technology

5 Extraordinary Medical Breakthroughs That Are Making A Huge Difference In The World

Angela Manning Tech , ,
5 Extraordinary Medical Breakthroughs That Are Making A Huge Difference In The World

How much has changed since just a couple of years ago? From cell phones that became smartphones, from shopping in store to shopping online, and even getting it delivered to your home, a lot has changed and these changes have made life easier.

Technology has also assisted healthcare dramatically by advancements in medicine and in medical machines such as the EKG machine. Clinics, hospitals, and healthcare professionals now completely rely on these advancements. In turn, this causes medical businesses, such as medical and surgical supply stores to become extremely vital. One of these useful surgical supply stores is www.usamedicalsurgical.com. Having these machines and devices are significant medical breakthroughs. This article will introduce to you 5 extraordinary medical breakthroughs that are making a huge difference in the world.

3D-Printers And Body Parts

Now you may be thinking, what does a 3D printer have to do with body parts? 3D printers are an exciting new innovation for the medical field. They are now used to replicate body parts in order for patients to use them as if they had a real hand or leg in place of their missing limb. The 3D printer creates the item desired with layers of materials such as clay, concrete, metal, or even plastic. When the object is interpreted and created by the 3D printer, it can be positioned through an iPad app. A computer chip syncs the joints while a Bluetooth device coordinates the movement making it feel as real as possible for them. This is a very notable and significant medical breakthrough. Interestingly enough, this is not the only thing it can create or do. More uses are shown below:

-Automotive advances and innovations

-Aids in creating jewelry for fashion

-Educational use for printing models and globes

-Aids aerospace manufacturers in printing parts

Genome Project

The Genome Project is a project that was completed on April 14, 2003, where scientists claimed to have come up with a draft of all the genes that make up our DNA. Why is this so important and how is this a medical breakthrough? This is a medical breakthrough because gene sequencing has helped medical professionals, researchers, and examiners identify one gene that can be a cause of diseases. It also helps medical professionals, scientists, and researchers understand the human body much better as well as support them in creating better treatments.

Medical Lasers

Medical lasers were invented in the 1900s and were created to do different things. Some of which are, hair removal, getting rid of cancerous tissue, breaking stones in the body like kidney stones, and more. Medical lasers are also a significant medical breakthrough. They can perform surgeries with minimal discomfort to the patient. Lasers also cause minimal bleeding. This is one of the modern innovations, similar to the 3D printers, that is widely utilized.

Cancer Therapies

Unfortunately, the illness of cancer has been on the rise and is affecting many, from young to old. Luckily, there are scientists and researchers working day and night to find treatments and solutions for this horrible illness. With hard work, scientists and researchers have now created something called cancer therapies. Cancer therapies involve a medication that works on a cancer patient in one of two ways: they intervene with the cancer cells to stop them from spreading, or they eliminate and slowly kill the cancer cells after they identify them. This is an amazing medical breakthrough that we need at this time with the continued rise of cancer patients.

Artificial Heart Transplant

The first artificial heart was placed in a patient in the 1980s and he lived for 112 days. This was seen as a success and surgeons used 236 artificial hearts in patients who needed them after that. Since it is artificial, and that means it does not and will not last long, doctors now implant artificial hearts for patients who need them for a waiting period until the real hearts are donated to the patients with artificial hearts. The future of healthcare is now in the hands of modern technology, innovations, and creations.

Can We Really Trust Technology to Improve Our Lives?

Angela Manning Tech , , ,
Can We Really Trust Technology to Improve Our Lives?

Applied science has created technology, and as this has evolved it has changed our world beyond recognition. A time traveler from an earlier century showing up in our world today, say, someone in an H.G. Wells story, would think that they had arrived on another planet.

Yet since we have been a witness to these unfolding events, we often take our lifestyle changes for granted. From our perspective, the evolution of the first telephone to the smartphone in our pocket, or the progress of the first medical drug to the plastic vials in our medicine closet, seems to have happened slowly. Yet from the framework of history, we have made astonishing progress in the span of a few centuries.

