Future – Proofing: Technology, Society, Business
The following is a guest post by Ari Lightman, Distinguished Service Professor, Digital Media and Marketing at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College. He co-leads the Chief Information Security Officer Executive Education and Certification Program and is Commercialization Advisor for the Center for Machine Learning and Health. Ari is also Director of the CIO Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. He teaches classes focused on assessing and measuring the impact of emerging technologies, including Digital Transformation. A considerable amount of time is spent thinking about the future and the promise of technology. How will our lives change (for the better or the worse) as a result of the constant push of innovative applications, gadgets and systems? Movies, like Terminator, Minority Report, and, one of my personal favorites, Blade Runner, provide a hypothesized glimpse. Often times, they focus on a dystopian world overrun by technology creating a divide between those who benefit and those subservient. It makes for good movie watching. Personally, I don’t have a clue whether there is any truth in some of these portrayals, but I know everyone needs to prepare for digital disruption. At the most basic level, we need to have a greater understanding of the underlying technology that will fuel these advances and the services required to move them into the mainstream. Dell Technologies’ recent report along with the Institute For the Future (IFTF) called “The next era of human machine partnerships” asked leading experts to share their thoughts on the implications for some emerging technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, as well as Virtual and Augmented Reality. Not only does the report explain these nascent technologies but provides concrete examples of their application.The report goes a step further in assessing the impact of technology advances on consumers, organizations and society addressing questions we all should be thinking about: How will we interface with these emerging technologies? What are potential hurdles that need to be addressed? In the future, where human and machine interaction is seamless, does everyone benefit or are parts of society left behind? These secondary and tertiary impacts of an increasingly digitized world need to be examined and developed along with input not just from consumers and technologists but also from economists, regulators, ethicists, etc.In my role as educator at Carnegie Mellon University, I often get an opportunity to listen to futurists and visionaries share their thoughts on how we will live and work in the future. Discussion of the singularity, when robotic systems become sentient and trigger an unprecedented level of technology advances, is fascinating. The question is, what do organizations need to do today? When I look around the audience at these talks and get a chance to speak with participants, their enthusiasm often gives way to confusion and disillusionment when they try to reconcile where they currently are in this idealized future portrayed by the speaker. I can sympathize. When students and sponsors ask me for predictions, I tell them “I don’t even know what I will have for lunch today,” let alone how advances like VR will alter how information is consumed in 2030. The one thing I do feel strongly about is “Disruption is coming.” (Shout out to Game of Thrones fans). I know I am not alone here. Dell EMC’s chief technology officer, John Roese, offers an interesting perspective in Luminaries – Store your data… in DNA?If we agree that these technologies will play an increasingly important and critical role in our personal and work lives, how can we take a pragmatic view on logical and reasonable steps to incrementally work toward this future without being blindsided by disruptive forces? Let’s call this practice future proofing….The first step is to develop resiliency. – Remember the old saying “You have to get back on the horse that threw you”. Shocks will occur and they will become more frequent, so how do organizations adapt and learn how to minimize these disruptive shocks – become more resilient? Those who are complacent will become disenfranchised. The organizations my institution has worked with, and who we consider ahead of the curve, have put some of the following into place:Build a Culture around DataAt Carnegie Mellon University, courses in Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and other ways to interpret data have exploded and will continue to grow in popularity. Incidentally, CMU’s Libratus, an AI that beat the world’s best poker players, is one example in the above mentioned report. From an organization perspective, how do we operationalize data-driven discoveries; what are the appropriate governance structures; how do we prepare (understand, predict and organize) around new regulations concerning privacy (e.g. GDPR), how do we incorporate security (proactive and reactive) into the beginning of any development effort (not simply as a bolt on); how do we provide appropriate