Category Archives: Technology

On Thursday (July 14), Charles Hoskinson, who is Co-Founder and CEO ofIO Global(aka IOG, formerly known as IOHK), the company responsible for Cardanos research and development, talked about how blockchain technology could transform the future of nation-state governance.

The IOG CEOs comments were made during an interview earlier today with Brian McGleenon on Yahoo Finance weekly show The Crypto Mile.

McGleenon started the interview by asking Hoskinson why we need a more decentralized world.

Hoskinson replied:

We want to live in a global society and if you want to live in a global society, one of the first things you dont want is for one actor in that global society to have complete control over critical things, resources that can be energy, your identity, supply chains, your food, that could be water.

You dont really want a situation where one actor is in charge of that whole show because what they can do is say, hey, you know, I dont like you Brian so, Im just gonna cut off your power or your water or your access to the internet or these types of things

So, the point of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology is they take those resources that should be kind of a public good and if theyre digitizable, get them into a situation where theyre completely open and basically then build businesses on top of that.

Then, later in the interview, Hoskinson went on to add:

You can start taking lots of government services and put them into a structure where they have radical transparency and they have exponential growth and capabilities. Suddenly, all of your tax revenue is open source and everybody can look at it and see where the money is going. All of your government interactions are now completely digital native and they have programmable interfaces and anybody can build applications for it. Everythings open source. Everything is programmable at the edges.

So, you now have a way of doing global regulation without putting a nation state in charge of everything. Like what the role the United States had in 20th century At the end of the day, you have less friction, less fraud, less waste, less abuse, more transparency, and ultimately less consolidation of power.

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Cardano Founder on How Blockchain Technology Could Improve Nation-Station Governance - CryptoGlobe

Partnership gives Nexstar Digital comprehensive access to Teads premium ad platform

LOS ANGELES(BUSINESS WIRE)Nexstar Digital, the digital division of Nexstar Media Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Nexstar Media Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: NXST), and Teads, the global media platform, announced today a new exclusive partnership to deliver Teads flagship ad format inRead advertising technology to Nexstar Digitals 125 websites and 239 mobile apps.

This exciting new partnership covers a majority of Nexstar Digitals portfolio including local station websites and apps, NewsNation, and The Hill. This allows Nexstar Digital to scale its online inRead inventory, while increasing video and display ad monetization. Nexstar Digital is now able to leverage Teads high-attention ad formats, including video and rich media display, as well as Teads market leading Teads for Publishers Suite, cookieless tools, and Studio Platform. This partnership advances Nexstar Digitals clear focus on monetizing its digital media assets with proven ad technology designed to drive direct advertising sales, create a diversified revenue stream, and increase user engagement.

Teads inRead technology allows advertising content to be inserted into editorial content without disrupting the user experience. The end-to-end platform offers a suite of cookieless technology for publishers and brands, alongside a full funnel of solutions from branding to performance marketing. The platform also offers both advertisers and publishers cutting-edge creative technology at scale, driven by innovation like Teads Studio for creative and machine learning that drives real business outcomes.

Lori Tavoularis, Chief Revenue Officer at Nexstar Digital said: This exclusive deal is the start of a fantastic partnership, and we expect a tremendous response from advertisers. Teads inRead ads will empower our Local and National Sales teams with a performance driven video-first solution that strengthens our suite of video ads. Teads technology creates a sustainable revenue stream for us by monetizing our media properties with high-quality ads without sacrificing the user experience. At Nexstar Digital, we deliver what matters most for our advertising clients including content, audiences, solutions, and most importantly, results. Our partnership with Teads allows us to deliver even further on this commitment to our customers.

Simon Klein, SVP Publishing North America at Teads, added: We are really excited about this partnership with Nexstar Digital. Supporting quality publishers is our mission at Teads and we are proud to do so here, ensuring local communities can continue to get the fantastic, relevant content that Nexstar Digital provides, well into the future. Through this direct integration, Teads market-leading technology can further drive revenue to Nexstar Digital and deliver outstanding results for brands.

Learn more at http://www.nexstardigital.com and http://www.teads.com.

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About Nexstar Digital

Nexstar Digital, the digital business of Nexstar Media Group, Inc., operates 125 websites and 239 mobile apps, delivering premium and trusted content from Nexstar Media Groups portfolio of media assets, including 200 owned or partner local broadcast stations in 116 U.S. markets, NewsNationNow.com, TheHill.com, and BestReviews.com. Collectively, Nexstar Media Groups digital assets are a Top 10 U.S. digital news and information property as ranked by Comscore. For more information and the latest news, visit http://www.nexstardigital.com.

About Teads

Teads operates a leading, cloud-based, end-to-end technology platform that enables programmatic digital advertising across a global ecosystem of quality digital media. As an end-to-end solution, Teads modular platform allows partners to leverage buy-side, sell-side, creative, data and AI optimization technologies.

