Saturday, September 14, 2013

Stories I Found Of Interest (weekly)

    • regardless of whether you believe automation is good or bad it is inevitable.
    • The bigger point is that we’re on the cusp of an era of accelerated automation of our workforce
    • This automation will happen at a speed that will mean people won’t simply be able to retrain into another role as has happened in the past
    • This will be one of the biggest challenges to mankind as it needs to reshape mindsets developed for thousands of years.
    • Two common themes this year are the use of Web-based collaboration tools and mobile apps that take up arms against bloated software and workflow complexity
    • Virtualization and cloud computing go hand-in-hand, and virtualizing servers is just the tip of the iceberg. The trend to virtualize everything from servers to processing power to software offerings actually started years ago in the personal sector.
    • Cloud computing, which refers to companies using remote servers that can store data and allow users to access information from anywhere, takes three different evolutionary forms
    • The second form of cloud computing, which is a private cloud, is growing rapidly. A private cloud exists when a company wants added security with cloud computing, yet they still want their people to have access to their bigger files and bigger databases from any device anywhere. Since it’s private, it’s secure and the public does not have access to it. Companies of all sizes are now establishing private clouds.
    • In February 2011, the TV game show Jeopardy featured IBM’s supercomputer Watson against human contestants. Watson beat the humans at Jeopardy quite well because it knew what it was good at and it focused on those categories. With virtualized processing power, you’re basically getting a Watson on your phone. That means you and your employees can make informed decisions about many things, very quickly
    • The world now passing away consisted of business systems dominated by computer servers and personal computers. The new one subsumes these into cloud computing and devices like smartphones and tablets
    • One way to do that is to become the unifying agent for all the data that companies are spreading across their servers and cloud services.
    • 1. The internet of things
      A world where everyone and everything is connected. Sensors in everyday objects and devices will be capable of automatically transmitting data over high-speed networks. Those previously 'dumb' objects will then become 'smart' objects capable of automated machine-to-machine (M2M) communications.

      2. 3D printing
      This technology opens up amazing possibilities for individuals and businesses, with fully working parts able to be created at the touch of a button and for a fraction of the cost of doing it previously. Already 3D printers have been used to create everything from toys and parts for NASA's Mars explorer to medical implants.

      3. Graphene
      The development of the super strong and highly conductive graphene has huge implications for the traditionally silicon-dependant technology industry. Potential applications include flexible display screens, electric circuits, solar cells and use in medical, chemical and industrial processes.

      4. Connectivity
      Ubiquitous connectivity through a combination of superfast mobile broadband, fibre optic fixed line broadband and wi-fi will drive massive changes in consumer activity and also the way we live and work, especially with faster, lighter and smarter mobile devices.

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

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