levels of education on different data types, stores, analytical methods and interpretation? John Roese provides a viewpoint on the role of technology regulation in a recent podcast. Simplify ComplexityUnfortunately the world is becoming a more complex place. With increasing levels of data, different means of communicating, learning and working, a plethora of policies, procedures, and organizational types, thinking about all the different facets around new initiatives becomes quite dizzying. Let’s look at data. There is an explosion of data, coming from a multitude of different sources in a variety of forms resulting in a slew of possible interpretations. How do we explain this to various stakeholders with different objectives and levels of expertise? Hint: Learn how to tell effective stories. At Carnegie Mellon University, there are a number of programs and classes examining how to understand information generation, dissemination and cognition from data-driven communication.Build a Safe Place for ExperimentationIf disruptive shocks and complexity are increasing and the pace of technological innovations is accelerating; organizations will need to learn how to experiment. Too many unknowns leading to indecisiveness can be addressed through experimentation. However, many organizations don’t have the capacity or wherewithal to allow, understand and use experimentation. VMware’s CTO, Ray O’Farrell, offers thoughts on nurturing a culture of innovation and trust.Embrace Uncomfortable DiscussionsThere is no covering up that disruption will lead to displacement. An open dialogue on how technological advance will impact industries, companies and employees needs to occur to level set expectations and prepare the workforce.Understanding EmployeesWe spend an inordinate amount of time and money on understanding consumers and little on our own employees. Effective use of technology is predicated on understand motivation and incentives, utilization requirements, and adoption patterns. We are approaching the most inter-generational workforce ever, resulting in different behavior patterns, learning modalities and preferred ways of working. Knowing your employees can help with smoother technical adoption, understanding of consumer behavior and the four other initiatives mentioned.These are simply a subset of processes at a high level that, I believe, need to be addressed to make an organization more resilient. I’m sure there are plenty of others and it would be interesting to start a dialogue on what organizations are doing or thinking about, is it industry specific or is there commonality across different industries and how might we develop best practices that can serve as a guide to build help organizations become future-proof.Related content you might find interesting:Store your data… in DNA?Of risk and trust… in ITHello Alice! Scale your business… with AIRealizing 2030
CHICAGO – More than 10,000 people filled a massive hall at Chicago’s McCormick Place to see if their Commander-in-Chief could back up his famed rallying cry: “Yes We Can.” After spending a long evening with eyes trained on massive projection screens airing media commentary, the crowd breathed a sigh of relief around 10:15 p.m. when it was clear: Yes, he did. Three members of The Observer’s staff were among the many gathered in the press area throughout the day. Here’s our experience, minute by minute: 2:37 p.m.: We check in with Obama for America’s media coordinators at the McCormick Place Hyatt and receive press passes. 2:53 p.m.: Upon arriving at the entrance to the south lot of Soldier Field, we are ushered through the first security checkpoint. Our car is searched by two Secret Service agents and a bomb-sniffing dog. 3:03 p.m.: We reach the second security checkpoint where we are again searched by agents and a detection dog, this time focusing on our equipment. After being ushered through metal detectors, we are directed to the press work stations. 3:38 p.m.: After shopping around for an ideal spot, we settle onto the main floor press area near reporters from Polish and Dutch outlets. A Polish reporter laments the waiting game he’s been trudging through since his early arrival on the grounds. 4:40 p.m.: The first sound check begins: a reading of Dr. Seuss’s “Green Eggs and Ham.” 6:17 p.m.: The media floor awakens from an extended lull as Ill. Sen. Dick Durbin passes through press area. 7:16 p.m.: Music starts up on the main stage. Playlist: Bruce Springsteen, Florence + the Machine, Zac Brown Band, Al Green, Arcade Fire. 7:20 p.m.: Ticket-bearing members of the public begin filing into the hall, visibly excited. 7:30 p.m.: Actresses Angela Bassett and Alfre Woodard enter through “special guests” gate, surrounded by enthused Obama supporters. 