbour wall so it can be removed.

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Four technologies tackling the problem of plastic pollution in rivers - Dezeen

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Handbook of Nanomaterials for Manufacturing Applications. Micro and Nano Technologies" book from Elsevier Science and Technology has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Handbook of Nanomaterials for Manufacturing Applications covers the challenges and obstacles involved in using nanomaterials in manufacturing. In particular, the lack of information, the possibility of adverse impacts on the environment, human health, safety and sustainability and other remaining challenges. This book addresses these challenges for the use of nanomaterials in major manufacturing sectors and suggests how they may be overcome. It was written to summarize, in a one-stop, concise manner, how nanomaterials and nanotechnology are being used to enhance current manufacturing techniques and processes in order to create more sustainable products in a range of industry sectors.

This book will be of great use to materials scientists and engineers who are looking to gain a greater understanding on how nanotechnology is being used to improve the products we use in our daily lives.

Key Topics Covered:

SECTION 1: NANOMATERIALS IN INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING

1. Manufacturing and Nanomaterials Perspectives

2. Manufacturing and Technology: Perspectives and Enablers

SECTION 2: ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS IN SURFACES AND COATINGS (Consumer products)

3. Thin Films for Coating Nanomaterials

4. Nanomaterials in detergents and cosmetics products: The mechanisms and implications

5. Nanomaterials in coatings: An industrial point of view

6. New nanostructured Ni-W coatings with good corrosion resistance and high hardness

7. Sol-gel surface functionalization regardless of its form and type

8. Engineered nanomaterials for light trapping

9. Nanocapsules: an engineered nanomaterial for smart self-healing coating and catalysis

10. Nanoengineered Sunscreens: Techno-Scientific Breakthrough for Personal Care

11. A cosmeceutical perspective of engineered nanoparticles

12. ActivLayr technology based on marine collagen nanofibres and natural extracts

SECTION 3: ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS IN THE TEXTILES INDUSTRY

13. Engineered nanoparticles in textiles

14. Nanoparticles and nano fibres used in the textile industry

15. Gas diffusion and relative permeability of nanofibers based on fractal geometry

16. Engineered nanomaterials: Scope in today's textile industry

17. Nanoparticles: a potential alternative to classical fire retardants for textile substrates

18. Fabrication of Polyniline/Carbon nanotube based nanocomposite electrode for detection of organic pollutants

19. Nanoparticles: novel use in bioactive textiles

SECTION 4: ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS IN THE SPORTS INDUSTRY

20. Segmentation of consumers for nanomaterials-based sports equipment

21. Engineered nanomaterials in the sports industry

SECTION 5: ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS IN THE AEROSPACE AND VEHICLE INDUSTRIES

22. Modeling of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanotube-polymer composites for aerospace applications

23. Engineered nanomaterials in aerospace

24. Photoconducting polymeric nanocomposites and their application in holographic interferometry

25. Fabrication of nano-sized nickel-based alloys for aerospace engines (Turbine blades)

SECTION 6: ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

26. Use of engineered nanomaterials in the construction industry: paints and their flows in construction and demolition waste

27. Synthesis, design and characterization of controlled nanoparticles for the construction industry

SECTION 7: ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS IN THE WOOD INDUSTRY

28. Non-linear release dynamics for a CeO2 nanomaterial embedded in a protective wood stain, due to matrix photo-degradation

29. Application of Nanocellulose (NC) in the paper industry

SECTION 8: ENGINEERED NANOMATERIALS AND ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING (AM)

30. Processing of nano- and microcapsules for industrial applications

31. Nanomaterials for printing technology: A revolution in industrial manufacturing

32. Nanomaterials as Additives

SECTION 9: NANOMATERIALS IN ELECTRONICS

33. Nanomaterials for Electronics, Optoelectronics, and Bioelectronics

34. Application of nanomaterials in the electronics industry

SECTION 10: NANOMATERIALS FOR POLYMERS & THEIR COMPOSITES

35. Nanofibrillar polymer-polymer and single polymer composites via the 'converting instead of adding' concept: Examples of true polymer nanocomposite

36. Application of nanomaterials for polymers and their composites

SECTION 11: SAFETY RISKS IN THE COMMERCIALIZATION OF NANOMATERIALS

37. Establishing the safety of novel bio-based cellulose nanomaterials for commercialization

38. Risk assessment and toxicity of nanomaterials

SECTION 12: NANOMATERIALS FOR A GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

39. Comparison of tools for the sustainability assessment of nanomaterials

40. Nanotechnology for a sustainable future

CONCLUSIONS

41. Enhancing Manufacturing with Nanomaterials

Authors

Chaudhery Mustansar Hussain is an adjunct professor, academic advisor, and lab director at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, United States. His research focuses on the development of environmental analytical techniques, synthesis of nanomaterials, functionalization, and their applications in air sampling devices. Dr. Hussain is the author of numerous papers in peer-reviewed journals as well as a prolific author and editor of several scientific monographs and handbooks published with Elsevier, Royal Society of Chemistry, Wiley, and Springer.

