Perspectives

Introduction Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democratic societies, emphasizing every individual's inherent dignity and worth. Rooted deeply in the history of Western civilization and codified in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, this right is celebrated for fostering creativity, facilitating informed public discourse, and acting as a check against government oppression. However, like all rights, freedom of speech is not absolute. Over the years, U.S. courts, primarily the Supreme Court, have navigated the delicate balance between preserving the sanctity of free expression and addressing concerns for public safety, individual rights, and societal harmony. A Brief Historical Overview Freedom of speech is not just a modern democratic ideal but is rooted in ancient civilizations. The value of free expression has been continuously recognized from the open forums of Ancient Greece to the pens of Enlightenment thinkers. In the U.S., the framers of the Constitution, influ

Innovative Wireless Technologies (IWT) - A Proven Wireless Solution for Non-Traditional Sectors In a world increasingly reliant on connectivity, the challenge lies in delivering wireless solutions to non-traditional spaces such as mining, underground construction, transportation, and shipping. Due to their inherent complexity and hard-to-reach locations, these areas often challenge traditional wireless technologies. Innovative Wireless Technologies (IWT) is breaking the mold with its robust and reliable wireless solutions, proving that no space is too challenging and no situation too complex. The Specific Challenges of Wireless Solutions in Non-Traditional Spaces Wireless solutions in non-traditional spaces face several unique challenges, including: The non-traditional wireless spaces often operate in complex and challenging environments, such as underground mines, ships, and tunnels. In these environments, wireless signals may be interfered with by weather conditions or other environm

I’ve received several notes from non-Amateur Radio friends about local activities in their community this past weekend. Every year in June, radio operators, affectionately known as "hams," come together to celebrate and uphold the longstanding tradition of amateur radio. For these individuals, Field Day is much more than a casual gathering; it is a testament to the importance of communications, a way to promote public awareness, and an opportunity to reinforce their preparedness for any situation.  They began by setting up stations, running off generators and solar power. The objective wasn't to make the most contacts or score the highest points but to demonstrate that even in unfavorable conditions, amateur radio operators can set up functioning networks in a matter of hours. In a real-life disaster scenario, when all other lines of communication may fail, these hams will be the beacon of hope, facilitating life-saving communications.  Field Day is a testament to the ama

Overview Additive Manufacturing (AM) represents one of our era's most significant technological advancements. Its genesis traces back to the 1980s when Dr. Hideo Kodama of Nagoya Municipal Industrial Research Institute published the concept of a rapid prototyping system, marking the conceptual birth of this transformative technology (Kodama, 1981). Charles Hull's invention of stereolithography in 1984 followed, making it possible to create 3D objects layer by layer from a digital file (Hull, 1986). The authors, first in-depth introduction to the technology was at General Electric. In 2016, GE acquired two AM companies for 1.4 billion to streamline and reduce product costs. Since then, the technology's various use cases have continued to expand. The applications of AM span a wide range of sectors due to its inherent benefits. AM is notable for its ability to produce complex geometries that are otherwise difficult or impossible to create using traditional manufacturing proces

KlariVis: Shaping the Future of Data Analytics in the Financial Industry Financial analytics company KlariVis has emerged as a disruptor in the banking community. Founded by Kim Snyder in February 2019, KlariVis addresses the longstanding data difficulties in the financial industry. As the CFO of a regional bank, Kim Snyder was bombarded with data from disparate sources. A sea of numbers and figures from various systems came pouring into her office, and her task was to transform this data into a meaningful, unified vision of her bank's overall performance. The process was tedious, time-consuming, and fraught with potential for error. She often wondered, "Why is it so difficult to access a single, integrated view of our financial position? Why are we not using technology more effectively to simplify this process?" From her perspective, it was clear that traditional banking systems and processes needed to align with financial executives' evolving needs in the digital a

Our public square has become a battleground of toxic divisiveness, where civil discourse is rapidly vanishing. Yet, amidst this alarming trend, a beacon of hope has emerged in the Roanoke Valley: The Roanoke Collaboration Project (RCP). The RCP is a group of civic-minded volunteers in Virginia's Blue Ridge Region who believe collaboration across diverse stakeholders is the key to making our communities more resilient in the years ahead. The mission is to promote collaboration and empower our communities to address the serious problems we face together. Civil discourse is a fundamental part of this mission. It means being respectful of the other person and their views. Everyone in a civil discourse is entitled to their own opinions and should be treated with respect and dignity. It's the foundation upon which constructive dialogue and understanding can be built. Here are some additional thoughts on civil discourse: It is essential for a healthy democracy. When people can engage