8:04 p.m.: Video montage begins, highlighting Obama’s previous campaign and first term. The video is YouTube themed, showing clips of major speeches, rallies and media appearances. Scenes range from light-hearted, family moments to the coverage of bin Laden’s death and the conclusion of the Iraq War. 8:31 p.m.: A second video featuring Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama begins. This short focuses on social issues, referencing unions, immigrants and the LGBT community, before concluding on the economy. One clip includes a quote from Biden, “If the 47 percent doesn’t make it, the country doesn’t make it.” 9:00 p.m.: Third video montage begins with footage of the First Lady in which she discusses the need to stay with the administration’s forward momentum. “Are we going to turn around and enact the same policies that got us into this mess in the first place?” “I’m going to need your help finishing what we started,” her husband said in another clip. “I believe in you, and I need you to keep believing in me.” 9:14 p.m.: Video beings with Biden referencing Romney’s touted flub about “binders full of women,” before segueing into dialogue about women’s issues. Footage presents Obama joking about Romney’s alleged flip-flopping on issues, popularly dubbed “Romnesia.” “Here’s the good news – Obamacare covers preexisting conditions.” 9:35 p.m.: Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie of the African Methodist Episcopal Church offers an invocation. “We praise you that you have uplifted a leader of character and confidence,” she said. 9:40 p.m.: Singer Ledisi provides a rendition of the National Anthem. 10:15 p.m.: MSNBC projects Obama to win reelection. The crowd erupts. 10:20 p.m.: CNN issues concurring projection as celebrations continue. Spectators break into dance as “Twist and Shout” booms through the hall. 11:55 p.m.: The crowd cheers and jeers as Obama’s opposition, Gov. Mitt Romney, comes onto the projection screens to give his concession speech. “I have just called President Obama to congratulate him on his victory,” he said, before thanking his running mate Paul Ryan, wife Ann, sons, campaign team and donors. “I don’t believe there’s ever been an effort in our party that can compare with what you’ve done … This election is over, but our principles endure.” 12:09 a.m.: The crowd cheers in unison with footage of 2008 rally, “Fired up, ready to go,” as the newly-reelected President prepares to take the stage. 12:38 a.m.: The First Family arrives on stage to the loudest cheering of the night thus far. 12:40 a.m.: The President, smiling widely, offers an address focused on bipartisan progress. “I believe we can seize this future together, because we are not as divided as our politics suggest,” he said. “We’re not as cynical as the pundits believe. We are greater than the sum of our individual ambitions and we remain more than a collection of red states and blue states. We are, and forever will be, the United States of America.”
Poultry immunologist Rami Dalloul has been named the R. Harold Harrison Distinguished Professor in Poultry Science at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).The R. Harold Harrison Distinguished Professorship was established through the generosity of the Luther and Susie Harrison Foundation to strengthen the CAES Department of Poultry Science. Dalloul is the first faculty member to hold the newly established professorship.Dalloul joins the UGA poultry science department August 1, and comes from Virginia Tech, where his research focused on investigating gastrointestinal pathogens of poultry and the molecular mechanisms of enhancing the immune response of birds through diet and environment. “For decades, Georgia has been the poultry capital of the world. Today, we aim to make Athens the epicenter of poultry science, and we are greatly appreciative of the Luther and Susie Harrison Foundation for helping that become a reality,” said Todd Applegate, head of the CAES Department of Poultry Science. “Dr. Dalloul will move us forward toward that vision, as he has a rich history of building cross-functional teams of key poultry scientists from across the nation.”Dalloul plans to continue his line of research targeting costly pathogens and diseases that are critical to protecting Georgia’s poultry sector — the state’s largest agricultural commodity by value.“Particularly, I will focus on the major issues pertaining to the state industry and stakeholders including parasitic and bacterial diseases, whether persistent or seasonal,” Dalloul said.Dalloul also aims to promote basic understanding of the poultry immune system by generating resources that are critical to delineating key host-microbe interactions.“Along with the vast poultry science expertise at UGA, I will integrate additional discovery and application areas to enhance the interdisciplinary poultry program that serves this important animal sector across the state,” he said. “Collectively, such an integrated approach aims to better design prevention and treatment strategies in the field, and train the next generation of poultry scientists and producers.” A hands-on teacher and mentor, Dalloul works closely with both graduate and undergraduate students to tailor individual training methods. He intends to extend this approach at UGA for student instruction and training to promote poultry science even further within the poultry community.To learn more about UGA poultry science, visit poultry.caes.uga.edu.
