Technology: Technologies Impact by 2030

According to the 2012 report, Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds, published the US National Intelligence Council, four technology arenas will shape global economic, social and military developments by 2030. They are information technologies, automation and manufacturing technologies, resource technologies, and health technologies.

Information technologies

Three technological developments with an IT focus have the power to change the way we will live, do business and protect ourselves before 2030.

1. Solutions for storage and processing large quantities of data, including "big data", will provide increased opportunities for governments and commercial organizations to "know" their customers better. The technology is here but customers may object to collection of so much data. In any event, these solutions will likely herald a coming economic boom in North America.

2. Social networking technologies help individual users to form online social networks with other users. They are becoming part of the fabric of online existence, as leading services integrate social functions into everything else an individual might do online. Social networks enable useful as well as dangerous communications across diverse user groups and geopolitical boundaries.

3. Smart cities are urban environments that leverage information technology-based solutions to maximize citizens' economic productivity and quality of life while minimizing resources consumption and environmental degradation.

Automation and manufacturing technologies

As manufacturing has gone global in the last two decades, a global ecosystem of manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics companies has formed. New manufacturing and automation technologies have the potential to change work patterns in both the developed and developing worlds.

1. Robotics is today in use in a range of civil and military applications. Over 1.2 million industrial robots are already in daily operations round the world and there are increasing applications for non-industrial robots. The US military has thousands of robots in battlefields, home robots vacuum homes and cut lawns, and hospital robots patrol corridors and distribute supplies. Their use will increase in the coming years, and with enhanced cognitive capabilities, robotics could be hugely disruptive to the current global supply chain system and the traditional job allocations along supply chains.

2. 3D printing (additive manufacturing) technologies allow a machine to build an object by adding one layer of material at a time. 3D printing is already in use to make models from plastics in sectors such as consumers products and the automobile and aerospace industries. By 2030, 3D printing could replace some conventional mass production, particularly for short production runs or where mass customization has high value.

3. Autonomous vehicles are mostly in use today in the military and for specific tasks e.g. in the mining industry. By 2030, autonomous vehicles could transform military operations, conflict resolution, transportation and geo-prospecting, while simultaneously presenting novel security risks that could be difficult to address. At the consumer level, Google has been testing for the past few years a driverless car.

Resource technologies

Technological advances will be required to accommodate increasing demand for resources owing to global population growth and economic advances in today's underdeveloped countries. Such advances can affect the food, water and energy nexus by improving agricultural productivity through a broad range of technologies including precision farming and genetically modified crops for food and fuel. New resource technologies can also enhance water management through desalination and irrigation efficiency; and increase the availability of energy through enhanced oil and gas extraction and alternative energy sources such as solar and wind power, and bio-fuels. Widespread communication technologies will make the potential effect of these technologies on the environment, climate and health well known to the increasingly educated populations.

Health technologies

Two sets of health technologies are highlighted below.

1. Disease management will become more effective, more personalized and less costly through such new enabling technologies as diagnostic and pathogen-detection devices. For example, molecular diagnostic devices will provide rapid means of testing for both genetic and pathogenic diseases during surgeries. Readily available genetic testing will hasten disease diagnosis and help physicians decide on the optimal treatment for each patient. Advances in regenerative medicine almost certainly will parallel these developments in diagnostic and treatment protocols. Replacement organs such as kidneys and livers could be developed by 2030. These new disease management technologies will increase the longevity and quality of life of the world's ageing populations.

2. Human augmentation technologies, ranging from implants and prosthetic and powered exoskeleton to brains enhancements, could allow civilian and military people to work more effectively, and in environments that were previously inaccessible. Elderly people may benefit from powered exoskeletons that assist wearers with simple walking and lifting activities, improving the health and quality of life for aging populations. Progress in human augmentation technologies will likely face moral and ethical challenges.

Conclusion

The US National Intelligence Council report asserts that "a shift in the technological center of gravity from West to East, which has already begun, almost certainly will continue as the flows of companies, ideas, entrepreneurs, and capital from the developed world to the developing markets increase". I am not convinced that this shift will "almost certainly" happen. While the East, in particular Asia, will likely see the majority of technological applications, the current innovations are taking place mainly in the West. And I don't think it is a sure bet that the center of gravity for technological innovation will shift to the East.

Technology: Trends For 2014

What can we expect about technology in the coming years? What are the IT technological trends? We should be informed about what companies are doing, what technologies they are investing in and how they are served by technology.

Some trends are not new, as the so-called Internet of Things and cloud computing, but others are very new, such as 3D printing and Software Defined Networking. All these technologies will impact heavily on IT in 2014. There will be about 30 billion connected devices with unique IP addresses in 2020, most of which will be products.

