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Smart home devices help monitor and mitigate indoor air quality

Jennifer Tuohy Facilities & Grounds

Air quality is becoming one of the biggest global threats to public health, putting people at risk for respiratory diseases, stroke, heart disease and lung cancer. According to research released earlier this year, air quality levels exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for 80 percent of those living in urban areas that track air pollution. In the UK, for example, air pollution is believed to cause between 40,000 and 50,000 deaths a year; in London it may be killing more people than smoking does.

Big data: Big mess or strategic opportunity?

Randall Craig Business Management, Services & Risk Management

What is your organization's greatest asset? Ask your CEO and your board, and they will say it is your people. Ask your head of marketing, and the answer will be your brand. Your CFO will say your value is determined in your financial statements.

What do we know about AT&T’s Hemisphere Project?

Bambi Majumdar Law Enforcement, Defense & Security

AT&T's Hemisphere Project first came to the public eye via a 2013 article in The New York Times, but a new report in the Daily Beast details the massive scope of the program in what some have declared as "even worse than the Snowden revelations."

A fitness lover’s Christmas with wearable tech

Natalie Thomas Sports & Fitness

'Tis the season of time with loved ones, joyful traditions and scarfing a lot of high-carb sides that remain on your sides. In no time at all, many of us will be setting health resolutions to make the pounds disappear like we did the pecan pie. And we'll have plenty of digital help as smartwatches and fitness trackers look to be the talk of the holidays.

Protecting pipelines — both inside and out

Alan Kelsky Engineering

Consider that there are about 2.6 million miles of pipeline that crisscross the United States. With that number of miles, the safety of pipelines is admirable. But people still don't trust pipelines. Protesters against the Dakota Access Pipeline have been in the news daily — even after their recent victory in stopping construction. At the same time, TransCanada — owner of the Keystone XL pipeline — is suing the United States government for its refusal to grant them a permit for the United States portion of the pipeline.

9 ways to improve your help desk

Galen M. Metz Science & Technology

"The corporate network is slow," the caller reported to our help desk. "I'm shopping on the Home Depot website, and response time is really sluggish." As CIO, my initial thought was maybe inappropriate use of the corporate network was making response time sluggish. The friendly help desk response was, "We'll look into that."

Industrial robotics in the food and beverage market

Bambi Majumdar Food & Beverage

A recent report by Zion Research shows that global demand for industrial robotics is growing at 6 percent per year. By 2020, the market is estimated to reach $42 billion — up from $30 billion in 2014. These "industrial robotics" are essentially dynamic and intuitive machines that can perform a multitude of complex industrial tasks like drilling, welding, soldering, material handling and molding, among many others. Time-consuming and difficult tasks can now be easily performed via these robots, reducing production time and increasing efficiency in business.

Girls’ education — not just a third world problem

Bambi Majumdar Education

In celebrating the International Day of the Girl on Oct. 11, Dell announced plans to expand investment in STEM education for girls in underserved communities. In partnership with Girls Who Code, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology, Dell will support a massive national after-school computer science educational program. This will lead to increase in materials and supplies for the STEM curriculum and offer students a wide exposure to technical organizations and the industry as a whole.

When will self-driving cars become the norm?

Robert Gordon Science & Technology

The hardest part of vehicle safety is to ensure the person behind the wheel is at his or her best while driving. Human error continues to be a significant factor in traffic fatalities. Experienced drivers have been shown to be safer drivers who make fewer errors in judgment than younger drivers, but experience is not the only factor. Issues such as fatigue, emotional distress, distractions and more cause even the most experienced driver to have a lapse in judgment.

Rise of ransomware: How to protect your business

Adam Ferraresi Business Management, Services & Risk Management

There will probably never be a clear account on how many types of threats lurk on the World Wide Web, but one thing is for sure: We have never been in more danger from cyberattacks. Though it seems internet users have learned their lessons when it comes to falling for popup ads and suspicious email, black-hat hackers have evolved as well, and they are continuously finding new ways to earn a quick buck on security-unaware people.

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