Peggy Smedley Show

Dan Yarmoluk, IoT business development executive, ATEK Companies, talks about how the industrial sector is seeing aging infrastructure along with an aging workforce that is pushing a new paradigm to work smarter in manufacturing. He says service providers will help during this transition toward a "digital factory" to prove that emerging solutions will solve complexity while providing the same economic value as before.

P.K. Agarwal, dean and CEO, Northeastern University Silicon Valley, discusses a recent survey with I.E.E.E. that looks at the growth of IoT and how the workforce is either prepared or unprepared to take on this growing industry. On an educational level, he explains the difficulties in preparing the next generation and talks about the three waves of the Internet with the Internet of commerce, Internet of people, and ultimately the Internet of Things.

Peggy Smedley explains that although Industry 4.0 is converging technologies across different verticals to reduce costs and expand portfolios, the workforce must not be ignored. She explains how investing in IoT for companies goes beyond financial means, as there needs to be major efforts in time, resources, training, education, and much more to ensure effective integration.

Nadir Izreal, cofounder & CTO, and Yevgeny Dibrov, cofounder & CEO, Armis Security, discuss their plan to eliminate the IoT security blind spot to give visibility and control of any device in an organization. They explain that while some organizations isolate the devices to avoid data being breached, this can detract from regular business processes.

Alex Natividad, founder and CEO, NimbusID, makes the point that while many people believe weak passwords are the root of the problem, he says access credentials in general have become too static. He explains how cognitive authentication can be designed with a contextual and personal interpretation to make security more dynamic and harder to penetrate.

Morgan Wright, cybersecurity/cyberterrorism analyst and strategist and Senior Fellow, The Center for Digital Government, explains the difficulty behind catching cybercriminals as they exist in the digital world and out of a specific jurisdiction. On a global level, he explains that historical relations may indicate how cyber-attacks will happen in the future and says government must be working with security companies to improve encryption and private networks to keep infrastructure safe.

Peggy Smedley addresses why data breaches are costing the United States more than anywhere else in the world. She examines how industries like finance, healthcare, construction, and manufacturing are set to experience breaches by cybercriminals and says they must not turn a blind eye when finding a better way to be prepared.

Scott Schober, president and CEO, Berkeley Varitronics Systems Inc., talks about how a host of security risks are inherent to the IoT and urges consumers to think twice when connecting devices to the Internet. He discusses furthering the education of previous cyberattacks so consumers and businesses can create a smarter plan designed through the eyes of a hacker to better spot strengths and weaknesses.

Scott Schober, president and CEO, Berkeley Varitronics Systems Inc., looks at how hackers keep advancing the impact of ransomware attacks, anticipating threats that go beyond personal and financial information to create dangerous situations with healthcare and transportation data. He talks about how many people have cyber complacency as they are relying too much on their current plans to keep them safe from breaches in IoT.

Bob Carver, CISM, CISSP, Verizon, explains the current perceptions of IoT security reflects the views expressed about identity theft made a decade ago. When it comes to businesses and consumers, he talks about how many people shrug off smaller security threats, unknowing that it can come back to cause damage on a much larger scale.

Peggy Smedley reiterates that the IoT is relatively untested, and no business big and small is immune to a cyberattack. She details a current experiment that tested how cybercriminals penetrated a company's security system and discusses how companies are not taking the proper steps to keep data safe, whether lacking a budget or poor handling of usernames and passwords.

Darin Andersen, chair/founder, CyberTECH, says although many companies are struggling with security in the IoT, many people are approaching data with a resiliency mindset to keep threats out or controlled. He discusses differing global views of privacy and urges people to stand up and take cybersecurity in their own hands, as opposed to relying on a company or organization to keep them safe.

Shaun Murphy, CEO, sndr.com, says how cheap it is for cybercriminals to send out fake messages to a wide group of people or leverage malware or ransomware to target specific businesses directly. He advises people not to click on unfamiliar links and keep a look out for spelling mistakes or information they have not requested from governments or banks.

Peggy Smedley looks at how companies are building up stronger barriers to keep cybercriminals out. She discusses how the need for effective security doesn't just stem from an advanced solution or system, but from competent workers as well.

Lisa Tuttle, chief information security officer, SPX Corp., talks about how IoT is moving across the line between manufacturing and security, especially with embedded controllers that can detect when parts are ready to fail. She explains how building security solutions by design must become a larger component when establishing effective security standards for consumers, businesses, and manufacturers.

Sam De Brouwer, co-founder, doc.ai and Scanadu, says while innovation in personalized healthcare is moving steadily, it is not moving fast enough. She explains how new breakthroughs in sensors and artificial intelligence are allowing developers to integrate language to create a more immediate, and interactive experience when accessing patient data.