Four major forces: social, mobile, cloud and information, will continue to drive change, creating new opportunities and generating demand for advanced infrastructure.

Among the trends that will define the way of IT in the coming years first we have the WebRTC (Real Time Communication) technology, which enables real-time collaboration through the web. With this technology, any browser may include video, instant messaging, voice calls without the user having to install any additional components.

Moreover, user services based on context are changing the way people interact with devices, allowing you to store information about users, so that we have accurate information in a timely manner.

The Internet of things, and machine to machine (M2M) communications enable connections between people, processes, data and objects, combining video, mobility, cloud, big data and machine-to-machine communications (M2M). With the Internet of Things devices will be part of the material world, like roads, supermarkets, biomedical devices and even animals and people, through sensors, generating terabytes of data.

Another trend will be video technology in ultra-high definition ( 4k - 8k- 2160p and 4320p ), which form an essential part of smart phones, augmented reality glasses, tablets, and other devices equipped with a camera. Furthermore, analysis technology that allow real-time data process in seconds or minutes could be applied in areas such as Business Intelligence, ranging from financial analysis tools to different segments such as advertising or transportation, and building value data in real time.

Also, changes at interconnection technologies are required. Right now the system is not sufficiently robust to support the expected growth in connected devices. New proposals are being developed to replace the infrastructure based on IP protocol, to technology based on a Named Data Networking ( NDN ), which allow conveying information by using host names rather than addresses.

Another approach is the software defined technologies (SD-X, Software Defined Any), which go beyond virtualization network (SDN and NFV), in order to increase its scalability across physical and virtual resources. It should be noted that networks may also self-managed in terms of configuration, security, optimization and troubleshooting using technology or Autonomous Networks SON (Self -Organizing Networks).

About public, private and hybrid clouds, these will move to dynamic environments and multi-provider clouds. New technologies such Intercloud will enable cloud service providers across multiple environments.

Ultimately the key technology trends for 2014 are Mobile Devices Diversity Management and Applications and Mobile Apps, the All Software Defined technology, intelligent machines, 3D printing, the Internet of things, cloud and hybrid IT as a service corridor.

Regarding the Management of Mobile Devices, the unexpected result of programs "Bring Your Own Device" (BYOD) is that the size of the mobile workforce in enterprises will double or triple. It is expected that, by 2018, the variety of devices, computing styles, contexts and user interaction paradigms strategies will make "everything everywhere" should be checked. Companies will define policies that fit expectations clearly about what to do and what not, balancing flexibility with the requirements of confidentiality and privacy.

Moreover, given the improvement in the performance of JavaScript, the browser will become the main development environment for enterprise applications. The Apps will continue to grow, while applications begin to be reduced. The Apps are smaller and focused on a particular need, while the application is greater and complete. In the coming years, it is expected that mobile applications and cloud services merge to form the so-called Internet Application or App Internet applications. These apps will use the storage and processing power of computers, smart phones and tablets as well as the scalability of the cloud to allow applications to communicate with other applications and devices. Mobile applications and cloud platforms offer a smaller TCO (total cost of ownership).

Software Defined Software incorporates initiatives like OpenStack, OpenFlow, Open Compute Project and The Open Rack, which share a similar vision. SDN network technologies Providers, SDDC data centers, storage and infrastructure SDS SDI are all trying to maintain their leadership in their respective domains.

About Intelligent Machines, in 2020 the age of the smart machine will increase from smart personal assistants, advisors intelligent, advanced global industrial systems and public availability of the first examples of autonomous vehicles. Companies will invest in intelligent machines. These machines will enhance consumer forces against the first wave of early purchases by businesses.

It was expected that global sales of 3D printers increase 75 percent in 2014; sales will double in 2015. 3D printing is an efficient medium that will reduce costs in the prototypes.

Today, it is not only computers and mobile devices connected to networks. There is a variety of other devices such as cars, TVs. We are entering the digitalization time of the most important services and active ingredients. The Internet of Things will have a vital role in this period.

Referring to cloud computing, hybrid cloud and IT as a service provider represents technologies to work on. Personal and external private clouds are coming together, generating an increase in cloud services brokers (CSBs). It would be important the aggregation management, the integration and customization of services.

About Cloud Architecture, cloud computing models are changing. The demands of mobile users are driving an increase in computing server and storage capacity. Personal cloud will change from devices to services. Users can take advantage of various devices, including PCs, but not based on a specific device.