Let us take a look at some of the ways invention and innovation have played a significant role in our lives and changed it in a way that appears almost miraculous in hindsight.

Electronic Cigarettes

Cigarettes have such an addictive quality that no amount of surgeon-general warnings or scientific evidence or personal experience of adverse health conditions has been able to persuade people to stop smoking. Yet rather than trying to wrestle our stubborn wills into submission, helping our common sense catch up with our craving for tobacco, technology has introduced vaporizers and electronic cigarettes. In fact, the use of e-liquid vape juice takes care of our psychological need for calm and poise that cigarettes bestow.

An electronic cigarette, usually referred to as an e-cigarette, is an elegant handheld device that cleverly simulates the same satisfaction that tobacco smoking gives those of us who are chronic smokers. At its essence, this innovation is remarkably simple and practical. An e-cigarette heats a liquid converting it into an aerosol. Smokers inhale this “vapor” to enjoy the same physiological pleasure they had when they were smoking a tobacco cigarette.

Remote Medical Care

When we think of healthcare, we usually think of doctors asking us questions us in person to diagnose the reason for our ill-health. Medicine, in other words, is a personal experience between a physician and a patient. All this was fine when the world was smaller, when people lived in small towns and where the ratio between doctors and patients was manageable. Now we live in huge cities and hospitals are understaffed. Since it takes decades to train a doctor, the doctor-patient ratio is now almost unmanageable.

Technology has reduced the enormity of this problem by shrinking time and space to make it easier for doctors to meet with patients. Telemedicine has reduced the need for healthcare providers to share the same physical space with those needing medical help. Since doctors can diagnose minor health issues by using a video conferencing application, computer-to-computer interactions now simulate person-to-person meetings.

Adults don’t have to take time off from work or students to ask for permission from their school to see a doctor. By removing the constraints of distance and time, it’s possible for doctors and patients to speak to each other and for the doctor to arrive at a diagnosis based on seeing and hearing the patient describe their symptoms.

Almost Instant Telecommunication

The mother of all these innovations and the reason for this rapid growth in knowledge has been the internet. Since technology is based on science and science is based on education and education is based on shared knowledge, the internet has made it possible for human beings to double their knowledge about the world at an exponential rate. It’s estimated that knowledge doubles every year, but it’s expected to double every 12 hours in the future.

Almost instant telecommunication has been made possible by the internet. It has significantly altered the way we think, speak, and understand each other across the globe. Our world has undergone a massive, unbelievable sea change since the late 1950s when the first internet connectivity made the world wide web possible.

The reason why the smartphone is smart, or for that matter any of our electronic devices, are smart is because of the level of communication opened by the information highway. From providing us a way to meet our basic needs to offering us a channel to enjoy extravagant luxuries, blazing fast telecommunications have made the world a global village.

In conclusion, technology has improved our world in innumerable ways and our next step in human evolution is to learn how to use it wisely.

Why LEED Accreditation is Worth the Effort

Angela Manning Tech , , , ,
Why LEED Accreditation is Worth the Effort

(Image Credit: bogdanhoda / 123RF Stock Photo)

In today’s energy-conscious world, there is a growing value placed on construction practices that follow green standards, such as LEED standards. As an architect, if you have the knowledge and skills needed to create designs that follow these standards, you will have a big advantage over those who don’t.

LEED Certification for Architects vs. LEED Certification for Projects

Many architects may not be aware that there is a LEED Certification for professionals. This standard has historically been something applied to buildings, similar to a health department grade that a restaurant can earn, that states whether or not the building was created using green energy standards.

However, there is also a certification process for people, which indicates that they’ve gone through the certified courses that taught them how to design buildings to adhere to LEED standards. Being able to add LEED AP to your architectural title indicates to potential clients and partners that you have proven your knowledge of environmentally-friendly design.

Build the Skills That Put You in Demand

But why is this certification course worth the effort? Ultimately, it’s worth it because it puts you in demand. Green building and design is the next big thing in the construction industry. IN fact, a 2015 Green Building Economic Impact study showed that by 2018, there would be 3.3 million jobs related to green construction all over the United States. By taking this course, you not only prove that you are a valuable asset for companies exploring green energy, but you also truly gain the knowledge you need to impact all types of sustainability topics – such as energy use, air quality, water use, and more, in the way they relate to building design.