For more information about this book visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/nl53qn

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Handbook of Nanomaterials for Manufacturing Applications, 2020 - Micro and Nano Technologies - ResearchAndMarkets.com - Business Wire

November 30, 2019To help empower clinicians and patients in their fight against breast cancer, GE Healthcareintroduced Serena Bright, the healthcare industrys first contrast-enhanced mammography solution for biopsy, at RSNA19.

Interventional and biopsy procedures are a necessary step in most breast cancer diagnoses. Previously, for lesions not seen on mammography or ultrasound, contrast-enhanced biopsy was typically performed with breast MR, which can be more time-consuming, uncomfortable and costly for patients. With Serena Bright, breast biopsy exams can now be done with the same mammography equipment and in the same room as the screening or diagnostic mammogram. This can help save time, lessen costs and ultimately help improve the patient experience.

This new mammography-guided biopsy technique offers an alternative to MR-guided breast biopsy, which can improve the patient experience and allow us to get answers to patients faster, saidCorinne Balleyguier, M.D., head of medical imaging at Gustave Roussy in France. We are proud to be the first in the world to be able to offer this technology to our patients and believe this will have a significant impact on breast imaging capabilities.

Key to this revolutionary change in breast care is GE Healthcares SenoBrightHD Contrast Enhanced Spectral Mammography (CESM), a diagnostic imaging tool that can detect malignant lesions not seen on mammography or ultrasound in certain cases. By highlighting areas of unusual blood flow to help localize lesions that need to be biopsied, CESM biopsy Serena Bright helps improve radiologists diagnostic confidence with the ultimate goal of getting answers to patients as quickly as possible.

This novel approach has the potential to be a more affordable and faster alternative to MR-guided biopsy for suspect findings seen in CESM, saidRodrigo Alcantara, M.D., head of breast imaging section at Hospital del Mar in Spain. Our initial findings have been incredibly successful in reliably targeting and enhancing lesions to ultimately find cancer earlier.

We are thrilled to introduce this industry-first solution to equip clinicians with another key tool in the fight against breast cancer, addedAgnes Berzsenyi, president and CEO of Womens Health at GE Healthcare. Through a multi-modality and personalized approach, our hope is that we can find cancers earlier to ultimately improve outcomes and save lives.

*510k pending at FDA. Not available for sale in the United States.

For more information: http://www.gehealthcare.com

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GE Healthcare Unveils Novel Contrast-enhanced Mammography Solution for Biopsy - Imaging Technology News

ON THE PRINCIPLE that no news is good news, the fact that AIDS has dropped out of the headlines is surely a good thing. Nevertheless, it does no harm for the world to be reminded from time to time that the illness has not gone away. To that end, UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation, the international agencies charged with dealing with the epidemic, promote December 1st as World AIDS Day.

This year is the last before the target date for the success of the latest of the agencies campaigns to roll out the antiretroviral drugs that both keep those already infected with HIV alive and stop them passing the virus on. This particular campaign is called 90-90-90. Its aims are that, by the end of 2020, 90% of all those around the world who are infected will know they are infected; 90% of that group will be receiving sustained antiretroviral therapy; and 90% of those receiving therapy will have had the virus effectively suppressed.

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The 90-90-90 campaign follows the 3 by 5 initiative, begun in 2003, to put 3m people on the drugs by 2005, and the subsequent target of 15 by 15. The latest estimate is that 38m people are infected with HIV, so 90-90-90 implies 28m being treated successfully. As the chart shows, doing this by 2020 is unlikely. Whether that is seen as a failure, though, depends on your point of view. Had the target been reached easily is would surely have been criticised as unambitious.

Regardless of when 90-90-90 is achieved the next aim, 95-95-95, is already pencilled in for 2030. This is also the year set by the UNs Sustainable Development Goals for the end of AIDS as a public health threat.

The exact meaning of that phrase is unclear. But in principle eliminating HIV is possible with existing technology. As has happened with smallpox and polio, the identification and treatment of all who are infected would stop new cases arising. The slogans for this are zero new HIV infections, zero AIDS-related deaths and (AIDS being an illness that has always been surrounded by prejudice) zero discrimination.