Finally, it should be noted that Business Intelligence has been ranked as one of the technologies where a major change is required. BI technology will create value in large enterprises; data mining and reporting tools will become more sophisticated. In a tough economy, business intelligence allows managers to justify business decisions with specific numbers.

We concluded that the Internet of Things, 3D printing, technologies associated with managing mobile devices and Cloud Service Brokers are some of the technological bets that eventually explode next year. They will have a high impact and spread to most of the organizations in the next three years.

Early adoption of technologies represents a competitive advantage for companies, so know the trends in the coming years, even though we live in a changing world, will help you make the best decisions and provide the best solutions that can highlight about our competitors.

Technology: 3D Printing

3D laser printing has entered the mainstream with everyone from students, to artists, to small businesses jumping on the 3D laser printing bandwagon. Though for many of us the technology is relatively new, 3D laser printing or "additive manufacturing", as it is also known, began in the 70s and 80s, with the efforts of scientists and grad students to find a way to more efficiently and economically manufacture goods on a small scale.

The core manufacturing processes - casting/molding, forming, joining and machining - have not been replaced by 3D printing, as one might speculate, but have simply been scaled down through the adaption of new techniques in manufacturing. New techniques for solid modeling have allowed researchers to translate 3-D geometries into mathematical terms, which in turn enabled them to become the instructions for equipment control systems.

As additive manufacturing has evolved, taking on new processes and advances in solid manufacturing, the technology has expanded to supporting rapid fabrication from digital models or templates and a range of geometries that surpasses the capabilities of other methods.

The lion's share of the additive manufacturing techniques that make up the foundations of the technology were invented and patented in the 80s. To better understand 3D laser printing today, let's review some of the components that led to creating it. To begin with, "additive manufacturing", simply put, is a process of making something three dimensional by literally layering materials upon each other following a digital design or template. What follows is a brief overview of some of the original 3D printing or additive manufacturing techniques and processes:

Stereolithography, sometimes called vat photopolymerization, is an additive manufacturing process that uses resins and lasers to build 3D objects. Selective laser sintering (SLS), also known as powder bed fusion, uses a computer-controlled laser (e.g., a sealed off CO2 laser) to selectively "sinter," or fuse, cross-sections of powder into a solid. Sheet lamination, also known as laminated object manufacturing, is the process of cutting a thin sheet of paper, plastic or metal into a desired shape with a laser, repeating this and bonding each layer upon the previous one. Material extrusion works by pushing liquid plastic or metal out through a nozzle, following a path on a digital map. 3-D printing, also known as binder jetting, involves repeatedly laying down layers of powder and then squirting liquid binder on the areas to be solidified to construct 3-D objects.

There a number of companies providing SLM technology, such as Coherent, because of SLM's ability to enable highly accurate, smooth, and consistent components with a wide range of materials., which has led to their utilization by a variety of industries, such as, automotive design, heavy equipment, aerospace, defense, medical, electronics and consumer products and government research.

In a recent article of Phys.org, Steve McKnight, director of the NSF Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation, was quoted as saying, "To realize the full promise of additive manufacturing, researchers will need to discover new ways to increase speed, lower costs, improve consistency and develop and qualify novel materials for all kinds of applications. It will take the ingenuity of engineers, students and makers."

Internet: Analysis of Web Browsers

You may wonder at times, especially if you are new to the internet, which is the right web browser for you. There are at least three options to choose from and this can sometimes make it difficult to know the benefits of each one and the differences between them. Chrome, Firefox and Internet Explorer are the most popular of the web browsers used by many people online. All three of these have both disadvantages and advantages, and some are more popular than others. The choice was much clearer in the beginning than it is today because people already knew the browser which was superior to the rest. The playing field has leveled today leaving many to wonder which browser would best perform for their work. The following is a breakdown of the three most popular web browsers to give you a better glimpse into the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Chrome 
Chrome is increasing very quickly in popularity with users of the internet. It was designed by Google, is very easy to use and has an interface that is consumer friendly. Similar to Firefox, Chrome has a fast and huge support of HTML5, and as a result allows web pages to load quicker and without design flaws. In addition, Chrome offers an app store, which incorporates web apps and local apps making this browser very customizable for most users. Probably the biggest difference with Chrome is the relation that it has with Google. There are a number of web apps Google has like Drive, G-mail, etc. People who use these and others of Google's web apps, find that using them with Chrome is much more seamless.

Firefox 
Designed by Mozilla, Firefox has for a long time been a well-loved favorite with computer experts. Due to recent design changes, Firefox is starting to become appreciated more by consumers as well. Firefox is constantly enhancing its design. Different from Internet Explorer, the URL address bar is below the tab bar making for a less-cluttered feel. Out of the three browsers mentioned here, Firefox is known as one of the fastest, and functions exceptionally with HTML5 support. Firefox security is also very strong, plus there are lots of add-ons making for a more customizable experience for the internet user. Even though most web browsers offer a few add-ons, Firefox can offer more of a variety and functionality.

