Author: Peggy Smedley
Construction is an industry that has been mobile by nature since the dawn of time. With the emergence of mobile devices and the cloud, BYOD (bring your own device) is something we talked about long before the COVID-19 pandemic. But now with the rise of remote work, it is a topic that is talked about more widely and broadly. As such, there is more research about the rise of enterprise security risks in an era of remote work and BYOD. Such is the case with a new report from Lookout about the State of Remote Work Security. Looking across all…
Wearable and hearable devices have grown significantly in the past decade. In fact, just from 2021 to 2022, the growth rate was 41.51% and it is anticipated to rise another 18% compound annual growth rate through 2026. Still, challenges remain such as energy density and charging capabilities—and many tech companies and manufacturers are working to solve existing hurdles in this market. Li-on (lithium-ion) microbattery has limitations that prevent product manufacturers from meeting demand for new features and better charging capabilities. Recently I discovered a company called, Ensurge Micropower that hopes to be at the forefront of solving this problem with…
At least eight people a day are killed in distracted driving crashes. Peggy Smedley discusses a summary of the last decade of distracted driving—and looks at where we have been and where we are headed. She says distracted driving is a topic very near and dear to her heart—and suggests what needs to happen next. She also discusses: The history of Distracted Driving Awareness Month. How many people were killed in crashes in 2010—and how many were killed in 2020. Three tips for curbing distracted driving. peggysmedleyshow.com (4/11/23 – 817) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning,…
Pam O’Donnell, founder, Catch You Later Foundation, tells Peggy Smedley the story of the loss of family members in a crash—and how she wants to make it better for her daughter when she grows up with a foundation. She says, sadly, about 40,000 people die every year on United States roadways. They also discuss: The cognitive state of drivers and why drivers need to be aware while driving. What happens to the families left behind. How people can help save a life. catchyoulater.org (4/11/23 – 817) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation,…
Peggy Smedley and Paul Ripley, CEO, Driver Safety DNA, talk about how distracted driving is a global issue. He shares what can be done to put down cellphone use and improve or reduce driver distraction to be safer on the road. He says driver distraction is a global issue that is growing by the day. They also discuss: How the phone is the controller rather than the person using the phone being the controller. Technologies that can help reduce distracted driving. The three core components the driving task itself includes. paulripley.co (4/11/23 – 817) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley,…
The skilled labor shortage continues to be an ongoing challenge at most construction companies—something many are actively trying to solve. In fact, the National Assn. for Business Economics has found roughly 57% reported skilled labor shortages at the beginning of last year. Like many organizations, it is looking to provide resources to help. To help better identify the construction job landscape—and the opportunities that exist for skilled trades—Today’s Homeowner takes a look at the average pay for 10 jobs, their expected growth, and the places that are hot spots for skilled trade opportunities. As I have been saying for years,…
We are facing a host of climate challenges here in the United States—and across the globe, for that matter. For instance, different places in the United Kingdom openly report they are missing the mark. I recently had an opportunity to gain a better understanding of what is transpiring in the United Kingdom from Chris Stark, chief executive, Climate Change Committee. He stresses last year was the hottest year on record for the United Kingdom. “We also have droughts,” he says. “We have wildfires in this country. We have winter storms. All sorts of impacts are playing out. I think, for…
Supply chains, in general, are very complex—supply chains for automotive are another level of complexity altogether. In addition to all the components that go into a vehicle, it also stays in the field a lot longer, which means it has a long product lifecycle. The problem is when complexity is high, this leaves room for bad actors to come in and exploit it. This is exactly the conversation I was having recently with Henry Bzeih, global industry lead for automotive, mobility, and transportation, Microsoft, and Kaivan Karimi, global partner strategy leader, automotive, mobility, and transportation, Microsoft, on The Peggy Smedley…
Are we passing down skills to the trades? Are we teaching what we learned? Are we really putting out the best trades with the best skills? Peggy addresses some very tough questions, as it relates to the labor shortage, and gives her thoughts on what needs to happen next. She also discusses: How many jobs are unfilled in construction as of January 2023. A program from the government that looks to expand the workforce for federally funded jobs in large infrastructure projects. Ways technology can help expand the labor force. peggysmedleyshow.com (4/4/23 – 816) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley,…
Peggy Smedley and Whitney Jones, director, Submarine Industrial Base Program, talk about how to improve manufacturing—and how to do it with the Navy Submarine Building Enterprise. She says her organization is a year and a half old, and it has seen rapid growth. They also discuss: Machine shops are folding, and how it is impacting the Navy Submarine Building Enterprise. The relationship between the Navy and American manufacturing—and how it is a national security issue. How to get younger and older generations interested in this—and how technology fits in. buildsubmarines.com (4/4/23 – 816) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial…