Peggy Smedley Show

Chris Meering, senior director, social innovation and sustainability, HP Enterprise, talks about the connected car, V2V (vehicle-to-vehicle), V2I (vehicle-to-infrastructure), and V2C (vehicle-to-cloud) services. He points to an example of black ice and how realtime data about the ice can be sent to the cloud and send a warning to other vehicles on the road.

Arwed Niestroj, CEO, Mercedes-Benz, Research and Development North America, says security of all the systems is key, which is why it needs to stay up-to-date on all the technologies available, and only releases cars on the road when they are really safe. Manuela Papadopol, director of business development & communications, Elektrobit, says the power of software can help with deep learning and artificial intelligence, enabling smart decisions to be made on the road.

Peggy welcomes listeners to CES 2017, talking about the new Michigan laws that permit driverless vehicles. She says self-driving and connected cars have the potential to reduce more than 90% of accidents, according to the Consumer Technology Assn.

AJ Smith, vice president and general manager of EES Homes of Americas, Honeywell, says connected homes have gone beyond a neat tech gadget that is interesting, and are moving to needing to solve the biggest challenges for homeowners. He says providing comfort to consumers and providing security is where we need to ground ourselves.

AJ Smith, vice president and general manager of EES Homes of Americas, Honeywell, says he has always expected the industry to grow, but every year you think this is going to be the big year, and then all of a sudden you get over that tipping point to something even more exciting. He adds companies that are providing the devices and solutions need to take responsibility for the security.

Neil Cannon, president, EnOcean, says novel ways of getting energy out of the environment means your technology doesn't go down. He says the last 100 feet to the end of the building and the remote part of a power plant is challenging to get wires to, and wireless technology makes that easier.

Peggy continues the show live from CES 2017, focusing in on trends related to cybersecurity. She says a new report from the Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity is taking a great step forward in laying the groundwork for what needs to be done with cybersecurity.

Peggy says 93% of organizations are unable to triage all potential cyber threats, according to an Intel Security report. She explains that in general organizations were unable to investigate security alerts in 2016, but real progress can be made in 2017.

Bruce Snell, cybersecurity and privacy director, Intel Security, says IoT security isn't where it needs to be, and security is too often an afterthought. He explains he would like to see an independent auditing body created to put together a credit score for security—and maybe there would be a stamp on the front of the box, but we would need to make consumers aware of that.

Bruce Snell, cybersecurity and privacy director, Intel Security, says cybersecurity means different things to different people. He encourages making cybersecurity a part of a training process and he says there needs to be a shift in thinking about security in day-to-day life.

Jim Barry, media spokesperson, Consumer Technology Assn., says today CES is all about connectivity and the IoT (Internet of Things). He explains we already have autonomous vehicles, but says there are issues to be sorted through such as how to get the roads and infrastructure built, but there is no doubt that autonomous vehicles are in the future.

Peggy says we need to reinvest in America's infrastructure, explaining she is beginning to see big trends emerge at CES such as virtual reality and augmented reality. She says the construction industry will need to become more tech-savvy in order to leverage all of this data.

Jim Barry, media spokesperson, Consumer Technology Assn., says one of the things at the show is applications of technology in specific areas. He explains the new technology at the shows in the past were cassette tapes, video, Apple computers, and deregulation of the phones. In the last 15 or 20 years, it has changed to a digital revolution.

Peggy welcomes listeners to CES 2017, laying the groundwork for what listeners can see at the show this week. She says expect to see a lot of big announcements around cybersecurity, manufacturing, smart buildings, and so much more, and believes it is interesting that more than 20 federal government officials are set to speak.

Peggy says potential theft may be an area to focus for cyber criminals, explaining that a focus on behavior analytics and cyber espionage will grow in 2017. She says the transition period from today's semiautonomous vehicles and autonomous vehicles in the future will be long, and infrastructure and smart cities will be needed.

John Schlitt, former global director/general manager, Nalco, and IoT expert, says a lot of management doesn't understand what build it really means, and individuals need to explain the advantage of data and translate what that means in company value and extended sales, so a product can become a commodity. He says it takes a lot of work and team building and experts to communicate the need and value.

Peggy says trends will shape the construction industry including the Internet of Things and infrastructure growth. She says the challenge is how do we bring all of these concepts together today, explaining it requires collaboration, education and training, standards and protocols. She says 2017 will be a big year for the Internet of Things, as it helps to rebuild America.

