Science & Technology

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 03 jan 2014

Wearable technologies are finding prominence in the human-centered technology ecoystem with devices like smart watches, smart glasses, smart textiles etc. The article provides an interview with Oliver Stokes from PDD, a design consulting firm, where he explains the current and future prospects for the wearable and embedded devices. He mentions that more advancements are required in wearable technologies so that they blend seemlessly in human ecosystem without specifically affecting their body language and social behavior. Moreover healthcare is one of the areas where these technologies will get early adoption. Smart textiles, in addition to healthcare and fitness, may find use in fashion clothings where they can change color and patterns providing them more versatility or they can be used in cars for shape and color variations and changes. Considering the present research advancements, smart textiles will find commercial use in 5 years. Read on...

Shiny Shiny: Forget smart watches, are smart textiles and implants the future?
Author: Ashley Norris

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 23 dec 2013

With human DNA having 8-9% of viral elements and an average human body having ten times more microbial cells then human cells, the question arises how these constituents influence and affect human behavior or is there a link between the two at all. Some recent research studies point in this direction and suggest possibilities of connection between the two - the host and the pathogen. Researchers from UCLA found changes in brain function of women as a result of probiotics. Moreover research also suggests a link between the type of bacteria present in the gut and the connections between the different areas of the brain. Research by Stephen Collins of McMaster University in Ontario found that the replacement of gut bacteria of nervous mice by that of a fearless mice makes it friendlier and less anxious. Read on...

Forbes: Who's In charge Here - The Surprising Science of Self Control
Author: Steven Kotler

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 21 dec 2013

Professor Stacey Bent and her team at Stanford University has created the world's thinnest and most efficient absorber of light. The gold nanodot-filled wafers were fabricated using a technique called block-copolymer lithography. A thin-film coating was added over the wafers using a technology called atomic layer deposition that provided uniform coating and gave control over the thickness of the film at an atomic level. This research will find application in solar cells to develop clean energy. An ideal solar cell would be able to absorb entire visible light spectrum - violet light waves, red light waves, invisible ultraviolet and infrared light. The research team was able to tune the optical properties of nanodots to maximize absorption of a specific wavelength. The experiment have the potential to lower the cost of the solar cell device by reducing the amount of material while also improving the efficiency by maximizing the absorption of light. Read on...

ScienceBlog: Scientists break record for thinnest light-absorber
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 12 dec 2013

Advancements in digital and communication technologies are affecting the dynamics of how healthcare is provided and received. Patients have access to latest and sophisticated health information, improved access and communication with medical professionals, digital tools and improved social support. Some of the technologies that are participating in the healthcare delivery and access, and facilitating its transformation are wearable health monitoring devices, health applications, electronic medical records, DNA analysis, social media outlets and online forums. In their recent book 'ePatient 2015: 15 Surprising Trends Changing Healthcare', Fard Johnmar and Rohit Bhargava, explore the human aspects of the various technologies that are affecting the healthcare landscape, evaluate and understand the relationship that is progressing between humans and healthcare technology and how these technologies have the potential to save lives. Fard Johnmar explains "The future of healthcare is about more than economics, politics and individual technologies. We want readers to come away with a deeper appreciation to the human side of innovation and understand that looking at the big picture is required, rather than optional." The book examines and explains 3 themes that are changing healthcare and giving rise to 15 trends - (1) Health Hyperefficiency (Trends: Empathetic Interfaces, Unhealthy Surveillance, Predictive Psychohistory); (2) The Personalized Health Movement (Trends: The Over-Quantified Self, The Device Divide, Multicultural Misalignment, Healthy Real Estate, Medical Genealogy, Neuro-influence Mapping, Natural Medicine, Microhealth Rewards); (3) Digital Peer-to-Peer Healthcare (Trends: Care Hacking, Accelerated Trial-Sourcing, Virtual Counseling). Read on...

HIT Consultants: ePatient 2015: 15 Surprising Trends Changing Healthcare
Author: Fard Johnmar

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 26 nov 2013

Technological changes and upgrades to newer systems require network administrators to carefully implement these changes with best possible uptime during the transition process. Change management (or configuration management) in the IT context refers to technological installations, upgrades, patching and migrations. Article suggests best practices that need to be considered during the change process - Redundant components should be as identical as possible; Space out changes between redundant systems; Use a centralized solution to deploy updates; Always migrate to the new system leaving the old one intact until all the changes have been completed and tested; Devise change plans with multiple inputs; Utilize multiple approval methods; Formulate a backout plan; Choose your change schedule carefully; Use auditing and individual accounts; Always schedule downtime in your monitoring system; Bringing it all together and keep things running with a minimal amount of downtime and disruption. Read on...

