Author: Peggy Smedley

Peggy Smedley and Scott Schober, president & CEO, Berkeley Varitronics Systems, talk about a new Kickstarter campaign for BlueSleuth-Lite. He says the product focuses in on Bluetooth Low Energy and scans all around looking for devices using it. The technology helps to determine if someone is being tracked or followed using tags. They also discuss: What he is hoping to accomplish with this Kickstarter campaign. The difference between GPS trackers and tags. What the consumer wants from technology such as this. bvsystems.com (2/14/23 – 809) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity,…

Most of us have been taught treat others like we would like to be treated. So, it goes without saying that when we encounter others, we need to respond in the same way we want to be treated if the experience was reversed, because we just never know who that person just might be. As a builder, how important is customer service? Are we running so fast and furious with limited staff that we are forgetting that very point and good customer service, people skills, and maybe just genuine southern hospitality will lead to more referrals, recommendations, and repeat business?…

An HOA (homeowner’s association) often helps maintain property values, has rules and regulations to deter nuisance activity, and provides access to other amenities. But is there a downside to an HOA? Do they often control everything, with no opportunity or control for the homeowner? Let’s start by addressing if as a homeowner you are unhappy with the action of the association, what recourse can you take? According to the state of South Carolina Dept. of Consumer Affairs, the first action a homeowner should take is to talk with the HOA board of directors and to attempt to use the democratic…

Last month, the World Economic Forum predicted the threat of a catastrophic cyberattack. Will we see this come to fruition in the next two years as forecasted? I think the better question perhaps is this: Haven’t we already? I could point to so many cyberattacks that have been catastrophic to the bottomline of a business and to our infrastructure. Perhaps we look no further than to the 2021 attack on Colonial Pipeline, which halted all pipeline operations to contain the attack. I would argue we have seen many catastrophic events already. This past year, the FBI reported ransomware topped the…

Peggy Smedley talks all about cybersecurity and a recent prediction of the threat of a catastrophic cyberattack in the next two years. She says our businesses and our infrastructure are at risk, sharing predictions for the future and what needs to happen next. She also discusses: How many cybersecurity experts and business leaders believe geopolitical instability is likely to lead to a catastrophic cyberattack in the next two years. The threat that exists with the lack of skilled cyber experts. The good news and the bad news and how we can address these threats. peggysmedleyshow.com (2/7/23 – 808) IoT, Internet…

Peggy Smedley and Tom Coughlin, IEEE Life Fellow and 2023 president-elect and president, Coughlin Associates, talk about how data is typically stored. He says when you talk about storing information, it is digital information, and it is stored by some means of creating a physical change in something that is retained after it is made. They also discuss: The growth of data and connected data centers. How to run data centers as efficiently as they can. Data at the edge of the network. ieee.org (2/7/23 – 808) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital…

Peggy Smedley and Megan Lueders, chief marketing officer, Silicon Labs, talk about where the IoT (Internet of Things) is today. She says the company is now completely focused on the IoT, saying the IoT is any device that is connected wirelessly to the cloud. They also discuss: How the possibilities are endless with the Internet of Things. How sustainability, climate, and green come into play for businesses and consumers. Customer examples for bringing IoT to the home, beehives, and healthcare. silabs.com (2/7/23 – 808) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain,…

Modernizing the electric grid will help modernize the nation’s rural electric grid and improve grid security. We are beginning to see this come to life right here in South Carolina, as the Biden-Harris Admin., has invested $20 million to improve and expand rural electric infrastructure in South Carolina. Digging in a little bit deeper, the USDA (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture) announced the department is investing $2.7 billion to help 64 electric cooperatives and utilities through the Electric Loan Program, which will benefit nearly 2 million rural people and businesses in many different states. USDA’s Electric Loan Program can help finance…

Are partnerships the solution to the construction supply-chain crisis? Is working together in consortiums the solution to climate change? It is a start—but is it enough? The documentary Bare Metal has been shown in a number of film festivals and highlights the point that the firms building the digital infrastructure around the globe and the largest construction materials organizations are working on how to partner to solve climate change. This video hits on an important point that giant companies need to work together—but there is so much more that needs to be done. Coming together is simply the first step.…

This time of year, we are always talking about predictions for the year ahead, with some analysts forecasting up to five years out or sometimes more. The estimates are often grandiose—but do they always pan out? In a word, no. I like to hold the analysts’ feet to the fire, so let’s take a closer look. Let’s start by looking at perhaps one of the biggest predictions in the IoT (Internet of Things) that fell flat. We all remember many tech companies and analysts predicted there would be 50 billion connected devices by 2020. I called that prediction out then,…