For advertisers and their agencies, Teads offers a single access point to buy the inventory of many of the worlds best publishers. Through exclusive global media partnerships, Teads enables advertisers and agencies to reach 1.9 billion unique monthly users* in brand safe, responsible advertising environments, while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of digital ad transactions.

Teads partners with the leading marketers, agencies, and publishers through a team of 800+ people in 26 countries.

*Global reach as of September 2021

Contacts

Nexstar Digital

Digital Contact:Dennis Cook

SVP, Sales Marketing

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

646/408-3110 or dcook@nexstardigital.com

Media Contact:Gary Weitman

EVP & Chief Communications Officer

Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

972/373-8800 or gweitman@nexstar.tvInvestor Contact:

Joseph Jaffoni or Jennifer Neuman

JCIR

212/835-8500 or nxst@jcir.com

Teads

ContactsGraham Alexander, Global Communications & PR Director, Teads

graham.alexander@teads.com+447799320275

Zoe Baptie, Senior Account Director, Bluestripe Media

zoe.baptie@bluestripegroup.co.uk+44-(0)7796-406899

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Teads Announces Exclusive Partnership With Nexstar Digital to Deliver InRead Advertising Technology and Monetization Capabilities - -...

Types of Technology

There are many different types of technology, differing in historical invention and application, as well as by the type of problem they solve. Types of technology include mechanical technology, medical technology, communications technology, electronic technology, and industrial and manufacturing technologies. Though these different types of technology all serve different purposes, range in design, and are applied in different ways, they all have one thing in common: they all solve a problem.

Mechanical technology is one of the simplest forms of technology, both in its application and in its design. Mechanical technology is the use of simple machines to solve problems. This includes the use of pulleys, levers, wheels and axles, wedges, inclined planes, and even cogs and gears. Mechanical technology is used for any task that involves doing mechanical work, which is primarily the motion of objects. Any machine, generator, or tool used to do work uses mechanical technology.

A shaduf is an ancient lever and fulcrum used to retrieve water from dug wells.

Though mechanical technology is simple, it has allowed for extremely important advancements in the human experience. Early humans using the wheel allowed for the transportation of heavy material to be faster and easier. The first wheel was found in ancient Mesopotamia, and is thought to be used as a potter's wheel to throw clay pots. Ancient Egypt and India saw the invention of the shaduf, a hand-operated lever and fulcrum used to lift water to irrigate crops. Ancient Greek philosopher Archimedes was the first to record simple machines, including pulleys, levers, and inclined planes, all used as machines to lessen the work needed to accomplish a task. During the Industrial Revolution, mechanical principles were used in the invention of engines, which use a system of pistons to generate large amounts of force needed to move trains and power factories. In modern times, mechanical technology is employed to accomplish all sorts of engineering tasks, such as running our cars, lifting heavy objects, and transporting goods.

Medical technology is defined as the application of scientific principles to develop solutions to problems regarding health, prevent or delay the onset of disease, and promote the overall health of humans. Medical technology is used to prevent, diagnose, treat, and monitor symptoms and diseases. This includes the production of drugs and medications, and the use of x-rays, MRIs, and ultrasounds which are tools used to look in the body for ailments. Ventilators are another type of medical technology, and are used to assist people in breathing. Medical technology can also include the equipment invented and used specifically for medical practices, from stethoscopes to scalpels.

An MRI scans the internal organs of a person, and helps doctors diagnose ailments.

Communications technology is the application of scientific knowledge to communicate. This includes everything from telegrams to landlines to cell phones. The internet is considered a communications technology, because it is a system that communicates information in infinite ways. Communications technology also includes systems that aid in the effectiveness and efficiency of communication, such as communication satellites.

Electronic technology is the application of scientific understanding of electricity to do work and perform tasks. We think of electronic technology as the many electronic devices, known as electronics, used in our modern world, such as tablets, laptops, and phones, all with internal computers that run on electricity. However, electronic technology includes any machine that runs on electricity. This includes washing machines, lights, and toasters. Electronic technology uses a system of electrical circuits to achieve a goal. This system can be simple, like that of a light circuit, or can be very complex, like that of a computer. Regardless of the system's complexity, if it uses electricity, it is considered electronic technology.

A Nintendo 64 controller circuit board shows the intricate ways electricity powers a computer.

Industrial and manufacturing technologies is the application of scientific principles to make the production of objects faster, safer, and more efficient. It is a large field that includes many other forms of technology, including electrical and mechanical technologies. In the Industrial Revolution of the 1700s and 1800s, this type of technology revolutionized how humans travel, eat, and live. The invention of engines enabled factories to build machines that mass-produced objects. Engines also enabled those products to be shipped like never before, and a huge variety of products were available to people all over the world. The advancement of industrial and manufacturing technologies also revolutionized war, making the production of weapons faster and cheaper. Through the 1940s, '50s, and '60s, manufacturing technologies brought the world fast food, paper plates, and cheap and affordable housing.

A woman working in a 1914 British wartime factory.

Forms of technology have been developed and used as far back as humans have existed. Some of the earliest tools used by humans included sharpened stones used as arrowheads, axes, and cutting tools, which can be considered mechanical technology. With the invention of the wheel, early humans were able to make more sophisticated pottery, as well as lighten the load through the use of wheelbarrows. Boats, which were invented and used before the wheel, utilized all sorts of technologies, from navigational tools to pulley systems and wind power. Plumbing and irrigation technologies allowed for the transportation of water to vital systems needed for human life, such as watering crops and providing water for human consumption, to the disposal of waste. Building structures became easier as technology advanced, which lead to some of the most impressive structures ever built by humans, including Stonehenge and the Egyptian Pyramids. As technologies advanced, so too could civilization. More technology meant more solutions, which meant bigger cities, more trade, and the expansion of civilization.

What does technology mean for the future? If the past is any indication, technology is the key to solving the world's problems. Technology has revolutionized different ways of doing things, ways that improve the lives of humans, and advanced industries. The advancement of technology has also led to harmful effects on both people and the environment, particularly the invention and overuse of fossil fuels as an energy source to power so many of the technologies used in our modern life. Though technology has harmed the planet in our overuse of the planet's resources, technology could be the answer to many of the climate problems we face today. Technology has the power to solve modern problems as well, and the problems humans have faced in the past. With the world's greatest minds ever seeking solutions to the problems we face today, and an increasing number of people recognizing those problems, technology is sure to find ways of increasing the quality of life for humans, as well as the overall health of the planet and all who live here.

Technology has advanced human society for as long as our species has been in existence. Human life is full of problems that need solving, and technology provides innovative solutions to those problems that reduce effort and increase efficiency. Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes that benefit our everyday lives, as well as the industries created by humans. There are several types of technologies. Mechanical technology includes the use of machines to do work, and utilizes many simple machines such as wheels, levers, pulleys, and even cogs and gears that all function together to accomplish a task. Machines that move are mechanical technology. Medical technology is another type, and includes ventilators, medication, and MRIs. Communication technology is the third type, and includes all types of tools used to communicate, from telegrams to telephones. Electronic technology includes technology that requires electricity, from dishwashers to blenders to various electronic devices. Finally, industrial and manufacturing technologies advance ways of producing objects used by people around the world.

Since technology can be so simple or so complex, there are many types of technology. One type is mechanical technology, which includes wheels, cams, levers, gears, belts, and engines. Things that turn, or allow motion in one direction to cause a different kind of motion, are mechanical. The wheel is probably one of the most important technological advances in human history, and yet it's super simple.

Perhaps the type of technology that we're most familiar with in modern life is electronic technology, usually just called electronics, which is a complex form of technology that uses electric circuits to achieve a goal. Electric circuits can also vary in complexity. If you have a look at a circuit board with dozens of apparently random pathways mixed in with various components, you know how complex electronics can be. But, anything that runs on electricity is electronic. This includes computers, washing machines, dryers, MP3 players, car radios, televisionsanything you plug into the wall outlet. You can also split technology into types based on purpose. There's industrial and manufacturing technology, medical technology, communications technology, and others.

Industrial and manufacturing technology is technology with the goal of either producing a product on a large scale, or performing another large-scale function where customers are not directly present. For example, you might be manufacturing cars or generating electricity. Cars are created using mechanical robots, which is very advanced technology.

Medical technology is technology that serves the purpose of diagnosing, treating, or preventing disease. This can include things like MRI scanners, which take images of the inside of the human body; ventilators, which breathe for people; or even simply drugs and medicines that people take to make them better.

Communications technology includes everything from the old-fashioned telegraph, through to telephones, cell phones, communication satellites, and the Internet. The Internet could be considered one of the biggest communications technology breakthroughs of the last 50 years.

Technology is the work of humans at its most ingenious. Practically everything that has changed the day-to-day lives of humans over the last 10,000 years is some form of technology.

Technology is the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes or applications, whether in industry or in our everyday lives. It includes everything from the wheel to computers to medicines to zippers and buttons on clothes. We discussed many types of technology.

Mechanical technology includes wheels, cams, levers, gears, belts, and engines, while electronic technology is a complex form of technology that uses electric circuits to achieve a goal, with some examples being computers, MP3 players, and washing machines. We also talked about industrial and manufacturing technology, which is technology with the goal of either producing a product on a large scale or performing another large-scale function where customers are not directly present. Medical technology is technology that serves the purpose of diagnosing, treating, or preventing disease, whereas communications technology includes everything from the old-fashioned telegraph, through to telephones, cell phones, communication satellites, and the Internet

As we have seen in this lesson, technology is responsible for completely changing the way humans live their lives.