Mayumi Hiramatsu, SVP cloud operations, Infor, discusses her work in the cloud preparing automated data-center operations to extend toward mobile devices. She reiterates the importance of bringing people and technology together to solve problems and support one another.

Hannah Kain, president and CEO, ALOM, explains how a position in Silicon Valley has enabled supply-chain management to be at the forefront of innovation. She recalls how the manufacturing industry has gone from floppy disks to integrated platforms and sensors that allow for better tracking and customization of products.

Danielle George, professor of radio frequency engineering, University of Manchester, talks transitioning her work in wireless tech for U.K. space stations to helping farmers gain a better understanding of crops and weeds before they begin to grow. She anticipates that along with agriculture and aerospace, wireless sensors pose major potential to detect early signs of cancer and other life-threatening conditions.

Alexis Abramson, Milton and Tamar Maltz professor in energy innovation, mechanical and aerospace engineering, Case Western Reserve University, explains the current static relationship that exists in the way energy is delivered and used, resulting in a passive stance on the consumer side. She predicts that with the help of more dynamic electrical systems in infrastructure and IoT, users will become more active participants in saving energy.

Gina Altieri, senior vice president of corporate services and chief of strategy integration, Nemours Children's Health System, details her path toward a career in healthcare technology and her work to create an efficient warehouse that allows clinicians to access patient data no matter which facility they visit. She addresses concerns securing patient information along with catering medical records toward millennials and new parents.

Vanitha Kumar, vice president, Qualcomm, talks overcoming challenges in untouched technology that connects mobile devices to base stations through the use of 3G, 4G, and 5G. She looks back at the beginning of #LTE and discusses how the evolution of person-to-person tech will soon allow consumers to communicate and receive data with everything around them.

Sara Gardner, IoT VP and CTO, Hitachi Insight Group, discusses the balance of approaching IoT platforms in the eyes of both the consumer as well as the developer. She dives into her work across the pond, reinventing the way trains are delivered to citizens across Europe as well as leveraging analytics to improve predictive maintenance for a range of industrial assets.

Leigh Ann Ryals, co-founder & COO, Able Device, details her experiences as a co-founder of a major player in the IoT (Internet of Things). She talks about her work to put business networks on a more open environment, as well developing new use cases that adhere to better security standards.

Kathleen Mitford, EVP, product and market strategy, PTC, explains how women are displaying unique skills that can make a difference in the IoT and technology. She talks about the importance of mentors and supportive organizations that help women expand their abilities in STEM to look at the big picture and make change happen.

Nadine Cino, CEO & co-inventor, Tyga-Box Systems, talks about her approach to new business opportunities by analyzing the commercial benefits and how will it help the environment in some way. She discusses how her work in the container and RFID (radio-frequency identification) tracking industry has allowed her to bring more value to customers while eliminating disposable waste.

Peggy Smedley zeroes on women in engineering and discusses the challenges and experiences they face as they navigate their careers in the space. As more women pursue jobs in these industries, she looks at how gender roles and workplace discrimination are affecting their decision to maintain their professions.

Tim Linder, a senior business consultant and a regular contributor to Connected WorldandJoe Barkai, consultant, author, and blogger "Too expensive." "Very long time to a positive cash flow." "We do not consider any project with payback period longer than 18 months." These are some of the typical responses and pushbacks early adopters of Industrial IoT technology often encounter when they seek funding from corporate management. Admittedly, many IoT projects require significant investments over an extended period of time: reengineering products, creating a network infrastructure, and establishing new business and customer relationships models. Traditional ROI (return on investment) models do not always offer a satisfactory answer.

Peggy Smedley takes a look back at past winners of the Women of M2M and discusses how industry winners selected each year correlated with trends dominating the IoT industry at the time. Among all of this, she highlights the rise of honorees from hardware and service providers, yet examines the lack of representation when it comes to women CEOs.

Chris Bue, CFO/COO, Rocket Wagon, organizer of MakerBiz Chicago, explains that when it comes to helping start-ups in IoT, there is a major difference between the building of a product and the building of a business. She talks about giving the right advice for small businesses looking to make a name for themselves and creating an encouraging community for women in the tech industry.

Debbie Gregory, senior clinical consultant, Smith Seckman Reid Engineering Firm, talks bringing her clinical voice to the design and construction table. She discusses her work in engineering new healthcare environments and increasing the technological input and profile of nurses.

Peggy Smedley kicks off the month of June honoring the 2017 Women of M2M and how women have risen to become developers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and more in the IoT space. She explains how despite advancement challenges, many of these women continue to lead in innovations as well as reach out to others looking to begin careers in the industry.

Mitchell Smith, president and cofounder, Pike Consulting Group, discusses what goes into implementing and enforcing safety and health compliance plans for residential construction crews. He explains how training from all levels of the workforce can further ensure everyone is operating equipment correctly and using every safety precaution set in place.

