Author: Peggy Smedley
DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) has always been important in many companies and in society, but now the three-letter acronym is getting a lot more attention lately. Peggy talks all about it, explaining where we are at now and some ways we can increase this in this our own communities and in our businesses. She also: Breaks down the definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Discusses if more diverse companies are more likely to outperform less diverse peers on profitability. Gives examples of DEI efforts in our own communities—as inflation causes the affordability of everything to skyrocket. peggysmedleyshow.com (1/31/23 -…
Rabindra Ratan, associate professor of media and information and director of the SPARTIE Lab, Michigan State University, returns to The Peggy Smedley Show to talk with Peggy about listener questions about the Proteus effect. He says technology can be used for both pro-social and anti-social purposes, but he tends toward positive media effects. They also discuss: The layoffs at technology companies and how it reflects larger macroeconomic trouble. If how we behave offline will have repercussions online. Examples of how AR, VR, and the metaverse are being used in high school—and how teachers are being trained on the technology. robbyratan.com…
Peggy Smedley and Yu-Han Chang, senior technology analyst, IDTechEx, talk about 6G. She says 6G research started long ago and we expect to see at least 50 times higher peak data rates, much faster latency, compared to 5G millimeter wave, better energy efficiency, and higher reliability. They also discuss: Where exactly are we with 6G right now. The biggest obstacles we face with 6G currently. Some applications for 6G in the future. idtechex.com (1/31/23 – 807) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital transformation, cybersecurity, blockchain, 5G, cloud, sustainability, future of work, podcast, Yu-Han…
Here in South Carolina, we are seeing community development happen in a number of different walks of life. Case in point: fiber optic internet access, which has the capacity for today’s internet needs and anticipates tomorrows. As just one example, Lumos has made a technology infrastructure investment in South Carolina’s Richland and Lexington Counties, bringing internet service across the greater Columbia area. Additionally, this type of technology can help underserved areas and create economic advantages right here in the local communities including Forest Acres and Arcadia Lakes in Richland County, as well as West Columbia, Lexington, Cayce, Irmo, and Springdale…
For several years, I have been talking about the importance of sustainability in our buildings, as we all need low carbon, energy efficient, and resilient buildings and communities. How much progress are we making? Are we seeing new advanced design practices and innovative technologies emerge to reduce those emissions in the built environment? How much more work do we still need to do for progress to be made? As we all know by now, buildings account for roughly 70% of U.S. electricity consumption and are primary drivers of about 80% of peak demand on the grid. New innovations such as…
Equipment and software are a big investment. Should you rent? Should you buy? How do you tap into all that data that exists? Taking a closer look at some of the biggest trends can help businesses make more informed decisions. Recently the ELFA (Equipment Leasing and Finance Assn.) released its list of Top 10 Equipment Acquisition Trends for 2023. These trends were compiled through industry research, industry participants’ expertise, and member input. The objective is to help businesses as they execute their equipment acquisition strategies. Let’s dig into the numbers. Real private investment by U.S. businesses in equipment and software…
Peggy Smedley talks about where we are headed with food innovation—both in the products offered and, in the distribution, and logistics of food production. She talks about new announcements from CES earlier this month and what is coming next in the months ahead. She also discusses: New almond milk American slices—and how they are different from other options. How supply chain disruptions are impacting nearly every walk of life, especially the food supply chain. Other innovations like a modular system for vertical cultivation. peggysmedleyshow.com (1/24/23 – 806) IoT, Internet of Things, Peggy Smedley, artificial intelligence, machine learning, big data, digital…
Peggy Smedley and Rabindra Ratan, associate professor of media and information and director of the SPARTIE Lab, Michigan State University, talk about VR (virtual reality), immersive technologies, and the metaverse. He says the proteus effect is a phenomenon that was discovered in 2007 in early VR research where participants who come into the lab are given an avatar and they interact in the virtual environment. When people use an avatar that has certain characteristics, they will act in ways that are consistent with their stereotypes of those characteristics later, but they don’t realize they are doing it. They also discuss:…
Peggy Smedley and Sebastiaan Laurijsse, global head of industry high tech, ServiceNow, and Jamie Wilkie, senior director for industrial security offerings, Fujitsu, talk about how and why manufacturing is changing today and into the future. Laurijsse asks, what is not changing, saying everything is getting connected and generating a set of data. Wilkie says the way manufacturing is moving, it has a huge contribution to make at a society level in terms of sustainability. They also discuss: The importance of cybersecurity and how to make products secure. The IT and OT convergence in manufacturing and how the two have very…
During the early days of the pandemic, many people realized they could do their jobs from just about anywhere and moved their families across the state—or in some cases across the country. How long did that trend continue? Pew suggests moves out of the densest parts of big cities, those with more than 10,000 people per square mile, jumped 17% to about 2.9 million during the first year of the pandemic, from March 2020 to February 2021. The number of moves out of those dense areas returned to pre-pandemic levels in the following year, March 2021 to February 2022. Where…