John Schlitt, former global director/general manager, Nalco, and IoT expert, says there was a study done a couple of years ago regarding farming. He explains that leveraging data like weather, rain, soil, and all these kinds of things can be optimized, resulting in the estimate that you can increase the yield on an acre by 67%. He says the IoT can provide value in a number of different industries.

Greg Thomas, professor at the Center for Design Research, University of Kansas, discusses how we are living in a time of renaissance for industrial design, as the vast availability of IoT products open new opportunities for research to solve problems and help people. He says his latest development, the wellcar, is changing the way healthcare information is handled with communication systems and miniaturized medical equipment that can send and receive realtime test results for patients in rural parts of the country.

Sanjay Sarma, vice president for Open Learning, MIT, says that while the IoT will ultimately become integrated into everything we use to adapt to our needs and improve our daily lives, the most important thing we can do with the majority of incoming data is throw it away. He says it is a matter of discipline when it comes to approaching problems in IoT and urges companies to architect products around security first before anything else.

Peggy begins the show by reflecting on the major mergers and acquisitions that shaped IoT services and generated growth this past year, and predicts that even more are on the way for 2017. She says the IoT in 2016 has led to new innovations in construction, infrastructure, security, along with becoming a major component in this year's historical election.

Carlo Ratti, professor and Senseable City Lab director, MIT, says that by using the term, "senseable" cities, researchers and developers are able to put the emphasis back on the human side of urban life. He says cities are being shaped by mobility, and that self-driving cars and artificial intelligence can drastically alter infrastructure to free up parking spaces, lower emissions, and satisfy transportation needs with a fraction of the vehicles.

Peggy says Amazon Go is merging the physical world with the digital world to transform the consumer experience with product sensors that enable shoppers to walk-in and get the products they need without having to wait in line. She says Amazon's work in artificial intelligence will offer new opportunities for businesses with image analysis, deep learning, and much more.

Chandra Krintz, professor of computer science, University of California, Santa Barbara, explains how computer science and large scale systems are helping farmers in California monitor and obtain a better yield from a diverse selection of crops. She says academic research with her students allows groups to be more open to seeing the benefits of new solutions while also creating a broader range of perspectives set to impact society.

Behrokh Koshnevis, CEO, Contour Crafting, and professor at University of Southern California, talks about his passion for disruptive technologies and how they help reimagine the way things are done. He explains how 3D printing was born in the construction industry and will therefore have the highest potential in creating solutions that will shrink production periods from months to days.

Ted Herman, professor of Computer Science, University of Iowa, says large pharmaceutical companies are too costly and concerned with the bottomline. He discusses low-cost ways of developing wireless communication devices that sense and deliver basic health metrics back to physicians.

Waqaas Al-Siddiq, cofounder and CEO, biotricity, says the company recently received 501-k FDA clearanc. He explains software and apps can be updated at a much faster speed than hardware, and the company's strategy is to be able to make changes rapidly and innovate. He explains the cardiac market is a massive industry and he is serving a critical piece of the market.

Cara English, CEO, Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies, says in healthcare VR (virtual reality) is primarily used for exposure therapy, anxiety disorders, or PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). She explains the technology can recreate a scene for them that created that particular anxiety when the initial trauma was experienced.

Peggy says her vision for the future is that all the equipment and systems inside a facility will be connected. She explains buildings will be connected to other buildings, and cities will become smarter, but says the challenge is most of these systems don't currently talk to each other.

Peggy talks about motor vehicle deaths during the holidays, and explains motor vehicle deaths are expected to be higher this year. She says if we aren't going to regulate ourselves, others will have to regulate us instead, explaining sometimes we need an extra nudge to make our roads safer.

Rafi Zauer, head of marketing, Essence, says since people are living longer and staying healthy longer, the elderly are being looked after by older children, and they aren't in a position to have kids help them on a day-to-day basis. He explains the connected devices available now are able to assist for a long time and the intelligence is in the cloud.

Peggy says infrastructure is the very fabric of our country, and it is all going to be connected in the future. She explains the construction industry is going to leapfrog many other industries, and help build this smarter and more sustainable infrastructure that is needed to move the Internet of Things forward.