When you are finished, you should be able to:

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Technology Types & Uses | What is Technology? - Video & Lesson ...

DALLAS & LONDON, July 07, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ryan, an award-winning global tax services and software provider, today announced that it has joined the Automation Anywhere Technology Alliance Program to arm tax professionals with robotic process automation (RPA) to refine operational efficiencies.

Automation and digital workers, which are software bots that automate business processes so workers can focus on higher value, strategic tasks, are increasingly being used by organizations around the world, including tax and finance functions. The technology can automate a vast range of manual and cumbersome tasks in a flexible, scalable manner. This ensures a high level of accuracy and consistency, enabling the accelerating move to "real-time" data processing.

The use of RPA, combined with artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and analytics, is part of a broader approach to data processing. It is supported by Ryans tax transformation expertise through a hands-on and flexible approach, with a range of available technology solutions (within clients existing portfolios and in the market), enabling an increasing number of clients to build their own "future-fit," flexible, and scalable tax functions.

"The collaboration with Automation Anywhere is another weapon in our arsenal to help our clients accelerate their own transformation journeys. RPA is a key driver of automation and standardization, particularly where clients tax functions are working with data from a range of sources or managing disparate teams," said Andrew Burman, Ryan Principal Tax Technology and Transformation. "Combining the capabilities of the Automation Anywhere platform with our expertise and experience will help clients realize their optimal tax operating model and accelerate their tax transformation journey."

"We are delighted to welcome Ryan into our Technology Alliance Program," said Alastair Lines, Director, Strategic Partnerships, Automation Anywhere. "Tax professionals typically spend more than half their time either gathering or manipulating data. By staying ahead of the curve, tax departments can automate routine, predictable tasks that tie up valuable resources and add greater value to the business."

Story continues

About Ryan

Ryan, an award-winning global tax services and software provider, is the largest Firm in the world dedicated exclusively to business taxes. With global headquarters in Dallas, Texas, the Firm provides an integrated suite of federal, state, local, and international tax services on a multijurisdictional basis, including tax recovery, consulting, advocacy, compliance, and technology services. Ryan is a 10-time recipient of the International Service Excellence Award from the Customer Service Institute of America (CSIA) for its commitment to world-class client service. Empowered by the dynamic myRyan work environment, which is widely recognized as the most innovative in the tax services industry, Ryans multidisciplinary team of more than 3,500 professionals and associates serves over 18,000 clients in more than 60 countries, including many of the worlds most prominent Global 5000 companies. More information about Ryan can be found at ryan.com. "Ryan" and "Firm" refer to the global organizational network and may refer to one or more of the member firms of Ryan International, each of which is a separate legal entity.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220707005032/en/

Contacts

Stacey UnderwoodSenior Manager, Content, Communications, and Public RelationsRyan972.934.0022stacey.underwood@ryan.com

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Ryan Joins Automation Anywhere Technology Alliance Program - Yahoo Finance

The heads of the FBI and UK domestic security service shared a platform for the first time to issue dire warnings about the threats posed by the Chinese governments espionage operations, BBC News reports. FBI Director Christopher Wray and MI5 Director General Ken McCallum were speaking at a joint event at MI5s London headquarters in front of an audience that included business CEOs and senior figures from universities.

The Chinese government is set on stealing your technologywhatever it is that makes your industry tickand using it to undercut your business and dominate your market, the Wall Street Journal reports Wray said in the speech. The FBI director added that the benefits of keeping a piece of technology confidential may sometimes outweigh those of accessing the Chinese market.

Maintaining a technological edge may do more to increase a companys value than would partnering with a Chinese company to sell into that huge Chinese market, only to find the Chinese government and your partner stealing and copying your innovation, Wray said, adding that it represents an even more serious threat to western businesses than even many sophisticated businesspeople realized.

In their speech, the two allege that the Chinese government is engaged in a coordinated campaign to gain access to important technology, and to cheat and steal on a massive scale. They added that the Chinese governments hacking program dwarfs that of every major country, and that it has a global network of intelligence operatives. The threat means that MI5 is running seven times as many investigations into Chinese activity as it was four years ago, while the FBI is opening roughly two new counterintelligence investigations every day, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Today is the first time the heads of the FBI and MI5 have shared a public platform, MI5s McCallum said. Were doing so to send the clearest signal we can on a massive shared challenge: China. He added that the threat is real and its pressing and that it could be the most game-changing challenge we face.

In terms of specific examples, MI5s McCallum cited the case of a British aviation expert who was offered a job by a company that was actually a front for Chinese intelligence officers looking to acquire technical information on military aircraft, BBC News reports. Another engineering firm came close to making a deal with a Chinese company, before seeing its technology taken and the deal called off. The incident forced the company into bankruptcy.

