Perspectives

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