The course also connects to a huge network of LEED advocates and resources, which can be extremely helpful for your career. The LEED network is a global network, putting you directly in contact with potential clients and partners all over the world. You’ll be more in demand in the United States, and you’ll also have a new global network that you can reach out to during your career.

Finally, you’ll also be investing in your future career, making sure that you are in demand in the future as well as now. Green design is only getting more popular, and in the next few decades, those who don’t have a focus on green construction may get left behind by the industry.

Make an Impact on the Environment

Another reason that the LEED certification is worthwhile is the impact you can have on the environment. Once you’ve learned how to design buildings in a way that benefits the environment, you can play a part in helping to conserve resources and repair the environment. Your work can be beneficial to both your client and the earth – and that benefit may be something that allows you to find more motivation and a feeling of personal fulfillment in your career.

The LEED certification course is the best way to build your career in the current design industry.

Five Advantages to Using a vLAN

Angela Manning Tech , , , , , , ,
Five Advantages to Using a vLAN

A vLAN, or Virtual Local Area Network, is a collection of devices used to manage broadcast, multicast, and unicast traffic in layer 2 devices. A vLAN network is monitored by a team of administrators to oversee the functions of the network and make sure that everything is working properly. So now that we know what a vLAN is, why is it relevant, and what advantages are there to using one? Here are five reasons that using a vLAN is ideal for clients looking to implement technology into their businesses.

A dedicated vLAN

One of the impressive parts of vLAN services is that each network is dedicated to only one business. Having access to a dedicated server is ideal for prospective clients because it better protects their data, provides more space for file storage, and can be managed by someone else externally. Having personal space to store data on a network is a necessity in this day and age and businesses would be remiss not to update.

Better Performance

Because vLANs usually have a team of administrators to oversee daily functions of a network server, they can also gauge how much of the network bandwidth is used and limit the number of server hops and broadcast traffic. By controlling and reducing traffic, a server’s bandwidth can be significantly reduced, allowing the server to run faster and for more ready access for other users.

Enhanced Security

A vLAN will separate sensitive data from the rest of the network, making them much safer and less prone to attacks from hackers or accidental access by employees that do not have clearance. vLANs provide greater security because the entire network is monitored and controlled by an administrator. This means that administrators have access logs for every user and ports. They have the ability to block malicious users which is great for keeping unwanted users out.

Department Specialization

For larger businesses that have multiple departments, keeping track of and filing away information for the business can become tiresome, especially with everything mixed into one space. With a vLAN, customers can allocate specific sections for employees to access and use without overlapping on another department. Being organized is a key to keeping up with a business and vLANs offer unparalleled organization for can take care of all of the organizations.

Experts Available

Not every business owner is technologically talented and that’s okay. There are plenty of virtual lan services available to fulfil the needs of business owners and provide help whenever needed. Companies such as Memset are great both for their expertise in the field, but also for offering quality customer care to ensure that they’re taken care of.

In order to keep up to date with a technologically driven world, it is more important than ever for network owners to be conscious about the safety of their files and data. A business that is more efficient and cost-effective tend to fare better with customers as well. Storing and accessing information is more streamlined and overall much better for business owners, this is a key part of vLANs and everything that they have to offer.

Video Contests for Mass Attention

Angela Manning Tech , , , , , ,
Video Contests for Mass Attention

Video contests are one of the best ways to get attention fast but until recently were very difficult to organise and administer. Having to trawl social media and video websites for contests was extremely time consuming and difficult. Thankfully, it’s not easy to organise and run a video contest online, and you can start one now. It’s really quick to get a campaign started and easy too. Thanks to advances in technology running a campaign is now simple and easy.

Creating a video contest doesn’t need to be difficult, one of the easiest ways to run a great campaign is through a video contest platform. You can easily run and create a video contest by using an online contest platform which you can find online. A video contest platform will allow you to easily check the progress of your competition and will give you access to social marketing tools. The dashboards provided by these websites are highly powerful and give you a Realtime insight into how your campaign is preforming. These Realtime insights will allow you to react to your campaign in real time.

