Author: Peggy Smedley

Peggy and Jack Carroll, professor of information sciences and technology, Pennsylvania State University, talk about the role of HCI (human computer interaction) in designing digital infrastructures for democracy. He says the early internet was bundled with aspirations about renewing or strengthening democracy and gives some specific examples. They also discuss: The era we are in now—and the new possibilities and challenges that come along with democracies via the internet. What exactly is human engagement—and if clicking on a like button is actually engagement. Why we must start thinking differently. jcarroll.ist.psu.edu (4/12/22 – 766) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial…

Many of the headlines appear to be notably echoing the same sentiment these days: residential construction is still booming, but a recession is looming. This doesn’t tell the entire story when it comes to technology; however. If you dig deeper, it’s obvious that much has changed during the past two years alone in the residential construction sector. In fact, while the industry has not experienced a complete facelift, it has effectively given itself a handsome tuck, which has pretty much energized it enough to take the next step forward, regardless of the labor shortage, some might even say for the…

Roughly 91% of Americans and 96% of Millennials engage in spring cleaning, with 76% of the population participating each year. With residential homes using roughly a quarter of the country’s energy, have you considered how spring cleaning might improve your energy consumption? Now I must confess, before we go any further, I am a bit of a neat freak at home. I like things in their place. And yes, I like my home to be tidy. Just ask my three grown children. Although they might have a different word for what they have called their mother over the years, but…

Where are we in the race toward net zero? I am a big believer that we can gain insights from previously unavailable data. When we can look at strategic projects differently because we have that data, then we can make a difference in our world. This is precisely the conversation I had recently with Dawn James, director, global IoT industry strategy – energy & environmental science, Microsoft, as it relates to energy. During our conversation on The Peggy Smedley Show, she compared smart metal versus dumb metal, saying at this stage in the game there is no reason for us…

This week’s show is powered by Hilti. Peggy talks about the state of cyber health, sharing details from a new report. She says these nefarious characters are getting more creative—and they are more innovative than ever before, and these attacks are happening fast and furious. She also discusses: If there has been an increase or decrease in distributed denial of service attacks. How nefarious characters are getting more innovative—and which verticals they are targeting. The biggest trends in cybersecurity today. peggysmedleyshow.com (4/5/22 – 765) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain,…

This week’s show is powered by Hilti. Peggy and Erik Mikysa, senior vice president of marketing, Hilti, talk about the biggest needs in the construction industry today. He says the two things keeping construction executives up at night are material costs/issues with supply chain and labor—and labor supply and labor cost. Power tools and tool management isn’t at the top of the list—but the reason there is so much interest in Nuron is because it directly addresses labor that is keeping people up at night. They also discuss: Three core beliefs for construction—and how Nuron was built from the ground…

Peggy and Mark Chung, executive vice president, roadway practice, National Safety Council, talk about the Road to Zero. He says the Road to Zero Coalition is driven by a vision for the future to have zero roadway fatalities. They also discuss: The U.S. Dept. of Transportation and how it adapted a system approach to safety, which includes safer people, safer roads, safer vehicles, and safer speeds. How long it will take to get to the road to zero—and what we can do in the near-term to save lives. The impact of autonomous driving, innovation, and technology on our roads. nsc.org…

Here on this blog, we have been giving you tips on how to make your home more energy efficient. Today, let’s put a microscope on how we can make our HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) systems more energy efficient—with some small and perhaps a few big changes. Before we talk energy, I always like to dive into the numbers for any of those analytical (left brain) by-the-number readers. In the Annual Energy Outlook 2022, the U.S. EIA (Energy Information Admin.) notes that in 2021, electricity use for cooling the interior of buildings (space cooling) by the U.S. residential and…

Are we in the middle of the Great Resignation or the Great Reshuffle? From my perspective, employees are no longer looking to leave the workforce, but are looking to find an opportunity that is more fulfilling. Today’s workers are changing their standards for the types of benefits, cultures, and perks that are desirable. They are looking for appealing jobs with the right amount of responsibility and flexibility. The bigger question now is are you prepared to offer it? Construction companies, then, need to consider what employees are looking for; why finding a fulfilling opportunity is so critical; and how to…

With all that we have witnessed in the world in the past few years, the internet is proving to be the source of power for social change. As we speed into Distracted Driving Awareness Month, there is perhaps no greater place for this than in our vehicles. Let’s zoom into what’s happening behind the wheel. Consider the statement recently given by Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW, at the company’s annual conference. Naturally, he addressed the worldwide suffering happening now and the need for peaceful coexistence of all cultures and global free trade. He also emphasized…