Peggy Smedley Show

Peggy Smedley says the vulnerability in security in IoT (Internet of Things) devices is leading to new regulations. She talks about the EU GDPR (general data protection regulation), explaining that it will replace the previous directive. The new one aims to protect citizens by directing how organizations should store personal data. She says the new is the law of the land, which means there are consequences for not following the law.

Gary Morton, author, Commanding Excellence, says optimizing the selection process from an employer standpoint is understanding the type of people you want and how they will fit inside your organization. It may not come out of the resume or school coursework, but if you have a way to measure and validate that, then it can help optimize the selection process. The more complex the role, the more talent comes into the equation. He explains that talent rules, and bringing the right talent is not age specific. Critical to this is purpose, passion, and ingenuity.

David Drake, chairman, LDJ Capital, talks about getting the whole world—and the U.S.—behind cryptocurrency. He talks about the knowledge that is needed to raise capital in the U.S. and the many challenges that currently exist with global cryptocurrencies. Today, people are spending money across the globe, and taking those funds and running away. He says there is no protection and some form of regulation necessary. Peggy asks Drake if some of these blockchains are just another Ponzi scheme, and he responds that participation to date is simply based on trust; but admits there are no regulations and it has the appearance of a madhouse. Drake says the winners in all of this are going to be the ones who make a blockchain user-friendly and trustworthy.

Peggy Smedley says enterprise needs IoT (Internet of Things) technologies to stay competitive. In particular, robotics are making a mark on industries like manufacturing with benefits including quality and safety. She wagers that during the next five years we are going to see a huge boon in robot adoption in warehouse and logistics.

Donald Lee Sheppard CEO of Sheppard Properties and author of The Dividends of Decency says ethics is what you do when no one is looking, and the same thing with integrity. He explains that there isn't any shortcut to it and you will always get caught because you can't fake honesty and integrity. Having values is a powerful business tool, because it focuses on achieving success, and it is not something you can learn. He says successful leaders understand that the primary goal of any organization is not profit. Successful leaders know who the most important parties in their life are: customers, employees or associates, and then vendors and outside parties who support an organization.

Has blockchain become a trusted approach for IoT companies? Scott Schober, president and CEO, Berkeley Varitronics Systems Inc., says the whole concept of blockchain emerged in 2008 or 2009, and it is a buzzword. He says while people say it is not hackable, it is, but it is harder to hack. Hackers are looking for the lowest hanging fruit to compromise. Schober explains the fundamentals of a blockchain is good because people can only see parts of it and it is encrypted, but it is depending on other people in the chain to protect it.

Peggy Smedley asks the question: Should IoT (Internet of Things) companies invest in blockchain? She says blockchain will change the game for businesses, explaining that if you are an IoT company, you need blockchain. However, there is a growing surface of attacks and the prize is getting bigger for the bad guys, while the burden is growing for the good guys to keep their systems and data secure.

Joshua Peschel, assistant professor, agriculture and Biosystems engineering, Iowa State University, says everyone wants a robot now. A robot is a physically embodied agent and can interact with people, roads, or water, and relies on computation. He explains that a robot can go places that your computer can't, but the biggest concern is related to surveillance and being able to capture information from places remotely about other people or events.

Louis Parks, president and CEO, SecureRF, says in the mid-1970s public key or asymmetric cryptography came to be. This technology allows two devices to meet another element such as a server and authenticate each other. He explains that one of the struggles or issues is that a product or solution is focused on what it does, and then afterwards people think about securing it too. Parks says the difficultly in quantum computers is the nature of math used and will always be susceptible to these attacks.

Peggy Smedley helps listeners understand blockchain. She says blockchain technology makes crypto-currency different from regular currency because it provides an open, distributed, and public ledger for bitcoin transactions. Also, she addresses how blockchain is poised for tremendous growth as the technology matures, and as industries find new ways to leverage it.