Eli Berman, director of IoT, Starhome Mach, says enterprises want their devices to be always on, and they don't care what is going on underneath. He explains how it helps deliver the service and connectivity that enterprises need, and enterprises should expect mobile network operators to streamline their activities to accommodate only the best services.

Peggy says smart shelves can detect when a product is running low, which means a customer can identify what they are looking seeking. She says beyond the customer experience, the IoT (Internet of Things) can help as retailers optimize business, with one example being RFID (radio-frequency identification) to track items throughout the supply chain.

Peggy asks the question: Is biometrics really ready for primetime? She says given the cybersecurity landscape, it is tempting to fall in love with the concept of biometrics. However, she explains while Google is investing in biometrics, there are a lot of complications to think about and a lot of naysayers out there.

Mohan Sawhney, professor of technology, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, says when we talk about digital disruption, we get carried away with the technology. He says he takes a different view, and focuses on what it means for customers, saying it has to mean something for the customer experience.

Peggy says both Republicans and Democrats need to work together to save manufacturing jobs and increase innovation. She explains what is really needed is an action plan, and the government needs to create the necessary incentives to encourage manufacturers to reinvest in building America's manufacturing. She says, a cooperative effort that includes our infrastructure is required.

Mark Skilton, professor of practice information systems management, Warwick Business School, says technology is changing the way we communicate, productivity and automation, and the use of energy. The convergence of all of these things is the fourth industrial revolution, he explains, and this is where all things are going to begin to connect.

Bassem Hamdy, executive vice president of marketing and enterprise strategy, Procore, talks about how the market is changing, the role of apps and integration, and how contractors need to take advantage of all of this innovation that is emerging.

Henry Purdy, CMO, ConstructConnect, talks about the importance of product integration and how the company prioritizes integration efforts. He addresses how the company works with various integration partners.

Don Henrich, COO, Assemble Systems, addresses the changes in BIM (building information modeling) and VDC (virtual design and construction). He talks about how contractors are leveraging the technology in new and different ways.

Peggy identifies trends related to project management, integration, and mobility. She says effective project management has always been key on construction projects, but what is changing is how technology is leveraged by field staff. She says integration is key in construction, and Procore is addressing this.

Peggy starts the show by talking about biometrics, and says the need for accurate and secure identification of a user's identity extends far beyond just mobile devices. She says authentication in smartphones will pave the way for other applications in homes and cars. She talks about research on brainprints, which uses brain wave responses to different stimuli.

Jeremy Gilbert, cofounder and CEO, Autobrain, says with technology converging, it saw an opportunity to bring connected-car technology to the masses. He explains the device plugs into a standard diagnostic port of any vehicle, and it communicates to anybody that is connected to that car. For example, a parent of a teen driver can get an alert about driving or gas.

Terence Mauri, author, The Leader's Mindset: How to Win in the Age of Disruption, says it has never been easier to waste time on the wrong relationships and social media. He explains every day you have to focus on the MIT (most important task), and that is the key takeaway. In a 24/7 connected world, there is an unrealistic expectation that we should always be at the disposal of other people, he says.

Peggy says the trend toward more technology in the home began more than 10 years ago when AHT (automated home technology) was first being installed in homes. She says what followed was the emergence of devices that offered opportunities to create that smarter home. Looking to the future, she predicts voice assistance will become more common, as artificial intelligence grows, and security will become essential to keep our homes secure all based on an industry working together.

Merle King, executive director, Center for Election Systems, Kennesaw State University, continues the discussion, and talks about voting online. He says voting is different is different from other forms of transactions, and the issue is there isn't anything that is analogous to it in terms of the transaction, and it has to do with the secrecy of the ballot. He explains we are in the infancy of Internet voting.

Peggy takes listeners to the future, predicting a time when voters won't have to go to a polling place at all, and instead this will all be able to be done securely from devices. However, she says first it starts with ensuring we can keep the data secure, and this is what the industry needs to work on in the next four years.

Merle King, executive director, Center for Election Systems, Kennesaw State University, says the mechanics of collecting votes has been different in the terms of the sheer volume and velocity of discussion than it has in the past. He explains a voting system is a very specifically designed collection of components that does a simple set of tasks including capture voter intent, tabulate results of the ballot, produce reports, provide auditing, and permit the definition of an election.

Peggy starts the show by talking about the widespread wearing out of voting machines as a major concern among American voters. She explains voting technology is the next big issue in election administration in the U.S., and elections seem stuck in the past.