Peggy Smedley Show

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.

Peggy looks at how growing populations are pushing leaders in major cities to rethink their approach to smarter infrastructure, in order to connect roads, bridges, utilities, manufacturing, and so much more. She says many one-off solutions cannot work with the rest of infrastructure, and suggests that communication will be the biggest hurdle for leaders if they want to make better decisions that keep communities safe.

Jerry Ullman, senior research engineer and regents fellow, Texas A&M Transportation Institute, discusses apprehensions towards autonomous vehicles and suggests that more work must be done in order for them to effectively navigate through construction work zone scenarios. He says as cars become more intelligent, they may soon be able to share information in the cloud with manufacturers to monitor pavement conditions, weather patterns, and delivery updates for drivers.

Catherine Kniker, chief revenue officer, PTC, talks about the constant development of the popular ThingWorx platform and says it is enabling users to keep one foot in the physical world and one in digital world. She explains how the IoT is being used to unlock hidden value in simple and complex data systems, and predicts that this year many companies may take the leap from using pilot systems to full scale solutions.

Peggy talks about the growing innovations in connected healthcare like remote monitoring and virtual visits, and says that infrastructure must adapt in order to bring these capabilities and effectively transfer patient data to and from remote areas in the world. She also says the increased reliance on biosensors will have less to do with diagnosing and treating patients, but more to do with being proactive with chronic illnesses.

Peggy takes a look at the Public Policy Roadmap and how the IoT will be used to tackle new transportation and infrastructure projects set forth by the new administration. She says as major metropolitan cities become more tech driven, construction professional must be prepared and educated in the newest connect solutions set to rebuild America.

Dale Beard, CEO, Intelliwave Technologies, talks about how sensor technology is being used to locate lost or misplaced materials and equipment, which can cause major delays in commercial and residential projects. He says the acceptance and commercialization of sensors has drastically altered the way materials are managed along with enhancing uptime, refocusing management, cutting order costs, and maintaining safety.

Benjamin Hubbard, director of sales, Cloud EPC, talks about how contractors can discern between leading and lagging data in order to notice deviations from set metrics that will tackle issues at the root cause. He says the cloud has become so integrated into our mindset when it comes to technology and says it can further be used to reduce costs, accelerate deployment, update features, and work from anywhere.

Peggy takes a look back at the evolution of technology on the jobsite and says the IoT has incited operational changes in the way contractors can get things done. She explains how the introduction of smartphones, apps, and tablets has continued to integrate data more efficiently from the office to jobsite, with much more growth on the way, thanks to new educational sources and the initiative toward a standard data protocol.

Peggy looks at new research regarding autonomous vehicles that shows human monitoring is needed to keep an eye on disengagement errors. To address the problem, Peggy says technology companies and governments need to work together to provide better ways that smart cars can interact with surrounding environments and infrastructure.

Aaron Hillegass, founder and CEO, The Big Nerd Ranch, acknowledges that although many software companies are focused on tech solutions for developing nations, improving collaboration, and meeting the demands of the IoT, security should remain at the top of the list. He explains that two-way connections in servers can be available to millions of people and servers must be able to keep running and not fall behind despite that ever-growing number.

Gary Tucker, CEO, Zubie, talks about how his company is working to improve the relationship between the dealer and the customer when it comes to keeping track of fleets and potential diagnostic problems. He explains how the transparency of automotive information that is available changes the ability to make decisions and discusses new solutions aimed at monitoring the driving progress of the elderly and teens.

Peggy talks about the rise of UBI (usage-based insurance), which allows telematics and insurance companies to access driver data that can help determine individual risk and subsequently create personalized policies for each driver. She says although customer acceptance and privacy are still hindering total UBI adoption, good drivers as well as millennials may be more open to the idea of this proposition as a means to monitor harsh breaking and excessive acceleration.

Peggy end the shows with a discussion on new European regulations that tracks drivers to detect accidents and performance on the road. She says that although this trade-off has shown great potential in saving lives and keeping drivers in check, she questions how insurance companies will use this information to affect rates.

Avi Freedman, cofounder and CEO, Kentik, talks network performance within the IoT and says that devices and appliances from the home and office have the potential to be hacked or "listen" in on users in the future. To combat this, he suggests a "trust but verify" mindset when it comes to security and predicts that with so many networks connected to the Internet, segmentation is set to occur within the IoT.

Have you heard about the Baseline to Build-On Initiative? Peggy discusses how the need for a common data protocol within the IoT (Internet of Things) stemmed from the difficulties many construction companies faced when sharing information between conflicting platforms and groups. She says the overwhelming response to become involved has demonstrated that an "inside-out" approach has the potential to incite change in all areas of construction including: architecture, fleets, engineering, and much more.

Peggy looks at how the industrial revolution has changed to Industry 4.0, enabling cyber-physical systems to communicate with one another as well as humans to improve operations, lower downtime, and maintain asset and quality control. She then examines how micro markets will continue to evolve with the introduction of smart vending machines and the growing trend of craft breweries.

Peggy advocates for improved safety features in fleet systems to better secure trucks and equipment, and says the hacking of enterprise vehicles can open the door to more problems. She highlights a new research project enabling a solution to "talk" to the vehicle, "speak" its language, and perform analysis that will prevent delays or stolen data.

David Gaw, CEO, Sensera Systems, says remote-sensing solutions on the jobsite are adding more value for contractors, and says the introduction of drones will complement onsite cameras and improve the flow of data. He explains that while many sites are using such solutions, awareness is still low, and that in an effort to create more simplistic products and services, this will only further hinder adoption.

Aaron Attebery, smart city solutions lead, Black & Veatch, says the smart-city strategic directions report enables major cities to assess and compare with others on their progress toward adopting IoT (Internet of Things) solutions. He explains although cities may have great ideas for innovation, they are inexperienced and face budget restraints that can hinder initiatives.

Peggy begins the show by discussing how new regulatory compliances are driving the growing demand for vehicle telematics solutions like GPS (global positioning system), mobile asset tracking, and fleet management. She says the ability to document and prevent driver safety and performance issues creates a new level of transparency and accountability that was not there before.

Peggy ends the show by taking a look at recent patents for autonomous vehicles from companies like Google, Apple, and Amazon. She envisions how this new transportation of people and goods will eventually make its way to the home and the jobsite, with multiple machines and devices working as one to accomplish tasks.

Daniel Castro, professor and chair, School of Building Construction, Georgia Tech, explains how the use of architectural construction solutions and BIM (building information modeling) is leaning more toward contractors and owners, who are leveraging them for proactive purposes, as opposed to reactive. He says education and the adoption of new technology will lead to a renewed interest for careers in construction from a new generation.

Ray Thomas, vice president of sales, MSI, discusses how the IoT (Internet of Things) will be instrumental in alerting users of any needed maintenance or fixes. He says the use of IoT within field service has only improved the relationship among OEMs (original-equipment manufacturers), dealers, and operators who can share realtime data to ensure machines are running smoothly.

Peggy talks about what the U.S. Dept. of Transportation has in store this year with the introduction of new Secretary, Elaine Chao. Peggy dives into its newly proposed 5-year plan, which is set to focus on reducing distracted driving, decongesting roads, lowering carbon emissions, and revitalizing highway infrastructure.