Enter to win a climbing adventure package from Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center!One lucky winner will receive:– Two passes for either the Via Ferrata Guided Climbing Adventure or the North Fork Valley Canopy Tour– Two nights free lodging in one of the hotel-style guest rooms at the Nelson Rocks Welcome Center– A gift basket from Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center, including two NROC t-shirts, two NROC water bottles and other assorted goodiesDON’T FORGET TO ENTER ALL OUR OTHER GREAT GIVEAWAYS!Rules and Regulations: Package must be redeemed within 1 year of winning date. Entries must be received by mail or through the www.blueridgeoutdoors.com contest sign-up page by 12:00 noon EST on September 15th, 2013. One entry per person. One winner per household. Sweepstakes open only to legal residents of the 48 contiguous United States and the District of Columbia, who are 18 years of age or older. Void wherever prohibited by law. Families and employees of Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and participating sponsors are not eligible. No liability is assumed for lost, late, incomplete, inaccurate, non-delivered or misdirected mail, or misdirected e-mail, garbled, mistranscribed, faulty or incomplete telephone transmissions, for technical hardware or software failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connection, or failed, incomplete or delayed computer transmission or any human error which may occur in the receipt of processing of the entries in this Sweepstakes. By entering the sweepstakes, entrants agree that Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and Nelson Rocks Outdoor Center reserve the right to contact entrants multiple times with special information and offers. Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine reserves the right, at their sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel, terminate, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes. Winners agree that Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine and participating sponsors, their subsidiaries, affiliates, agents and promotion agencies shall not be liable for injuries or losses of any kind resulting from acceptance of or use of prizes. No substitutions or redemption of cash, or transfer of prize permitted. Any taxes associated with winning any of the prizes detailed below will be paid by the winner. Winners agree to allow sponsors to use their name and pictures for purposes of promotion. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value. All Federal, State and local laws and regulations apply. Selection of winner will be chosen at random at the Blue Ridge Outdoors office on or before September 30th, 6:00 PM EST 2013. Winners will be contacted by the information they provided in the contest sign-up field and have 7 days to claim their prize before another winner will be picked. Odds of winning will be determined by the total number of eligible entries received. 
This giveaway is OVER! Thanks to all who entered and good luck.To learn more about outdoor adventure travel in WV, visit www.wvtourism.com!
Sign up for our COVID-19 newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest coronavirus news throughout New York A 49-year-old man was killed when he crashed his car in his hometown of Patchogue on Sunday night.Suffolk County police said Kelly Charles was driving a Nissan Altima southbound on Waverly Avenue when his vehicle veered off the road and hit a tree near West 2nd Street at 10:18 p.m.Charles was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, where he was pronounced dead.Fifth Squad detectives impounded the car, are continuing the investigation and ask anyone with information about the crash to contact them at 631-854-8552.
by: Steve TobakWith job security a thing of the past and the notion of spending decades climbing the corporate ladder a decidedly unattractive proposition, entrepreneurship has become the career mantra of the masses. But being your own boss and owning a business, even as a solopreneur, is far from the panacea it’s been made out to be.Lurching headfirst into the startup realm without the right expertise, skill set and network could be a huge mistake, as many are surely finding out. Slugging it out with everyone else as a blogger, content marketer, web developer or a coach of some sort is no way to achieve career nirvana.There’s certainly nothing wrong with dreaming of becoming the next wunderkind like Mark Zuckerberg or Evan Spiegel, but the truth is, that’s not how the vast majority of today’s business leaders got where they are. Instead, they spent years grooming themselves and building their own careers before striking out on their own.Twitter chief executive Dick Costolo worked in improvisational comedy after college. Don’t laugh, thinking on your feet and a good sense of humor are both critical leaderships skills. He then spent eight years at Andersen Consulting before co-founding his first company. continue reading » 4SHARESShareShareSharePrintMailGooglePinterestDiggRedditStumbleuponDeliciousBufferTumblr