Internet Explorer 
At one time, Internet Explorer was the only go-to web browser for most people. Microsoft designed, a lot of people hailed Internet Explorer as the superior web browser. The times have changed and now, Internet Explorer has the worst reputation out of the three mentioned here. To begin with, it is cumbersome to use, the tabs go alongside the URL box and stack side by side. When there are multiple windows open, this makes the screen feel cluttered when compared with the design of the other web browsers. In addition, the functionality is not good and it constantly ranks slower than both Chrome and Firefox. Even though strides are being made with Internet Explorer's latest version to incorporate better HTML5 functionality, it is still way behind its competitors. Making it appealing to a few people are the few unique features such as the privacy tools that are enabled by default, and something called tab-pinning, that allows you to pin certain websites to the toolbar you visit the most.

Overall, there are similarities in all three web browsers. Chrome and Firefox continue to battle it out for first place for speed, web apps, add-ons and HTML5 support, while even though Internet Explorer has fallen way behind in functionality for its users, it is slowly catching up.

Since 1995, Florida based web development firm, DiscoverTec has specialized in web design and web development as well as DiscoverTec Internet Marketing for medium to large-sized companies. Contact us today to find out more about our services and capabilities.

Internet: Myths of IT Security

In the world of Information Security myths exist that influence senior executives, business managers and sometimes the same industry professionals, causing misunderstandings and exaggerations about the threats to computer systems and technologies used to combat them.

Many of these myths exist because people tend to overreact and emotional in unfamiliar situations, rather than make an objective analysis.

The result is overstate the problem by relying on the first solution that is proposed or worse underestimate the risks, thinking thus to avoid additional charges.

Myth #1 - It will not happen to me

Believing that your company will never be subject to security problems. Many times this statement is said by someone who does not want to spend (or rather, invest), hoping that the risk does not materialize. Instead it is good that when a problem is recognized, or even suggested, there is a phase of risk analysis and, if appropriate are given the resources necessary to mitigate or resolve completely.

Other times the opposite happens: you go too far in assessing the impact of the vulnerability. The best thing is to use a framework of metrics to give an objective value to the risk of vulnerability.

Myth #2 - All risks can be quantified

In companies there is the misconception that everything can have a number attached to it. There is the illusion that the security manager's manager can get the budget they need only if justified by an Excel spreadsheet. We must instead help the upper echelons to understand what can and can not be quantified, and obtain the necessary budget to implement a strong architecture based security checks.

Myth #3 - We have physical security or SSL so your data is safe

More simply: If we have anti-virus and firewall, we're safe! This is not true. Often this conception is inculcated by outside vendors who try to sell their products and link all their peculiarities. buying products and appliances, will not make you magically safe! And even in the event that the product is "good" we want to ensure that it is properly configured and works to its full potential?

In fact, safety will be developed as architecture starting from the risk assessment, taking into account what you're protecting, so as to implement the correct controls. This allows you to not be distracted by non-essential elements to security.

Myth #4 - Use strong passwords reduces the risks

It is not true. The passwords are not effective, and the whole scheme has huge gaps. It 's just an obsolete historical precedent in which business can cling.

Passwords are not sufficient, since cracking is not the only way to jump the firewall. there is also sniffing and the reuse of credentials between systems with different levels of security. Finding a valid alternative to passwords is difficult, and not always authenticate to two or more factors can be easily implemented. Meanwhile, companies can advise employees not to use passwords to work, and perform periodic checks on the strength of passwords.

Myth #5 - Buy one device security, will solve all the problems

We have just been informed of a new product, that solves the 95% of problems, easy to install and costs as one of many server that we have in the company. Maybe As we have said before, we stop to buy software and "iron" hoping that magically solve our problems. Without serious analysis and auditing work of those who are the real problems to which our business is exposed spend money unnecessarily increasing the complexity of our infrastructure. This myth is a common understanding of the problem and wrong "security" as a whole.

Relying on myths is wrong. That is why there EasyAudit, a professional tool and an inexpensive way to get a second opinion on information security of your business!

