Peggy Smedley Show

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.

Ronan de Renesse, practice leader for consumer technology, Ovum, talks about the changing nature of connectivity in smart homes and explains how network security systems are aiming to become more proactive than reactive. Despite the push towards this different approach, Ronan says it is not a matter of if, but when a major threat occurs and how we will react to it.

Peggy Smedley begins the show with a look at infrastructure and how construction is gearing up to take on smart cities. While many support the need for smarter solutions in cities, she questions: who is going to pay for it. She says whether it comes from public and private partnerships, taxpayers, or both, we cannot sit by before a major hack occurs.

Antony Livingston, president, Livingston Enterprises LLC, talks about the Distracted Driving Device that will be hard wired into the vehicle's starter, and how it prevents the driver from starting the car if the phone is not out of reach or out of sight. He says this will enable drivers of all vehicle types to establish a better way of policing themselves and be accountable on the road once and for all.

Jennifer Kent, director, research quality & product development, Parks Associates, discusses alarming statistics, highlighting the use of mobile devices behind the wheel and points out there is no going back as the auto industry continues to make vehicles that are an extension of our connected lifestyle. She says although a majority of driver disagree with distracted driving, they often do it and justify their behaviors in irrational ways.

Lukas Kuhn, CTO, Tourmaline Labs, explains how gathering and assigning driver data that is similar to receiving a credit score will help them fully understand the depths of their strengths and weaknesses behind the road. He says things like driver environment, driving behavior, and even cultural differences can determine a more passive or aggressive driver.

Peggy Smedley starts the show with a look at how the futuristic view of autonomous vehicles will translate into the real world. She questions who will be responsible for an accident if both cars are self-driving, and discusses if the lending of self-driving cars will serve as a new form of ride-sharing for the future.

Peggy takes a look at new start-up innovations that have been working to get off the ground and serve as effective solutions to distracted driving. She talks about smart gloves enabling motorcyclists to shift lanes safety, as well as a dashcam that serves as a lookout for reckless drivers and accidents on the road.

Jesse Hoggard, vice president of marketing, Cellcontrol, says since distracted driving is so common, it has not been vilified as much as other dangerous acts behind the wheel. He also talks how the Cellcontrol app locks applications once a driver is in motion, reconditioning the driver to fix their problem and establish better habits for the future.

Alex Haro, co-founder and president, Life360, talks about how Life360 extended its reach from giving families peace of mind during natural disasters to peace of mind every time a loved one is behind the wheel. He discusses how the app can notify family members when someone is driving and even aggregates a driving report, letting users know if they are hard braking, accelerating rapidly, or using their phone excessively.

Peggy says although some progress has been made, there needs to be a shift in public acceptance and opinion similar to that of drunk driving and driving without a seatbelt. She explains what distractions can weigh on a driver's cognitive load and advocates that harsher punishments must be made in order to save lives.

Peggy talks about a new survey revealing that many people believe autonomous vehicles will stop distracted driving once and for all. But what will they do once the car takes the wheel? While some respondents said they will use that time for work, relaxation, entertainment, and even romantic purposes, Peggy says they still need to be alert and prepared for possible disengagement.

Deborah Trombley, senior program manager, Transportation Initiatives, National Safety Council Distracted Driving Program, shares her thoughts on startling research that shows a rise in roadway deaths and says the role of distracted driving is understated. She says we live in a culture that embraces and encourages multitasking, but urges that individuals and enterprises take a step back so people can focus on the task at hand: driving.

Mike Kellenyi, founder, People Against Distracted Driving, talks turning tragedy into a force that is saving lives of distracted driving through educational programs across the country. He discusses how law enforcement is more capable of reporting distracted driving in accidents, and explains why targeting kids on the dangers of the distracted driving will engrain better habits behind the wheel in the future.

Peggy gives listeners the hard facts on how the number of motor vehicle deaths has hit an all-time high, and how distracted driving is a leading factor in that alarming trend. She looks at research suggesting that distracted drivers display longer reaction times and explains how hands-free devices can still pull driver focus away from the road.

Peggy ends the show by talking about how enterprises are developing new ways to keep employees safe on the road through telematics data. She looks at how businesses are using video monitoring to assess behavior behind the wheel and establish new ways to coach drivers.

Joel Feldman, president of Casey Feldman Foundation and founder of EndDD.org, End Distracted Driving, shares a personal connection to his crusade against distracted driving and says enforcement, legislation, technology, and education must be elevated to combat the rising number of accidents. He says although parents are setting a bad example for kids when it comes to texting and driving, he believes teenagers have the potential to change.

Dan Ronan, vice president of strategic communications, Intelligent Transportation Society of America, explains how ITS America is linking together academics, business, and research to help cities and infrastructure approach new options for handling distracted driving. He further discusses a new roadmap for intelligent transportation that looks at core issues cities and even the government may be facing, as well as the inclusion of V2V technology.

Peggy starts off distracted-driving month by setting the scene and asking how would you react to being pulled over for driving while on a mobile device? She then discusses how places around the world are using tactics like undercover cars, dump trucks, and even hearses to catch distracted drivers to further educate about the dangers.

Peggy Smedley interviews Rowan Trollope, Cisco Systems Inc., on why the Internet is in desperate need of an upgrade to handle IoT and all the security that must come along with it.

Rowan Trollope, senior vice president and general manager, IoT and applications, Cisco Systems Inc., says the Internet we have built must evolve into something greater in order to fully handle the IoT. He predicts that without simplicity and adequate security protocols or standards in place during implementation, it may be hard to pinpoint decisions made between people and "things."

Tony Nicoletti, VP, business development & strategy, DPL Telematics, explains how the ability to link IoT tracking devices with engine data has given a boom to telematics companies when it comes to improving theft protection, idle time, warranties, as well as meeting better traffic and environmental regulations. He says the implementation phase is more important than some companies may think, as they need to ensure systems are set up correctly to achieve the best data possible.

Peggy begins the show with a discussion on how several major college campuses are proving to be an exciting testing ground for smart-city solutions. She says since the environment combines education, research, and innovation that could lead to safer and well-managed schools, and it offers a better selling point for students and parents when considering schools.

Peggy talks about the emergence of high-speed railway projects around the globe, and says that although they present great potential, many of them are faced by social, political, and financial roadblocks. She says a compromise must be made to move funding forward for these initiatives, as they aim to save energy and offer new alternatives when it comes to meeting the demands of fuel costs, customers, and delivery times.

Joe Colistra, associate professor, School of Architecture, Design & Planning, University of Kansas, gives his predictions on how big data is set to emerge as a new natural resource to help develop smart homes and smart cities to deal with unlimited bandwidth. He discusses how biometric sensors embedded in the walls and floors of homes will open up new avenues for healthcare and predicting what patients may need next.

Kyle Hamer, vice president of marketing, On Center Software, explains how IoT (Internet of Things) solutions are enabling those in the construction industry to manage information overload so they can find the data that they need to use. He talks about how estimators are using platforms to manage key information resulting in more accurate project timelines and costs.

Peggy looks at how major cities are turning toward smart-street lights to help save millions on energy, yet maintaining safety and comfort for the public. She says that with the ability to connect to mobile networks and connected devices, smart street lights can also function as digital signage, surveillance, chargers, environmental monitors, and much more.