A spokesperson for Chinas embassy in Washington, Liu Pengyu, denied the allegations, telling the Associated Press in a statement that the countrys government firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyber-attacks and will never encourage, support or condone them. The Chinese government maintains that it does not interfere in the affairs of other countries, but that it will defend itself against cyberattacks. The statement criticized U.S. politicians who have been tarnishing Chinas image and painting China as a threat with false accusations, the Wall Street Journal reports.

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FBI and MI5: 'The Chinese government is set on stealing your technology' - The Verge

New Hires Provide Digital Transformation and Automation Resources to Accelerate Growth and Innovation Across the PPC Family of Companies

CHICAGO, July 07, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Pritzker Private Capital ("PPC"), a leader in family direct investing, today announced the addition of two functional experts to its Operations Group, which supports growth initiatives across the PPC family of companies. Anish Sharan, Head of Digital Transformation, will support the adoption of digital capabilities, including artificial intelligence and robotic process automation, to enhance customer experience and deepen data utilization. Tim Giulianelli, Vice President of Automation, will support the evaluation and implementation of technology and automation systems across manufacturing and production facilities. Mr. Sharan and Mr. Giulianelli each bring deep, specialized experience that is especially relevant for PPCs businesses in todays environment.

Along with other members of PPCs Operations Group, Mr. Sharan and Mr. Giulianelli will work closely alongside company teams and PPC professionals to support sustained growth, innovation and operating excellence across PPCs family of companies. The hires represent PPCs continued development and expansion of its Operations Group, as the firm offers customized resources and value-creation expertise in areas that resonate with the needs of its companies.

"We have strong conviction that enhancing our capabilities to support the growth of our companies will enhance our reputation as an excellent partner for management teams," said David Gau, Head of PPCs Operations Group. "Anish and Tim bring deep experience in digital and automation, which we have identified as key areas of opportunity for our companies. Their expertise is an exciting complement to talent already in our Operations Group, and I look forward to collaborating with them as we help our companies build sustained value."

"Companies in every sector can leverage a digital transformation strategy to improve the customer experience and modernize data capabilities," said Mr. Sharan. "PPC demonstrates a clear understanding of how digital capabilities and data analytics can help businesses grow in todays economy, and I am delighted to join the team."

Mr. Sharan joins from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, where he was Director of Transformation and Execution, responsible for driving digitization, technology modernization and enterprise transformation initiatives. He previously held senior digital operations, e-commerce and technology-focused roles at The Nielsen Company, Leo Burnett Worldwide and Motorola.

"Im excited to join the talented team at PPC, with its commitment to operational excellence and track record of forming quality partnerships with owners and management teams," said Mr. Giulianelli. "I look forward to helping propel automation capabilities across the PPC family of companies."

Mr. Giulianelli joins from Jabil Packaging Solutions, where he was Senior Global Automation Engineer overseeing the companys automation and manufacturing engineering team in executing multi-million-dollar automation and robotics programs. He previously held various manufacturing and automation engineering roles at API Technologies and Erie Plastics.

About Pritzker Private CapitalPritzker Private Capital partners with middle-market companies based in North America with leading positions in the manufactured products and services sectors. The firm's differentiated, long-duration capital base allows for efficient decision-making, broad flexibility with transaction structure and investment horizon, and alignment with all stakeholders. Pritzker Private Capital builds businesses for the long term and is an ideal partner for entrepreneur- and family-owned companies. Pritzker Private Capital is a signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI). For more information, visit PPCPartners.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220707005238/en/

Contacts

Abernathy MacGregorDan Scorpio / Kyla MacLennan(312) 640-3111 / (646) 939-3062dps@abmac.com / kam@abmac.com

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Pritzker Private Capital Adds Technology and Automation Expertise to its Operations Group - Yahoo Finance

FALLS CHURCH, Va., July 07, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Women in Technology (WIT), the premier organization contributing to the success of professional women in the Washington, D.C. area technology community, today announced its 2022 - 2023 Board of Directors.

Leading the organization as this years President is Amber Hart, Founder and Co-Owner of The Pulse of GovCon. Prior to assuming the Presidential role, Amber Hart served as a Board Member of WIT and George Mason Universitys Center for Government Contracting (CGC) Advisory Board in the School of Business.

"Despite national conversations about gender diversity in technology, women are still underrepresented, underpaid and often discriminated against in the industry. These women make such significant impacts in their roles for their companies, for the lives of others, and for those who will walk after them. We are excited to bring focus to their work and recognize them for their achievements," said Hart.

Women in Technologys Leadership is comprised of dedicated team of female professionals committed to empowering women to be architects of change in the technology industry.