In the final segment, Peggy details her vision of the cars of the future. These vehicles will be packed with conversational AI, V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure) capabilities, immersive in-cabin experiences, and, of course, will be fully autonomous. But what hurdles and consumer concerns will manufacturers need to overcome before these vehicles hit the road? Peggy delves into the need to beef up security before "bad actors" limit the ability to deliver these amazing computers on wheels.

Steve Koenig, senior director, market research, Consumer Technology Assn., admits that consumers are beginning to embrace digital assistants and people using them to shop is increasing. He discusses what autonomous shopping can mean for the retail market. Koenig also provides his insights into what we can expect at CES this year beyond connected cars and new startups. He believes AI (artificial intelligence) will be "omnipresent" at CES and that this will mark a technology trend going into 2018. With this shift towards more autonomous living and AI advances, Koenig highlights the importance of creating sustainable smart cities around the globe.

Peggy Smedley helps us get over our "post-holiday" blues by previewing CES 2018. Peggy expects autonomous cars and AI (artificial intelligence) to dominate the show floor this year with an increased focus on digital security and more. Technology is poised to affect advertising and entertainment in the coming year and Peggy delves into the how and why.Peggy Smedley helps us get over our "post-holiday" blues by previewing CES 2018. Peggy expects autonomous cars and AI (artificial intelligence) to dominate the show floor this year with an increased focus on digital security and more. Technology is poised to affect advertising and entertainment in the coming year and Peggy delves into the how and why.

Andrew Scheuermann, founder and CEO, Arch Systems, has always been passionate about bringing technology into the physical world and has since dedicated his career to bridging the gap between the IoT (Internet of Things) and the real world. Scheuermann explains how he and his partner are using sensor technology to bring clean drinking water to remote parts of Africa and how modular sensor design combined with M2M communication is making it all possible.

Meredith Perry, founder and CEO, uBeam, joins Peggy to talk about how wireless power transmission is leading the charge into the future of device-power management. Perry explains what exactly ultrasound wireless charging is, how it works, and why her company, uBeam, has focused on it. She also gives her views into what it means to be a leader and how to motivate a modern, tech-savvy staff.

Host Peggy Smedley digs into data security and the risks facing smaller companies that might not be able to afford cutting-edge defenses. Peggy also tackles the recently released Cisco Cybersecurity Report, DeOS attacks, and the Cyber Shield Act of 2017.

What are the hottest trends in the IoT going into 2018? Joe Barkai, consultant, author, and speaker, answers that question by giving Peggy Smedley a rundown of the upcoming year's hot topics. Barkai also shares his insight on digital twins, which can be used to optimize the operation and maintenance of physical assets. He goes on to discuss why data security is going to be a priority and how current security concerns have led to manufacturer hesitation in the adoption of new tech. However, Barkai believes we will see an increase in IoT adoption by manufacturers moving into the future so long as these security concerns are addressed.

Predictive maintenance has the power to significantly increase up-time for companies as well as save in energy costs. These savings, combined with additional benefits, can cause 13% reductions in the overall budget. Despite all these benefits, Saar Yoskovitz, CEO and co-founder, Augury, says 88% of companies do not leverage predictive maintenance practices. Yoskovitz postulates that startup costs are a big turn off for most manufacturers and explains how his company is working toward cutting those costs so that more companies can adopt these best practices. He goes on to speak about the importance of data security when it comes to new technologies and why companies shouldn't let their security concerns curb their implementation of new tech.

New Year. New format. Peggy Smedley rings in the New Year by updating listeners on what you can expect from The Peggy Smedley Show in 2018! Peggy delves into why cyber-security concerns have caused manufacturers to be reluctant to embrace the IoT (Internet of Things) in their facilities and on their jobs. Peggy outlines a few things these companies can do to curb their IoT fears and what they should keep an eye on when they start implementing new technologies.