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Pensions and Investment Research Consultants (PIRC) believes that a growing number of companies are at risk of paying out an illegal dividend to shareholders if they fail to apply the requirements of the UK Companies Act 2006 correctly.The claim comes after it emerged in December that Domino’s Pizza had paid out almost £85m in illegal distributions, including a payment to the company’s employee benefits trust. The distributions spanned a period of 17 years.Tim Bush, head of governance and financial analysis at PIRC, told IPE: “If a company subsidiary that supplies a large part of the group dividend sits below one with a pension fund deficit, then that dividend may well be trapped, as the pension fund has first claim on those profits.”He added that PIRC – which has been locked in a long-running battle with the UK’s Financial Reporting Council (FRC) over the law regarding distributions – welcomed the analysis of the issue provided by Domino’s legal advisers, Norton Rose. Bush said: “It is also good to see that where there is a problem the lawyers are explaining the issue regarding the accounts clearly. There has been no need to dispute the lawyers on that. Their analysis is entirely consistent with the position of Mr Bompas QC.”Alongside failures to apply the law on distributions correctly, both PIRC and other pensions advisers have warned over the past year that companies could face a dividend crunch through burgeoning pension deficits.Together with the issue of a simple lack of profits to distribute, companies might also find that a poorly structured pension fund leaves them with cash trapped within the group structure.A trio of top City lawyers told IPE last year that the question of dividend payments was a minefield.Meanwhile, a fresh skirmish has broken out between PIRC and the FRC regarding whether or not there is a specific duty for companies to report their compliance with section 172 of the Companies Act 2006.Section 172 requires company directors to act in the best interests of the success of their company. It says a director must “act in the way he considers, in good faith, would be most likely to promote the success of the company for the benefit of its members as a whole.”The FRC told IPE in a statement that it needs additional powers to police compliance.In evidence to the UK parliament, the watchdog’s chief executive Stephen Haddrill said a change in the law would reinvigorate section 172.Elsewhere, the European Financial Reporting Advisory Group (EFRAG) has issued a call for pensions professionals to staff a working party on accounting for so-called hybrid pension plans.PensionsEurope told IPE it was keen to take part in the project and urged EFRAG to ensure that the process was transparent.“We hope that EFRAG will accept candidates that represent PensionsEurope’s members in the Advisory Panel,” a spokesperson said.Applications are open until 20 February.
Laney Elva Benning, 82, of Lawrenceburg, Indiana, passed away Monday, August 8, 2016.She was born on August 21, 1933 in Rock Creek, Kentucky, daughter of the late Albert Litton and Tressie Hamlin Litton.Laney worked as a Computer Operator for Clopay, retiring after over 30 years of service.Surviving are her husband of 35 years, Billy Benning of Lawrenceburg, Indiana; sisters, Freda McMillion of Milford,OH, Barbara Weathers of Franklin, Indiana, Connie Parker of Armathwaite, TN. as well as many nieces and nephews.She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Seva Myers, Opal Ray, Oda Humfleet and brothers Arlas and RJ Litton.Friends will be received Thursday, August 11, 2016 from 5:00-8:00 pm at the Rullman Hunger Funeral Home, Aurora, Indiana.Services will be held at the Funeral Home on Friday at 11:00 am with Michael Weathers officiating.Interment will follow in the River View Cemetery, Aurora, Indiana 47001.Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. If you are unable to attend services please call the funeral home office at (812) 926-1450 and we will notify the family of your donation with a card.Visit: www.rullmans.com
GARDEN CITY, Kan. – Five March races get the Dirt Track Central Jax Sports Grille Great Plains Series for IMCA Sunoco Stock Cars off to a very fast start. New title sponsor Jax Sports Grille of Garden City, Kan., provides a portion of the series point fund. The champion earns bonus points applicable toward national and regional point standings.Ten dates comprise the 2014 tour schedule, starting with $500 to win features March 21 and 22 during Spring Nationals at Beatrice Speedway.The remaining eight features each pay $750 to win. Those events are March 28 and 29 during the Sunflower Classic at RPM Speedway; March 30 during WaKeeney Spedway’s Spring Fling; April 18 at Dirtona Raceway; April 19 at Dodge City Raceway Park; May 26 at WaKeeney; Aug. 3 at Dawson County Raceway; and Sept. 19 at Thunder Hill Speedway.Point fund checks will be presented during the national awards banquet or mailed beginning the following week from the IMCA home office.Owned by veteran driver Rodney Wadel, Jax opened in 2006 and boasts a menu with steak and burger favorites. Jax also hosts receptions, has an outdoor venue for entertainment and does catering. More information is available on Facebook. Wadel plans to race at three series events this season. Justin Temeyer and Perry Misner will follow the entire tour in Jax cars. “The partnership with Jax fell into place in 2014 and makes great sense for our Stock Car drivers in the region and beyond,” IMCA Marketing Director Kevin Yoder said. “Jax Sports Grille is a great place to spend time with friends away from the track and we hope the Great Plains Series has the same attraction for racers at the track.” Based on forecasted temperatures, Saturday hot laps at Beatrice have been moved to 3:30 p.m. with racing at 4 p.m.