Embracing the Cloud As a passionate cloud computing enthusiast and a user of two of the three leading cloud providers, with deployment experience on the third, I have come to appreciate the multitude of benefits offered by this technology. The elimination of burdensome hardware management, the ease of software upgrades, and the freedom from concerns over heating, cooling, and physical security have made cloud computing an attractive choice for businesses and individuals alike. However, my recent experiences have led me to delve into some intriguing parallels between the rise and fall of mainframes and the present trajectory of cloud computing. I recently conducted an experiment using the free tiers offered by two of the big three cloud providers. I provisioned a small instance of a virtual environment running just OS basic functions—no workloads. Surprisingly, the cost exceeded the free tier benefit, even without running any workloads. While I understand that the free tier is primarily

 The Influential Role of Community Engagement in Technology Innovation  This article underscores the crucial role of community participation and investment in underpinning and preserving local innovation economies. It places a particular emphasis on initiatives such as GO Virginia, The Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council (RBTC), RAMP, and the Virginia Innovation Partnership Authority (VIPA). These organizations, through their facilitation of community engagement, financial resource mobilization, collaborative co-creation, and enactment of supportive policies, substantially reinforce the regional innovation economy, societal cohesion, and overall well-being. Integration of Specific Initiatives into the Local Innovation Economy RBTC plays a critical role in fostering a culture of support for innovation and entrepreneurship in the local community. Through its active role in promoting emerging technologies and educational initiatives, it helps cultivate an atmosphere conducive to risk-ta

Introduction   Human history is filled with transitions, disruptions, and transformations driven by technological advancements. The shift from horse and buggy to cars, gas lamps to electricity, slide rulers to calculators, pen and paper to word processors, and gas-powered vehicles to electric cars change how society functions. While these advancements often bring inarguable benefits, there is often a general reluctance to change. In this paper, we explore the reasons for such reluctance and offer strategies to facilitate smoother transitions. We also discuss the potential impacts of such changes. Resistance to Technological Change: An Evolutionary Perspective Technological advancements can increase efficiency and convenience. However, it has been repeatedly observed that individuals and societies resist these shifts. This resistance can be

I had the privilege of attending a great lecture on the Lost Appalachian Trail, with a special focus on the Meadows of Dan area. The lecture shed light on a forgotten piece of our hiking history. One standout feature was a National Geographic article from 1949! It offers a deep dive into the history of the trail, especially from page 233, which talks about the trail through the Meadows of Dan. If you're interested, you can find the article here:  https://www.atmuseum.org/.../1949_natioanl_geographic.pdf If this piques your curiosity, you should definitely check out "Virginia's Lost Appalachian Trail" by Mills Kelly. Mills, a history professor at George Mason University, is not only an accomplished historian and a lifelong hiker but also has personal roots in the region - he was born at the old Roanoke Memorial Hospital (now Carilion Clinic) and lived briefly in Franklin County. His book offers an in-depth look at a 300-mile section of the Appalachian Trail that most h

From the New York Times - https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/27/nyregion/avianca-airline-lawsuit-chatgpt.html This incident illustrates AI's potential and limitations in the legal field. While AI technologies like ChatGPT can be powerful tools for aiding in legal research or drafting tasks, it's crucial to remember that they are not infallible and must be used responsibly. ChatGPT, being a language model, generates responses based on patterns it learned from a large text dataset. However, it doesn't "know" anything in the traditional sense. It doesn't have access to a database of specific documents or cases, and it doesn't have the ability to verify the truth or validity of the information it generates. Hence, it's expected that it would not be able to correctly cite court decisions, as this requires access to a current and specific database of court cases, which it does not have. It appears that in this situation, the attorney relied on ChatGPT to provid

Federal Communications Commission  445 12th Street SW  Washington, D.C. 20554 May 27, 2023 Dear Commissioners, I hope this message finds you in good health. I am writing to express a serious concern on behalf of the residents of Roanoke and Lynchburg, Virginia, pertaining to the apparent lack of commitment by Verizon to upgrade its service to 5G in our region. The transformative potential of 5G technology is no secret. It is understood and eagerly anticipated by consumers and businesses alike. However, in our region, we are yet to experience the benefits of this technology due to the lack of implementation by Verizon, one of the leading telecom providers. While other areas are making strides toward a technologically advanced future, we find ourselves being left behind. This disparity in services, particularly in an era of such rapid technological progression, is disappointing and detrimental to our communities' social and economic development. Please allow me to remind the FCC that

Dr. William E. Amos Union Hall, Virginia 24276 weamos@vt.edu May 24, 2023 The Honorable Morgan Griffith 2202 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 Dear Representative Griffith, I am William Amos, a retired high-tech executive living in Union Hall, Virginia. Today, I am writing to express my deep concern about the ongoing budget debates in Congress. As a concerned citizen, I recognize the complexities surrounding this issue and appreciate the diligence you bring to our national deliberations. However, we need to shift our focus to a more structured dialog about spending and planning. The perpetual gridlock around budget negotiations is concerning. While most states, businesses, and individuals are required to maintain balanced budgets, the Federal Government operates under different rules. This disparity does not align with many Americans' fiscal responsibility expectations. A budget should be a tool for planning and compromise, a manifestation of strategic thinking that anticipates fut