Joshua Peschel, assistant professor, Agricultural and Bio-systems Engineering, Iowa State University, talks about what it takes to be a pioneer and how the younger entrepreneurial thinkers can stay motivated. He details his five keys to success for young entrepreneurs, how to ignore the "noise" of today, and how to overcome and learn from failure.

Branko Kerkez, assistant professor in the Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan, joins Peggy to talk about the future of our water infrastructures. He talks about the hurdles associated with our current designs, dealing with the "risk aversion" tendencies of the water industry, and how IoT will affect our water systems in the future.

DeAnna Robear, partner enablement engineer, PTC, discusses what it's like to be named a Pioneer by Connected World going into 2018 and sheds some light on encouraging other women to enter engineering. She outlines teachers who impacted her life, the importance of a good mentor, and her personal passions for the work she performs in within the IoT community.

Is e-commerce killing traditional brick-and-mortar stores? What can these traditional retailers do to stay relevant in the face of intense connected competition? Can these stores become … autonomous? Host Peggy Smedley talks about how the IoT (Internet of Things) is changing the retail landscape.

Michael Jansen, CEO, Cityzenith, has created a Sim City, but for real cities with 5D Smart World. Michael joins Peggy to outline what cities can do with this new technology and how big data can change the construction landscape.

Andrew Thomas, co-founder and chief revenue officer, SkyBell, shares his vision of connected homes and the future of smart-security systems with Peggy. Andrew also talks about why he believes consumers connect with SkyBell, the feeling of liberation that connected technology can give us, and his own personal motivations.

Dan Work, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, joins Peggy to detail how we can use cyber physical systems to design and build the fully connected roadways of the future. Dan also gives a glimpse into some of the challenges that comes with working toward these goals.

Peggy Smedley offers her insights on the future of transportation systems, focusing on EVs (electric vehicles). She also sets the stage for international automakers in 2018 and outlines the infrastructure changes needed to make EVs and autonomous vehicles a viable pillar of our future.

Paul Sean Hill, author, Leadership from the Mission Control Room to the Boardroom: A Guide to Unleashing Team Performance, says we become separated as we get promoted. He explains executives need to lead the company well or it has serious ramifications.

Jose Luis Blanco, associate partner, McKinsey & Co., looks to the future, and predicts three big trends including: widespread adoption of augmented reality and virtual reality for training, safety, and to check progress; robots doing some of the work, and also exoskeletons; and a shift to more of a manufacturing-type production due to the labor shortage.

Jose Luis Blanco, associate partner, McKinsey & Co., says construction is a very complicated environment and its needs a holistic way to manage projects better. The IoT is a way to enable that, and there are many examples of that.

Peggy Smedley gives an overview of what can be expected for IoT (Internet of Things) adoption in manufacturing. She says manufacturers are looking to introduce quality check points and automation and this leaves the door wide open for IoT solutions to improve operations and product quality.

Sean Wise, author, Startup Opportunities: Know When to Quit Your Day Job, breaks down preconceived notions about the difficulty of start-ups and getting ideas out to the masses. He explains how the days of venture capitalists are over, as new platforms allow entrepreneurs to directly relay ideas with customers and receive immediate feedback.

Michael Mo, CEO and co-founder, KULR Technology, talks about the use of carbon fiber solutions to eliminate overheating and cooling of mobile devices as well as connected vehicles. He discusses how as smarter devices and batteries continue to become more compact, they need the right energy efficiency in operation and communication.

Vinay Nathan, cofounder & CEO, Altizon Systems, explains how the industrial sector is undergoing a rapid realization of the potential of IoT. He says lowering costs and availability of solutions is enabling manufacturing to understand the foundation of the Internet and undergo profitable digital transformations.

Peggy Smedley continues the month of remote monitoring with an extensive look at how it is impacting healthcare and ensuring more value to patients and physicians when it comes to regular visits. She says this, along with virtual care, will ease the burden on the healthcare systems, allowing more people to get the help they need.