Andrew Kahler, product marketing manager, John Deere WorkSight, gives an overview on how telematics used on construction equipment in the past collected data that was not useful and explains how diagnostic solutions are now highlighting machine trends over time. He also previews John Deere's plans for drones in the future and how they will future improve productivity and other processes on the jobsite.

Samuel Ariaratnam, professor and program chair of construction engineering, Arizona State University, explains how current smart cities projects are simply adopting band aide solutions in reaction to failing infrastructure, but they must become more proactive. He discusses using the IoT (Internet of Things) along with sensors and mapping in underground infrastructure to help improve a city's bottomline, while managing a limited budget.

Peggy Smedley opens the show with a discussion on hiring challenges and economic uncertainties that are hindering the construction industry. She further examines a generational gap that is failing to attract or entice younger workers, a wait-and-see approach currently being done toward infrastructure, and a way for contractors to manage an influx of data on the job.

Jim Kissane, construction industry expert, talks about the level of importance, as well as impact, the Internet of Things is going to have on the jobsites as the desire for smart cities go through the roof. He says with the development of these new technologies, construction must not sit on the sidelines, as they face security issues along with drastic shortages in laborers and programmers.

Jocelyn Knoll, partner, Dorsey & Whitney, talks about the criteria used to determine the current state of American infrastructure. She explains how current plans and investments made toward repairing infrastructure will only increase the country's grade slightly.

Jori Mendel, director of sales, smart cities, AT&T, breaks down a step-by-step plan to correctly implement smart solutions that adhere to the specific needs of various cities. She discusses how the goal of smart cities must be more than just managing energy and congestion, but aspire to keep citizens and communities safer.

Peggy Smedley explains how the emerging trend of green building is not just limited to the work done on the jobsite, as it can extend all the way to the design and planning processes. She further takes a look at modular building that can lead to more efficient results for smart cites and how telematics is enabling the equipment rental markets to become more transparent.

Peggy Smedley takes you along for a discussion on the transportation superhighway of the future and how it is proposing a better experience for riders, as well as better safety. She moves from the technology side to construction and discusses how the superhighway will be much more energy efficient, but explains how plans in funding must be solidified before moving forward.

Shawn Chandler, senior member, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Navigant Consulting, explains how focusing more on the occupants of buildings, as opposed to building itself, can lead to better approaches in implementing smart solutions. He says this will be supported by the rising influx of realtime user preferences that machines did not have a century ago, leading to constant analysis and opportunities for optimization.

Michael Shenoda, senior lecturer and coordinator of the Construction Engineering Technology Program, University of North Texas, says construction has a long way to go before it can adopt technology that can support connected infrastructure and smarter roadways. He says small implementations of smart technology do not accurately represent their full potential until they are set up in larger networks.

Peggy Smedley says construction is one industry that is leading the adoption of the IoT (Internet of Things). She says BIM (building information modeling) gives stakeholders the ability to visualize every aspect of a project from the beginning. Along with digital collaboration and data analytics, she explains how this will allow them to make more effective decisions about project problems, employee productivity, safety, and machine maintenance.

Peggy Smedley examines the status of the wearables market and says that although they present great value for processes, they are still too expensive to justify the investment for contractors. She suggests rentable wearables may be another option to get more of them on the jobsite to keep workers safe and improve productivity overall.

Adam Petrovsky, government and education practice leader, Logicalis US, says technology pulls us forward, despite the progress of laws, if we are prepared for them or not. He explains how video is steadily taking the place of sensors in smart cites and freeway systems, yet many cities are having immense trouble handling the influx of information gathered and how to use it.

Pat Jones, executive director and CEO, International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Assn., explains that although the need and emphasis for improved infrastructure is on the rise, additional turmoil in Washington may cause further delays in major plans for renovations. He explains that with the rise of electric cars and other sustainable automobiles will come vehicle mile travel charges that will contribute more funds for smarter roadways.

Peggy Smedley dives into a new roadmap from the Eno Center for Transportation, which suggests that stakeholder working groups oversee the development of laws directly related to autonomous vehicles. She zeroes in on liability concerns, cybersecurity, research investment, certification, insurance, as well as how data responds to vehicle operators.

Peggy Smedley ends the show with a look at how the IoT (Internet of Things) is altering the project lifecycle in construction. She discusses how data will offer companies a new perspective on the design process, as well as prepare for renovations in the future.

Peggy Smedley takes a look at new instances of failing infrastructure that have destroyed homes and communities, forcing thousands of families to relocate. She says that if we fail to act, this is just the beginning, and deteriorating infrastructure will cause further problems for organizations, the economy, and jobs.