The social marketing tools provided by a video contest software platform will allow you to put the time into making sure your contest is a success. Making use of hashtags can give your contest social momentum and will give your contest attention. Putting your video content to a larger audience will turbo charge your online presence and will help to give customers more information about yourself. Having organic content about you brand can give important information to customers which will help your customers make buying decisions for your products, the more information the better.

Running a video contest is a fantastic way to gain attention in a world where you are constantly competing to win the attention of your potential customers. A video contest is one of the best ways to cheaply increase your market awareness and is ideal for those who are looking to launch a new product or service. A contest is one of the best ways to build hype and buzz in your brand while giving your audience the opportunity to get engaged with your product, first hand.

Video completions create viral content which can turbo charge your brand, at a low cost, using a competition platform makes perfect sense to get a content which stands out. If you are looking to create awareness and engage your audience, running a video competition is one of the best ways to do it.

How technology can affect your health

Angela Manning Health, Tech , ,
How technology can affect your health

You are now connected – to everything. From your cell phone, you can access your bank accounts, register for school and monitor you the house remotely in addition to performing a plethora of other tasks. From ordering takeout to checking your Facebook and Twitter accounts, your phone has become your lifeline. If it is misplaced, then it may seem like your entire world has shut down. While it probably costs about a few hundred dollars, the information that you’ve stored on it (i.e. pictures, contacts and numerous apps) is priceless. Technology’s important, but its pervasiveness has impacted human lives, more specifically their mental and physical health.

Today, everything is connected to or run by a computer, and this has affected society. For one, technology has changed education. In days past, when students enrolled in courses, they had to go to the registrar’s office. Today, they can not only register for classes but also pay for them using their phones. Technology has also revolutionized commerce around the world. As recently as 20 years ago, if people wanted to shop, then they would need go to the nearest mall or department store. Today, they can purchase anything that they need with a cell phone, an Internet connection and a debit/credit card. More importantly, banking has changed so that all consumers need is to set up their online banking accounts, where they can enroll in online bill pay and complete a variety of tasks. For a person to be a functionally literate participant in today’s tech-savvy society, he or she would need basic computer skills.

These skills are necessary because of the various types of technologies available to today’s consumer. The most widely used technology is probably the cell phone, which has evolved from a bulky, expensive model to a sleek, pocket-sized phone that completes everything and anything. Not only has the cell phone become central to carrying out tasks, but this technology has also become a modern date and address book, as a person can text, email and log onto any social media site to connect to those close and far away. Of all the technologies, this one seems to be central to daily interactions in human life. Other technologies that make a large impact include tablet computers, laptops and personal computers. These are very similar to cell phones, but they have transformed how humans receive information. Computers revolutionized the way that news is disseminated, how the entertainment industry delivers media and the way that online gaming is accessed in the global community.

While technology is pervasive, there are adverse effects to its overuse. The most obvious effect that technology has on humans is a lack of interpersonal communication. Because everything is either automated or can be performed online, humans do not talk to each other as much they should. Whether a person is too consumed by texting and phone calls to interact with friends or walking down the street while looking at his or her phone, technology has driven a great wedge between human interaction and become an even bigger distraction. These digital connections hinder making valuable personal connections with people. Other physical and mental effects involve:

  • Sleep quality. Those who spend less time in front of a computer sleep better.
  • A 40-pound push affects the spine when the head is tilted forward to look at the screen as opposed to ten to 12 pounds when one sits normally.
  • When people are in front of the computer constantly, they do not interact with the world or make new connections.
  • Video game addiction. Playing for hours is akin to other addictions, as the rise in the levels of dopamine is similar. Treatment centers all over the country have developed programs for teens in response to this new addiction. For example, Newport Academy offers counseling for technology-related disorders that resolves underlying issues at the root of the problem. This particular treatment center looks at which life stressors might impact a teen’s video game addiction.
  • By spending a long time seated in front of a computer, whether for work or play, humans become very sedentary.