Women in Technology Board of Directors for 2022 - 2023

President: Amber Hart, The Pulse of GovCon

Immediate Past President: Cristine Gollayan, SONY

President-Elect: Julie Murphy, Sage Communications

Board Member, Secretary: Emily Brash, Curate Partners

Board Member, Treasurer: Nancy Popovich, The Popovich Financial Group

Board Member, General Counsel: Kathryn Harris, RLG, plc

Board Member, Sponsorship Chair: Jennifer Sokalski, Signature Consultants

Board Member at Large, Special Events: Carrie Drake, Maxar Technologies

Board Member at Large, Executive Development: Leslie Bauer

Board Member, Communications Chair: Aneta Zawila-Jordan, yorCMO

Board Member, Membership Chair: Maureen Cannon, Amazon Web Services

Board Member, Programs Chair: Melanie Condron, Accenture Federal Services

Board Member at Large, Emerging Leaders: Kathi Hanrahan

Board Member at Large, Special Interest Groups: Lisa Shea Mundt, The Pulse of GovCon

Board Member at Large, Volunteer Engagement: Suehaila Nabulsi, Capital One

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About Women in TechnologyWomen in Technology (WIT) is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of advancing women in technology from the classroom to the boardroom. With more than 1,000 members in the Washington, D.C. area, WIT fulfills its vision by providing leadership development, technology education, networking, and mentoring opportunities for women at all levels of their careers and for girls interested in STEM. For more information, please visit: womenintechnology.org or connect with us via Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter @WITWomen.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220707005120/en/

Contacts

MediaJulie Murphy703-584-5634

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Women in Technology Announces 2022 - 2023 Board of Directors - Yahoo Finance

Caitlin Mooney is 24 years old and infatuated with technology that dates to the age of Sputnik.

Mooney, a recent New Jersey Institute of Technology graduate in computer science, is a fan of technologies that were hot a half-century ago, including computer mainframes and software called COBOL that powers them. That stuff wont win any cool points in Silicon Valley, but it is essential technology at big banks, insurance companies, government agencies and other large institutions.

During Mooneys job hunt, potential employers saw her expertise and wanted to talk about more senior positions than she was seeking. They would get really excited, Mooney told me. Shes now trying to decide between multiple job offers.

The resilience of decades-old computing technologies and the people who specialize in them shows that new technologies are often built on lots of old tech.

When you deposit money using your banks iPhone app, behind the scenes it probably involves computers that are the progeny of those used in the Apollo moon missions. (Also, half-century-old computer code is baked into the iPhone software.)

Its often seen as a problem or a punchline that so much musty technology is still around. But its not necessarily an issue.

If it aint broke, dont fix it, joked Ellora Praharaj, director of reliability engineering at Stack Overflow, an online forum popular with tech workers. Students out of school these days dont necessarily want to work in uncool older languages. But the reality of the world is this is what powers many of our existing systems.

Praharaj said she learned COBOL in college in the mid-2000s and hated it. But until about five years ago, she was regularly using a 1950s computer programming technology called Fortran in a former job in the financial services industry. The old stuff is everywhere.

Latin is dead, but old computer programming languages like COBOL live on.

The typical salary for a COBOL programmer jumped 44 percent in the past year to nearly $76,000, according to a pay survey from Stack Overflow. The self-reported compensation is below that for people who use trendy software languages like Rust at $87,000, but it was the largest dollar increase in the survey.

(For the data fans among us: Stack Overflow said the survey had a significant sample size but wasnt necessarily representative.)

All of this also shows that computer nerds are subject to basic supply and demand dynamics. There arent a bunch of people like Mooney who want to work on mainframes and COBOL; the continued need for their skills gives them power. A job hunter wanting real-world COBOL experience wrote recently on the tech bulletin board Hacker News, COBOL devs are a specialized niche these days and they get paid accordingly.

Of course, it would be hard to find anyone who believes Boomer technologies are the next big thing. Most university computer science programs dont focus on mainframes, COBOL or Fortran.

Year Up, an organization that trains young adults for jobs in technology fields, told me that it discontinued training in COBOL. Potential employers asked Year Up to focus its curriculum on newer and more widely used software programming languages such as Java and Python.

Some people with years of experience in older tech say they worry theyve boxed themselves out of jobs with more potential.

But computer science specialists told me that while they wouldnt recommend young people devote themselves entirely to old technologies, they can be a useful foundation. Inevitably, todays hot coding fads will be replaced by something new. The important skill is to learn how to keep learning, said Jukay Hsu, chief executive of Pursuit, a tech work force training venture.

Mooney became curious about computer programming while taking business courses at a community college. She said she started doing her accounting homework in Python for fun. When she took a course taught by a professor who specialized in COBOL, Mooney found that she liked it. She also felt welcomed by a community of computer mainframe die-hards who were eager to help a young novice.

It was really, really great for building up my confidence and skill set, Mooney said.

The irony is that the designers of COBOL never expected the software to last this long. As my colleague Steve Lohr wrote in an obituary for Jean Sammet, a designer of COBOL, the softwares pioneers expected it to be a useful stopgap until something better came along.