Peggy Smedley takes another look at remote monitoring, this time from offshore vessels. She highlights new trials and applications of IoT (Internet of Things) in vessels and explains how autonomous technology can be applied to remote solutions used to manage fleets at sea.

Tom Bradicich, VP and GM of servers, converged edge, & IoT systems, Hewlett Packard Enterprises, breaks down the various reasons why data is being pushed to the edge. He further explains how devices and machines are a convergence of multiple systems and functions that used to be separate.

Samir Chatterjee, Fletcher Jones Chair of Technology Design & Management, Clairemont Graduate University, explains that human nature to cut corners has enabled people to become more dependent on medical solutions to cure them. He offers insights into how chronic diseases are affected by the habits of the patients, and discusses how remote monitoring and data can prompt new changes in mindset for patients.

Peggy Smedley discusses recent mass shootings and other tragedies from the angle of IoT (Internet of Things). She explains how tech companies and first responders are teaming up on new training and exercises across various public locations to leverage IoT for improved situational awareness.

Piyush Patel, author, "Lead Your Tribe, Love Your Work: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Culture That Matters", explains how constant coaching and constant feedback is proving to be more effective than annual reviews. He introduces the G.R.O.W. model that employers can leverage when it comes to having difficult discussions with workers to keep organizations running smoothly.

Andrew Smyth, professor of civil engineering and engineering mechanics, Columbia Engineering, details how sensors can detect changes or anomalies to critical infrastructure over time. He addresses how the declining quality of current infrastructure can be attributed to ongoing financial and political disagreements, which can lead to failing projects.

Louis Parks, president and CEO, SecureRF, explains how the lack of a common operating system and a controlled environment is presenting challenges when connecting devices to the IoT. He says progress must be made to improve security,as new industries and consumers are connecting thousands of devices and unleashing data every day

Peggy Smedley starts a new month focusing on remote monitoring and explains how it offers ways of tackling age-old challenges based on realtime information. She singles out agriculture as an industry that is leveraging remote monitoring to address plant health and the crop's exposure to chemicals and pesticides.

Brett Burger, principal marketing manager, National Instruments, says as companies are able to gather data from a variety of assets, then they can truly unlock the capabilities of IoT ecosystems. He says emerging technologies have allowed utility organizations to manage grid loads for improved optimization.

Joseph Biron, CTO of IoT, PTC, details how there is a gap in providing full lifecycle management within the industrial IoT. He talks about how sensors, machine learning, and predictive maintenance have allowed companies to fill in those gaps and maintain better control over their industrial equipment.

Samir Saini, CIO, City of Atlanta, says using the IoT, big data, and analytics allows cities to forecast what will happen and to take action. He explains that while it is impossible to solve every problem within a city, offering the data to other organizations within communities allows for more improved collaboration and efficiency.

Peggy Smedley caps off the month with a look at how new transportation models for electric and autonomous vehicles will give way to new needs within the smart grid. She expects that electric vehicles will establish new global power demands in the coming years and cities must move toward robust and wireless charging infrastructure.

Brian Deutsch, CEO, Pivotal Commware, breaks down the concept of holographic beamforming and how it can create better communication portals for radio energy. He says disruptive technologies such as this will offer an array of new possibilities within the telecom industry.

Riccardo Di Blasio, CEO, Globetouch, talks about addressing needs of connectivity on a global scale and says that more devices and equipment are requiring the IoT that previously did not need it. He says creating a network of IoT connectivity across the world will better service major corporations within manufacturing and transportation.

Shay Bahramirad, vice president of new initiatives, IEEE, and director of distribution system planning, smart grid, and innovation, ComEd, explains how regulations and legislation have allowed many different parties to contribute to the growth of smart-grid modernization. She says legacy equipment must be able to reach a higher level of smarter energy to hold up against aging infrastructure as well as natural disasters.