While technology is of great importance to today’s humans, it can hinder people physically and mentally. The convenience of technologies has cut in half the time that it takes to complete most tasks. At the same time, though, they have interfered with the way that humans relate and connect to each other. The future of human civilization depends on whether society can balance convenience with the basic human need to bond socially and interpersonally.

How To Shop For Used CMMs

Angela Manning Business, Tech , , ,
How To Shop For Used CMMs

Metrology machines are not just the most effective way of inspecting the components made in your shop, they are a sign to your clients that you take quality and efficiency seriously. The right combination of coordinate measuring machines, laser scanners, new software, controllers, and computers, can deliver highly precise, highly repeatable parts inspections. Clients look for suppliers who take metrology and inspection seriously; a supplier with a quick and robust inspection process is more likely to deliver accurate parts and deliver on time than someone using out-of-date technology.

However, that doesn’t mean that you necessarily have to spend top dollar on a brand-new coordinate measuring machine. As long as you’re shopping for internationally reputable OEMs, names like Brown and Sharpe, Sheffield, Romer, Faro, Mitutoyo, Zeiss, OGP, LK, Leitz, DEA, and others, you can buy used equipment at half to two-thirds the original price. When it comes to coordinate measuring machines in particular, the structures are so mechanically sound that they have a life expectancy of 25 to 30 years or longer with the right maintenance, care, and retrofits. Unlike machine tools, they aren’t bearing stress daily, so even a machine built in the early 2000s or in the ’90s will have years left of use.

That leaves the question of where you should go when you’re looking for used CMMs. You may have heard of great prices available online or at auctions, but you’re taking a gamble when you buy from sources that aren’t proven. You should look for a metrology dealer who inspects the equipment, provides delivery as part of the price, provides ongoing support for maintaining and repairing the machine, makes upgrades and retrofits available, and has operation and programming training for your staff.

The first step is inspection: North American metrology company Canadian Measurement Metrology (CMM) inspects the probing systems, air lines, bearings, drive systems, and cabling of all machines they get before resale. They repair any issues and give buyers a guarantee that the equipment will perform to original specifications on arrival, something no auction house can provide.

According to CMM, almost all of the used coordinate measuring machines they sell receive some kind of upgrade before they arrive at their destination. While they may be mechanically sound for decades, you will have to replace things like computers, controllers, and the software as technology advances. Upgraded software, new probing systems, and new fixture plates are not only common upgrades, they can also make a big difference in the efficiency of your inspections.

Last but not least, look for a metrology supplier who can also provide training for your staff. You may not be in a position to hire someone who already knows how to program the software for machine. It can be expensive to send a set of hands off-site for several days, which is why it’s so important that you can now find E-Learning courses for major software programs like PC-DMIS. Training is the last step in acquiring a new technology for your shop floor, but it’s not one to forget.Well-trained staff will reduce the time your shop spends on programming, be able to fix issues that arise with the machine, and keep things running smoothly. Of course, for advanced problems, you want to be able to call on expert metrologists who can troubleshoot the issue and get you back online.

Board Software Transforms Your Meetings

Angela Manning Business, Tech , , , , , ,
Board Software Transforms Your Meetings

Board meetings are rarely high up on anyone’s list of favorite activities, as even the directors who sit on them complain about how long and tedious they can be. The work of the board is essential, overseeing management and providing organizations, businesses, government agencies, and financial institutions with direction and strategy. That should be compelling stuff, but director engagement remains a challenge for many.

Enter the board portal: a board software solution that digitizes board documents and puts collaborative tools in directors’ hands that they can use between meetings. Board software is the tool that can make meetings more efficient, more focused, and revive engagement by offering a few key features.

Easy Updates – At the heart of board software is an easy solution to the problem of distributing board books and other documents. Back in the days of paper board books, administrators would struggle to keep every director informed of the latest updates, especially when documents or financial reports were updated last minute. It cost a fortune to courier everything to directors who could be anywhere in the world at any given minute. Today, electronic board books are much more common, but board portal software offers superior security compared to other file sharing methods, especially as many have become popular tools for masking cybercrime attacks.