Unlike smallpox and polio, however, there is no vaccine against HIV. If this state of affairs continues, eliminating the virus will mean giving drugs to all those infected until they have died of other causes. It will also mean someone paying for those drugs. And, in the case of those living in the poorest parts of the world, that someone is often going to be taxpayers in rich countries, who already contribute about $8bn a year to the anti-AIDS effort. Exterminating HIV, then, will be a huge undertaking and an expensive one. But not, with luck, an impossible one.

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Slowly, HIV is being beaten - The Economist

As winter sets in, a warm home is important. In the U.K., home heating is almost exclusively done with a boiler, which conjures images of cantankerous elderly equipment that fails at the worst moment. If you think that home heating is a relic of the analog world and technology wants nothing to do with it, think again.

Thermostat on radiator. (Photo by BuildPix/Construction Photography/Avalon/Getty Images)

However advanced technology becomes, the digital world has to work in conjunction with the analog one. A smart home where the morning alarm clock triggers the central heating, the lighting and even the tea kettle still needs the right plumbing, gas supply and mains power. Big organizations like British Gas or Boxt, which is a recent addition to the service industry, are eager to make digital and analog work together.

Boxt is an installer of boilers, air conditioning and, soon, electric vehicle chargers. Like British Gas, the Boxt engineers work with smart home accessories, too. So, when a boiler is installed, you can opt for a Nest learning thermostat, for instance, just as British Gas can supply its favored Hive system.

British Gas has a huge team of engineers, while Boxt has a network of local suppliers and installers.

Technology can help keep costs down, and one way to do this includes an initial connection thats done exclusively through a carefully detailed website. This is key for Boxt and is the first contact the customer has with the company. There are increasingly specific questions greeting the site visitor, such as Is your boiler combi or system?. It enquires which room your current boiler is located in and whether youre in a flat, bungalow or terrace. It even establishes water pressure in accessible terms by asking how quickly the water comes out of the cold tap, in accessible terms such as: Slow, takes more than 10 seconds to fill a pint glass.

These are questions that determine the kind of boiler and lead to the website deciding the price. Boxt claims the site can deliver a quote within 90 seconds. I tried the site multiple times with imagined scenarios of varying complexity. Sometimes it took longer, but never more than about six minutes in total. Crucially, this automation avoids the need for an engineers visit in almost all cases, which keep costs down. As a result, Boxts quotes can compare favorably to British Gas.

If a particular property is more complicated, youre asked to call Boxt so they can discover more details, or you may be required to send photos of your current boiler. If needed, Boxt can arrange an engineer visit.

Although it doesnt mean the service cant do complicated installations, there may be some situations like a complete relocation of the boiler to another room, say where it could be simpler to use a local tradesperson after all.

Boxt takes advantage of the fact that many new boilers are like-for-like swaps where the old one is removed and the new plonked in its place.

Key to the whole experience is the immediacy of availability: if your heating has broken, and you are keying in your details before 3PM, you can even choose a next-day installation. This attracts a price premium.

There are also higher prices for weekend visits, lower ones for midweek dates that are a little time off.

A central heating boiler, here installed by BOXT, can look good enough that you don't need to hide ... [+] it in a cupboard.

The boiler, pipes, fittings and all accessories arrive automatically by courier on the day of the appointment and apart from one phone call where the installer introduces themselves, everything is automated though customer service staff are available if needed. Costs are competitive but even when they are not the lowest, the fixed-price element is critical to the simplicity of the service.

None of this would matter much if the actual installation and supply part of the deal wasnt up to scratch.

Dre Smith, a musician who lives in Sandy, Bedfordshire, had her new system installed by Boxt. I asked her about her experience and she was impressed. I used the website to specify what boiler I needed. It took a few minutes, but it was straightforward and there were explanations to help if youre not sure. I got my quote immediately, and I chose a day when installation was a bit cheaper Id planned ahead because my boiler was still working. I think I might have been able to get a cheaper price elsewhere, but the fixed price was one of the main attractions, and you dont feel youre being upsold. I had the option of a free Google Nest Learning Thermostat and Google Home Mini, too. The day before installation, I got a call from my assigned engineer to arrange what time they'd come and on the morning, the boiler and other accessories were delivered about an hour before the engineer arrived.

British Gas also has a website where customers can specify what theyre after and estimated prices are quickly shared there, too. But there seems to be a hand-off to humans sooner than with Boxt.

As more parts of the process are computerized, costs can be controlled and human involvement limited almost until the first moment where tap meets wrench. At which point, the providing of cups of tea to the humans in your house is still mandatory.

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How Technology Is Improving The Future Of Home Service Installations - Forbes