That was about 40 years before Mooney was born. The old stuff will probably be around after the next 40 years.

How war bedeviled Russias coolest company: At Yandex the Russian equivalent of Google mixed with Amazon, Spotify and Uber employees and executives are divided over how to manage Russias demands to scrub the internet of the truth about the war in Ukraine, my colleague Neil MacFarquhar reported.

An overhyped technology finds its groove: 3-D printers that spit out layers of material to form objects were once imagined as technology for our homes. Steve Lohr wrote that 3-D printing may be most promising for mass manufacturing products such as a complex part needed for cooling computer processors.

In related news from Kevin Rooses 2021 Good Tech Awards: Using 3-D printing to address the housing crisis.

Nobody knows how to watch movies anymore. What just happened? I got distracted by a TikTok notification. Wired mulled over what we gain and lose from watching movies at home or on our phones. (A subscription may be required.)

In southwestern Australia, a western spiny-tailed gecko is rooming with a possum family in a nest box. Scientists were surprised theyre all getting along nicely.

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The Latin of Software Code Is Thriving - The New York Times

The State of California has approved $5 million in funding for the Cal-Bridge program, which provides a pathway for underrepresented students in California Community Colleges and the California State University (CSU) system to pursue advanced PhD degrees through the University of California system and join the California science and technology workforce, including as public university faculty.

The Cal-Bridge program, launched in 2014, is a statewide partnership between 9 UC, 23 CSU, and 116 community colleges across California supporting CSU students majoring in physics, computer science, and mathematics to matriculate into PhD programs across the state and nation. The new California state budget allocation will enable Cal-Bridge to expand the subject areas covered and extend its impact, supporting Cal-Bridge scholars all the way from their CSU undergraduate studies through their UC PhDs.

The new state funding will provide more young Californians from historically underrepresented communities with the opportunity to pursue a doctorate degree and access the support needed to successfully complete the degree and thrive in their chosen professions, said Lori Kletzer, Campus Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor at UC Santa Cruz.

Bruce Schumm, a professor of physics at UC Santa Cruz who co-leads the Northern California Cal-Bridge program, said plans for the expansion include developing a comprehensive program of support and professional development through the years of graduate study. This generous funding from the state will allow us to complete a unique, end-to-end pathway that can support students from our diverse community college and CSU campuses from the earliest steps of their college education through their entrance into careers in academia and industry, he said.

The expanded program will build a pathway for thousands of California students from diverse backgrounds to achieve the expertise needed to fill university faculty and technology leadership positions in California and beyond.

Diversifying the professoriate will lead to a growth in gender, racial, and ethnic representation in the technology workforce more broadly by increasing the number of students from historically underrepresented groups completing degrees in STEM fields because they see faculty that look like them, said Cal-Bridge Executive Director Alexander Rudolph, professor of physics and astronomy at Cal Poly Pomona. As countries around the world are increasing their investment in science and technology, making sure our nation uses all of the available talent in developing our expertise and capabilities in these fields is an issue of economic and national security.

Im so proud to have secured $5 million in the California State budget for the Cal-Bridge program to diversify the States science and technology workforce, said Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), who was the chief sponsor of the effort to win funding for the initiative in the state budget. Breaking down barriers to entry into STEM fields for historically underrepresented groups and diversifying Californias public university professoriate will help California continue to thrive as a world-class hub for innovation.

UCSC graduate student Rene Padilla is a Cal-Bridge scholar who credits the program with clearing his pathway to a Ph.D. Padilla started his education at Modesto Junior College, going on to receive his B.S. degree in physics from Stanislaus State in 2019.

Making the transition from a community college to a CSU campus was challenging, said Padilla. However, doing the transition from a CSU to a PhD was even harder and more complex. Nevertheless, the Cal-Bridge community gave me the necessary tools to successfully make the transition and move forward towards my dream school. Now, after several years, I am a candidate for a PhD in physics at UC Santa Cruz. I never imagined that I could make it that far, but having the support from a program like Cal-Bridge made a big difference in my life. I am sure that increasing the resources of the Cal-Bridge program will increase the chances of students like me to get into high-level education programs.

Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee and Nancy Skinner (D-East Bay), Chair of the Senate Budget Committee together helped shepherd the appropriation into the state budget and are both excited to support the Cal-Bridge Initiative. Ting commented, Cal-Bridge is a uniquely Californian treasure, ensuring fair and equal access to all the opportunities offered by our states outstanding higher education system. Cal-Bridge opens doors for all in our state to the most exciting and well-paid careers in science and technology, regardless of where they start their education. Im excited to support Cal-Bridge, to see it funded in this years budget and look forward to watching it grow to benefit thousands of Californians over the coming years.