Collaboration Between Meetings – Board software should come with tools that make it easy for directors to do their job in between meetings. For example, annotation tools are used in Aprio Boardroom, a leading board software solution, that let directors mark up documents either with private notes or to share with their peers. Everyone knows that when an idea strikes, you can’t wait until the next meeting. If you want to develop a more thorough conversation, you have to be able to work in between meetings.

Another great feature of Aprio is the freedom to vote remotely with an electronic signature. It helps boards make more time for key decisions, as the freedom to vote remotely means matters like agreeing on minutes can be dealt with beforehand.

Desktop and Tablet – Flexibility is key for directors who regularly travel and split their responsibilities. Any board software you consider should be compatible on Android, Apple, and Windows tablets, as well as offer offline access to documents.

For many organizations, board portals are already standard, but if you’ve been using this transformative technology already, consider how the industry has changed over the last few years. If your board’s contract with your current board software vendor needs to be renewed, now may be a good time to reassess. In the early days of board software, portals offering better security – the kind of security required by financial institutions, health agencies, and Fortune 500 companies – came at a premium. Those security options are now no longer so expensive, though some portal vendors are still charging higher rates. You can learn more about how security has changed, and become more accessible for all, at Aprio.net and exploring their options for board software. Whether your board’s contract is up or you haven’t yet made the shift to secure electronic board books, do your due diligence, request several demos from vendors, and be sure to compare products based on customer support, security, and price.

Choosing A Coordinate Measuring Machine Manufacturer

Angela Manning Business, Tech , , , ,
Choosing A Coordinate Measuring Machine Manufacturer

When your shop needs a new coordinate measuring machine, it can be daunting finding the one that’s right for your processes. Given the fact that these can be a major investment, it’s important that you get it right. Because of the durability of a coordinate measuring machine, it’s also a decision that you’re going to have to live with for years, even decades, to come. There’s little room for error and you need to know that a machine will be both mechanically reliable and deliver the accuracy that you need to deliver quality products. The first step is learning about the leading metrology manufacturers in the world:

Hexagon – Hexagon is one of the biggest manufacturers of coordinate measuring machines and metrology equipment in the world, responsible for brands like Brown & Sharpe, Sheffield, Leitz, DEA, Leica, and ROMER. When it comes to new metrology equipment, Hexagon and its many brands are reliable, accurate, and long-lasting. You can find Hexagon coordinate measuring machines from metrology shops like Canadian Measurement-Metrology, a.k.a. CMM, a company that can take care of your quality assurance needs from start to finish.

Mitutoyo – This Japanese company is known for its older coordinate measuring machines, such Bright models, which last for decades and are mechanically reliable. They can easily be upgraded with new Renishaw PH20 probes and better software if you buy used from a metrology dealer.

Zeiss – Zeiss offers a number of high accuracy coordinate measuring machines that can be found used at competitive prices from the right dealer, such as the Zeiss Prismo Navigator, which runs on Calypso software. Zeiss began as an optics workshop in 1846 and has since become a leading global metrology manufacturer.

Leica – Leica, an optics company that also manufactures cameras, is responsible for bringing the manufacturing world laser trackers that deliver high-precision reports and speeds of 1000 points per second. Laser trackers play an important role in any quality assurance department for large components, sheet metal, or complex geometry that requires you to reliably collect a large quantity of data.

The first thing you need to learn about CMM machine manufacturers is that you can’t start with the price, you have to begin by looking at the kind of work you’re going to be doing. The machine has to meet your tolerance requirements and provide enough speed to keep your shop productive and meeting deadlines. If you can’t find the coordinate measuring machine you want, a dealer like CMM can typically procure one. They will also fully inspect any machine that they resell and refurbish it as needed, so that it’s fully functional when it arrives on your shop floor. A used coordinate measuring machine can save you up to half the cost of a new one, and when you work with a dealer, you’re given a guarantee that it will be operate to specifications or better. Don’t get caught with a bad deal from an auction, or overpay when you can get a fully-functional used machine for less.