Peggy Smedley Show

Michael Carlson, president, digital grid North America, Siemens, says the best IoT (Internet of Things) solution for the grid involves bringing together all of the technology that is currently there. He explains the biggest frontier to be conquered is the data and analytics.

Peggy explores what some of the big companies are interested in doing in AR (augmented reality) and VR (virtual reality). She explains AR/VR has traditionally been wrapped up in consumer applications, but is now expanding and set to transform the enterprise.

Mark Chung, CEO and co-founder, Verdigris, explains the AI (artificial intelligence) company is focused on making IoT accessible to large, commercial buildings to transform normal buildings into smart ones. He explains some projects have seen as much as 22% in energy cost-savings.

Ellen Qualls, VP for communications & public affairs, Renovate America, says it is important to put tools in the hands of contractors that can help educate homeowners on the importance of selecting energy efficient options for their homes. She explains investments in energy efficiency can recuperate the initial invest in a home when trying to sell.

Brian Jamison, national procurement director, PulteGroup, explains the Zero Net Energy Home prototype, a high performance home built in northern California. He says the house consumes no more power than it produces and performs like any other home with no special requirements of homeowners.

Recent research from Vodafone revealed 76% of businesses say IoT (Internet of Things) will be critical to the future success of organizations. Peggy explains that as an industry, we tend to overestimate the number of organizations already using IoT, and adopting IoT really is key to create ROI (return on investment).

Peggy encourages listeners to register to attend the Peggy Smedley Institute to explore new IoT (Internet of Things) ideas and implementations. She says IoT technology is changing fast across the verticals and this day of education will provide new insights and information.

Tom Ivory, head of strategic innovation, Capgemini, explains companies are looking to transform business processes to become faster and more efficient. He says automation can free up workers from mundane activities, allowing them to spend time on more valuable tasks.

Roberto Aiello, managing director, Itron Idea Labs, says machines can make better decisions than we can, which is why there needs to be a push for more intelligence everywhere. He explains water and energy have had connected devices for awhile but the next step is making them more intelligent.

Peggy says UPS has become a leader in global supply-chain management and is helping transform commercial transportation and logistics. She explains the company has a long history of adopting innovative technology that began with adopting conveyor belt technology before it became mainstream.

Massoud Amin , IEEE fellow, chair of the IEEE smart grid, and director/professor, University Of Minnesota, explains the smart self-healing grid can sense and react to abnormalities in a fraction of a second. He says there is a need for a grid overhaul in the U.S. in the near future for economic and environmental security.

Joe Lynch, vice president, marketing, Omnicell, explains automation is relatively new in healthcare, but is making a big impact. He explains patients and staff benefit from automation systems such as electronic health records and even IVs can now be automated.

Dan Whitten, VP of communications, Solar Energy Industries Assn., says solar panels are popping up on homes in all sorts of income groups and they are in all 50 states. He explains solar panels offer financial incentives as well as environmental benefits for those who choose to adopt the technology.

Peggy discusses the recent acquisition of Yahoo by Verizon for comparative "chump change." She says Yahoo was once the king of the Internet, but how could it compete with Google, a true powerhouse IoT (Internet of Things) company?

Elizabeth Rozell, associate dean, College of Business and director of MBA, Missouri State University, shares the universities MBA program with an emphasis in cybersecurity was ranked number two in the nation by Online MBA Today. She says this program has a lot of influence because there is such a need in the marketplace for cybersecurity professionals.

Vijay Bharti, vice president and head, security services, Happiest Minds, says criminals are becoming more organized and focused and early detection is more important than ever. He explains some of the current solutions being used in the space are not working and companies need to realize that.

Paul Mockapetris, chief scientist, ThreatSTOP, says education is the most important thing when it comes to cybersecurity and there are basic steps people can take to reduce risk. He shares we often want the latest device with the newest features, but often don't take security into consideration.

Peggy addresses the latest Pokémon GO craze and says it has brought up some serious safety and privacy issues. She explains criminals can hack in and lure players to specific locations, and even though the app doesn't collect too much personal information privacy is still a big issue.

Peggy gives listeners a firsthand look at how contractors are using connected tools today. She explains how some companies are implementing tool tracking strategies, what the short and long-term benefits are and why companies should adopt this technology.

Don Kakfa, CEO, ToolWatch Corp., says if tools aren't functioning correctly, extra spending is happening on purchasing additional tools. He explains that by tracking tools, contractors get the biggest benefit by reducing cost and liability.

Graham Cooper, senior account manager, ToolHound, says tool tracking systems provide information immediately at your finger tips. He explains knowing where inventory is located at all times ultimately leads to cost savings and prevents downtime.

Peggy introduces connected tools in construction and says not only do they save time on projects, but they also save on costs. She explains these tools are here now, and the use of technology in construction is only predicted to grow in the next few years.

Kevin Du, IEEE senior member, professor of electrical engineering and computer science, Syracuse University, explains 80% of Web applications have vulnerabilities and there is no way to protect systems 100%. He discusses moving elections online in the future, but says they would likely be compromised without appropriate security.

Scott Meyer, CEO, Ghostery, explains privacy is by design and is really dependent on how a product is built. He says it's not just about connecting a device; it has to do with what data is being transmitted and put on the network.

Paul Sakamoto, COO, Savari, explains the company's mission is to save lives with its V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) communications technology. He says the technology is ready for final product integration and could be seen in vehicles as soon as 2017.