Computer Technology: Wireless Headphones

Wireless Headphones are increasingly becoming popular, since they are much more hassle free to use, with no wires that constantly get tangled up and damaged over time. With advances in technology such as Kleer and Bluetooth, the audibility of most Wireless Headphones is increasing, and there is no reason to buy one for your use. Some things you should be aware to help you choose Wireless Headphones are as follows:

Choose the best Wireless Headphones for purpose you want for them

Wireless Headphones are generally divided into two types; the ones designed for the music listener who prefers to use them while on the move which generally use Bluetooth technology and the infrared based headphones that are designed for watching television or playing games while relaxing at home. The Bluetooth types are the best if you are a commuter or a sports enthusiast who wishes to use headphones that do not have annoying cords, but the audio quality is lower than the infrared types which are bulkier as well as having a transmitter that gets its power from an outlet on the wall.

The best choice will also depend on the type of music you want to listen to

Wireless Headphones also come in three designs; the small ear buds, ear pad headphones and the full size headphones. If it is important to listen to the best quality of music or sound on your wireless headphones, and convenience is not a problem, then the full size headphones are the best choice for you. However, if comfort while moving is the reason you want wireless headphones, then the ear buds are great. The ear pad headphones are somewhere in the middle in size between the first two, and they are the most comfortable of all. However, the sound quality is some way of when compared to the full size headphones. Learn more visit: Wireless Headphones Review

The cost varies with different sizes of headphones

The Bluetooth powered headphones are relatively affordable, when compared with the infra-red powered headphones. In terms of design, the full size headphones are the most expensive, while the small ear buds are the cheapest. Choose a type that fits well with the budget you have set. If you have some cash to spend, then the wireless headphones powered by Kleer technology is a great choice. This is powered by Wi-Fi which has the ability to move through walls! This can be used even as you move across rooms at home, and even outdoors without any drop in sound levels and quality. The Kleer powered headphones are available online and at many electrical shops, but since they haven't become too common yet, the price is very prohibitive. In addition, the wireless types of headphones can consume more money if you get a battery charged pair, while sometimes they can also interfere with the network of cordless and mobile phones.

Summary:

Visit a store that has audio equipment, and try out a couple of headphones and do some window shopping. Alternatively, you can go online, where there is likely to be much more variety, and look for a shop that does not have restocking fees and also has a good return back policy. Wireless Headphones are awesome in terms of comfort, convenience and the ease of movement they provide, but that is where the similarities end. They vary widely in terms of cost, best usage as well as sound quality. Make sure you do enough research and invest in a pair that best suits your needs and budget.

Cyber Security - A Top Priority Issue

History of Internet Security

Computers have become ubiquitous and indispensable today. The traditional system of documenting things on paper is being rapidly replaced by computers. The growing dependency on computers, especially since the advent of the Internet, has also made the integrity, confidentiality and availability of information and resources vulnerable.

Internet Security Measures

Here's an overview of the most important security measures and technologies widely implemented over the Internet. Implementing one or more of these methods will go a long way in securing your data online.

Routers with Encryption Facility

Using routers with in-built encryption technology can secure your wireless Internet connection and prevent snooping by external sources.

firewall:

Firewall is a software or hardware-based network security system that controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic by analyzing the data packets and determining whether they should be allowed through or not, based on applied rule set.

Using Antivirus Software

Using Antivirus Software: Computers may be affected by viruses, trojans, worms etc. due to some infected files downloaded from the Internet. These viruses are nothing but programs that install themselves and operate whenever the host programs run, causing malicious attacks.

Password Usage:

Passwords are used to prevent illegal access to networks to secure the entire system as a whole. Construction of passwords should be in a way that the other people do not easily guess it. Alphanumeric passwords with symbols used in between can be harder to crack.

antivirus

antivirus is protective software designed to defend your computer against malicious software. Malicious software, or "malware" includes: viruses, Trojans, keyloggers, hijackers, dialers, and other code that vandalizes or steals your computer contents. In order to be an effective defense, your antivirus software needs to run in the background at all times, and should be kept updated so it recognizes new versions of malicious software.Phishing is a type of Internet fraud that seeks to acquire a user's credentials by deception. It includes theft of passwords, credit card numbers, bank account details and other confidential information.

Phishing

Phishing messages usually take the form of fake notifications from banks, providers, e-pay systems and other organizations. The notification will try to encourage a recipient, for one reason or another, to urgently enter/update their personal data. Such excuses usually relate to loss of data, system breakdown, etc.

Preventing Spyware:

Several software programs pose a threat to Internet security. The software that runs along with other applications, without the permission of a user, gathering information and sending it to hackers through the internet, is known as spyware. Another software called ad-ware works similar to spyware. In addition, it pops up advertisements during Internet access and increases the CPU cycles, slowing down the computer. Antivirus software, with inbuilt antispyware or adware removal functionality, can be of great help in preventing such intrusions.