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Just how serious is the tech world about diversity?
Ross Lancaster Science & TechnologyThis summer, Silicon Valley companies and the tech world at large have come under fire for their hiring practices with regard to both racial and gender diversity. The issue ignited in May when, under pressure from civil rights leaders like Jesse Jackson, Google released statistics stating that just 17 percent of its tech staff is female, 1 percent black and 2 percent Hispanic. Meanwhile, 60 percent are white and 34 percent Asian.
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Legislators looking to require kill switches on all smartphones
Jessica Taylor Law Enforcement, Defense & SecurityIs turning to technology to deter thieves a good idea? Some states in the U.S. seem to think so. On Aug. 25, California became the second state to establish a law to have a "kill switch" in smartphones, which lets users remotely lock them and wipe them of data in the event that they are lost or stolen. Minnesota passed a similar law in June.
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Machines serving people: A new reality or a futuristic concept?
Linchi Kwok Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementLast week, Starwood's Aloft Hotel in Cupertino, California, added a new member to the service team called A.L.O. (pronounced as "el-oh"). A.L.O., however, is not a traditional employee. It only takes electricity as salary and tweets as tips, and it will work as a "Botlr" (robotic butler) for the hotel.
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Legislation and performance requirements define electronic device trends
Don Rosato EngineeringManufacturers in the various electrical/electronic (E/E) sectors can choose from an enormous and versatile range of plastics to meet every requirement. Depending on the electronic component or device, designers choose plastics for their rigidity or flexibility, toughness/durability, resistance to low or high voltage and their electrical insulation or conductive qualities. Ease of fabrication into complex shapes can also be a requirement for E/E applications.
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Apple attempts mobile health dominance with HealthKit app
Katina Hernandez Science & TechnologyAlong with the unveiling of the much-anticipated iPhone 6 and iOS 8, Apple will soon be unveiling a new health app called HealthKit. The new operating system will allow other health apps to hook up to the HealthKit app so that the user may manage and monitor their health metrics, such as weight, caloric intake and blood pressure.
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Google boosts page ranking for secure sites — Is it worth the change?
Mackenzie Ferch Business Management, Services & Risk ManagementIn response to an increase in breaches of user security, Google is doing what it can to promote cybersafety and secure connections. Google recently announced its decision to boost the page ranking of those sites and entities that maintain the safe, secure connection of HTTPS and has begun to make the largest updates since 2010.
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Why governance is crucial in the IT department
Betty Boyd Science & TechnologyIn today's ever-changing world of technology, how do you approach the implementation of policies and procedures and make them fit into the IT structure in an organization? The answer is governance.
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Uniting smart home technologies: Who will rule the roost?
Michael J. Berens Science & TechnologyThe race is on in the smart home industry to develop a unified "Internet of everything," a system that will allow smart products of all kinds — from home heating and security systems to Crock-Pots and baby monitors — to communicate with one another and a central control panel.
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Text-to-911 availability has important mHealth implications
Christina Thielst Healthcare AdministrationThe Federal Communications Commission has taken another step toward a 911 system that fits with how Americans are communicating. The new rules, adopted Aug. 8, will make Text-to-911 more uniformly available by the end of 2014; and this has important mHealth implications.
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An aging America: The future of healthcare depends on telehealth
Karen R. Thomas Healthcare AdministrationAs a country, we are living longer and in greater numbers. The number of people over the age of 65 in America is predicted to rise to nearly 80 million by 2040, according to the Administration on Aging. When that happens, there will be more people living in our country who are over the age of 65 than at any point before in history, a fact that has many wondering if the U.S. healthcare system will have the resources, systems and integration to care for such a substantial older adult population.
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