Skinner added, California has made progress in diversifying our public colleges and universities, but there is still much work to do. Black and Latinx students, in particular, remain underrepresented at our CSU and UC campuses. The Cal-Bridge program is essential to closing this racial gap, which is why Im proud the Legislature and Governor have agreed to fund it in this years state budget. Cal-Bridge not only is effective at attracting underrepresented students to STEM fields, but also in ensuring that our cohort of future college professors in physics, computer science, and mathematics is diverse as well.

For more information, visit http://www.calbridge.org.

About Cal-Bridge: The Cal-Bridge program has the mission to create a comprehensive, end-to-end pathway for undergraduates from the diverse student population of the CSU system through graduate school to a PhD, postdoctoral fellowship, and ultimately membership in the professoriate and science and technology workforce. Students in the program are referred to as Cal-Bridge scholars.

The program is a partnership between 9 University of California (UC), all 23 California State University (CSU), and the 116 community college campuses in California, thus fulfilling the promise of cross-segmental cooperation envisioned in the California Master Plan for Higher Education. Scholars are recruited from CSU and community college campuses across the state, with the help of local faculty and/or staff liaisons at each campus. Community college students transfer to a participating CSU to join the program.

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California approves $5 million to fund diversity in science and technology education - University of California, Santa Cruz

The video game Fortnite Creative has gathered a global audience of millions with a simple proposition: The game enables players to build virtual spacesand easily experience them with others. Its the digital, multiplayer version of a sandbox, or the equivalent of a pile of Lego bricks that anyone around the world can come stack.

Its all fun and games. But its also the kind of accessible building and design tool that has relevance beyond playtime. Increasingly, the technology behind Fortnite and other video games is being adapted for use in the very real world of architecture, urban planning, and development.

[Photo: Courtesy Lumen]Ken Pimentel, the architecture industry manager at Epic Games, is focused on bringing the companys video game visualization enginesthe entry-level Twinmotion and the advanced Unreal Engineinto the world of architecture. These tools are used to turn digital models and drawings into 3D virtual spaces that can be augmented and adjusted in real time.

Like the video games theyre typically used to power, Twinmotion and Unreal Engine can make an architectural model into an easily navigable 3D environment that people can access, often with little more than a web browser. Adding elements of video game play to architectural design means people can even adjust designs and see what those changes look like in real time.

For designers, the tools make it possible to create highly visual representations of projects very quickly. The technology greatly increases what Pimentel calls a design teams what-ifs per hour.

The more what-ifs you can explore in the same amount of time is going to make you more creative and more efficient, says Pimentel, who previously worked for the architecture software company Autodesk. You can make real-time decisions, and you need the visual detail to support that decision-making.

[Photo: Courtesy Digital Urban]Its a useful way for architects to develop their designs, both in conjunction with clients as well as with the public. In the United Kingdom, a project is underway to build and modernize dozens of rail stations across Britain. To engage the public in guiding these designs, the U.K. Design Council is using Twinmotion technology to power an online and in-person interactive design process that allows users to manipulate 3D models of a prototype train station, adding features and changing layouts.

In contrast to more traditional public participation processes that involve gathering feedback and ideas and then waiting for the designers to try them out, this method lets members of the public configure designs and see how they change to accommodate different conditions immediately. The process is being used to guide final designs.

Another project using technology from Epic Games is the renovation of the Canadian Parliament complex in Ottawa. Led by the architecture firm HOK, the decade-long rehabilitation project is using the real-time visualization tools in Unreal Engine to create a kind of video game version of the project showing exactly whats being done at any moment.

Intended more for internal use by the design and contractor teams, the digital version uses 3D models to create a detailed digital twin of the project, with high-resolution graphics showing structural details and interior finishes. Integrating scans of the construction site and internet-of-things sensors within the building, the digital model made in Unreal Engine offers a nearly live view of the project.

It shows a realistic representation of whats actually happening in some of these rooms, says David Weir McCall, architecture marketing manager at Epic Games. It allows for an honest conversation around the space and how its being developed.

[Photo: Courtesy Centrus]These projects are just the start, according to Pimentel, who expects this kind of real-time modeling and visualization to be used more widely in the architecture industry in the coming years. Commercial licenses for Twinmotion start at $499, and individual licenses for Unreal Engine are $1,500.

Pimentel says Epic Games recently worked with the American Institute of Architects to introduce the technology to about 60 different architecture firms, showing the real-time design and feedback these game-centric tools make possible. He expected maybe 10 of the firms to express interest in integrating the tools into their practice. About 40 did.

The fact that so many more people are familiar with these kinds of visualizations in the context of video games could be changing expectations when it comes to presenting architectural designs. Pimentel saysapplying the immersive nature of video games to architectural projects is a natural pivot. We deliver experience, he says. Thats something uniquely possible with real-time tools.

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How the technology behind 'Fortnite' is being used to design IRL buildings - Fast Company