TechRepublic: Best practices for change management in the data center
Author: Scott Matteson

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 22 nov 2013

Recent report by Juniper Research forecasts cumulative cost savings of US$ 36 billion globally from remote patient monitoring over the next five years. As healthcare moves to 'accountable care' in developed economies, with direct linking of funds to the health of the patient, this is a significant opportunity. Mobile health services are enabled by the combination of smartphones, mHealth attachments and companion apps. They are creating new healthcare delivery models. Moreover remote patient monitoring for cardiac and chronic diseases seems to obviously fit with the latest healthcare practices and the goal of minimizing patient's time spent in hospitals and reduced outpatient visits. Read on...

M2M WorldNews: mHealth Monitoring Offers 36bn USD Global Healthcare Cost-savings Opportunity by 2018
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 21 nov 2013

Digital revolution facilitated by advancement in technologies in almost all fields of human life's existence is creating a new evolved society. Some works of the past have totally been taken over by technology enabled systems. Human resources is finding a different meaning. Jobs are being transformed and there are visible shifts in the 21st century job functions compared to earlier ones. Article explores the various aspects of technology and its economic impact on societal structures. Author quotes the new book 'Race Against The Machine' by MIT professors, Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee - "Those jobs that are complementary to computers such as data scientists and computer programmers will be in demand, as well as those jobs that require empathy, relationships and sensory perception". Read on...

Deseret News: John Florez - Technology disrupting our way of life
Author: John Florez

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 16 nov 2013

Raspberry Pi, the cheapest computer in the market but without screen or keyboard, is finding success and diverse usage that wasn't anticipated by its creators. It was designed basically as an educational tool for children to learn computer programming. But with its versatility and customization ability, it has found multiple uses - Powering a small humanoid robot that can tell weather, manage diary and make coffee; The Instant Wild system with Pi cameras for recording animal behavior; Powering warehouse doors etc. Moreover Eben Upton, executive director of Raspberry Pi Foundation, and his team is focusing on developing software that will make the computer more accessible to children and for enhanced computer programming learning experience. Read on...

GlobalPost: World's cheapest computer gets millions tinkering
Author: NA

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 09 nov 2013

Technology is used in education to facilitate and enhance learning and to equip students with 21st century skills. It is also used to expand education to reach remote, disadvantaged and underprivileged areas of the world. The experiment and efforts are underway in Kenyan schools where e-readers and tablets are being used to provide children with engaging digital content. The project named 'eLimu' was initiated by two Kenyan women, Nivi Mukherjee and Marie Githinji, and utilizes local content and curriculum with a focus on Kenyan youth. The education system in Africa is mired with multiple problems and UNESCO estimates 38% illiteracy ratings among adults and only an average 8-9 years spent in school. To overcome these issues a bigger strategy is required to educate and empower the African population and improve regional economies. Other technological efforts and projects in African education are - Worldreader; Read and Prosper; eKitabu. Read on...

Al Jazeera: A technology revolution in Kenya's schools
Author: Philippa H. Stewart

Mohammad Anas Wahaj | 04 nov 2013

Performance measurement and management are a set of activities and tools that are essential to ascertain the effective and efficient utilization of resources and enhance and improve capabilities of the organization for continued success. Strategic planning is required for organizations to define goals and the processes to achieve them. Every component of the organization has to be aligned and focused towards these goals and objectives. Cost and profitability analysis ensures that better decisions are made, costs are controlled and profitability is optimized. Strategic planning coupled with cost and profitability analysis can fill the gap in performance management solutions. Organizations need to complete the performance management cycle by efficiently aligning and converging the priorities of finance and IT departments and make relevant investments in obtaining the best solutions either by utilizing outside consulting expertise or by seeking in-house skills of the existing software vendor. Read on...

Business 2 Community: Filling The Gaps In Performance Management
Author: Malcolm Faulkner

Latest             ⊲ Newer Posts             Science & Technology             Older Posts ⊳             Last