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Government heads to cloud for excess archival storage needs – TechTarget

Government organizations are finding their storage needs increasing, exacerbated by employees working from home due to COVID-19 lockdowns. They're also seeing an exponential rise in unstructured data from state surveillance devices such as police body cameras.

Some municipal organizations are heading to the cloud for their archives, particularly for storing surveillance footage, while others have doubled down on fast on-premises systems. Uses and needs can vary due to laws and regulations for public over private data, but protecting and storing data remains mission-critical to local governments.

Failure to do so can cause innumerable issues. Earlier this month, the Dallas Police Department made headlines when it acknowledged the department permanently lost 8 TB of data earlier this year, after a failed migration from the cloud to an on-premises server.

The loss, originally tallied at 22 GB deleted over several days, included images, documents, videos and other data collected by the department. Some of the lost data included evidence for active criminal cases, resulting in trial delays and released suspects. Department officials have since placed the blame on human error.

Proper policies and safeguards can reduce issues that arise, but government IT professionals are among the vanguard of exponential data growth and management, according to experts.

"Everybody who has a lot of data to manage is overwhelmed," said Marc Staimer, president of Dragon Slayer Consulting. "We're at the beginning of a tsunami of data. We're talking about a once-in-a-million-years tsunami."

Contracted IT services for Boone County, Ind., decided to invest in archival cloud storage on Azure in 2018 to house a massive amount of data generated by the sheriff's department.

The department covers five towns, numerous unincorporated areas and one populous city and had begun issuing body cameras for officers. Additionally, the county's court system required storage of files relating to ongoing and closed cases and had to factor in other police departments' body camera files.

Boone County storage needs on Azure have increased from 25 TB to 35 TB in the past three years, according to the county's IT contractor, Government Utilities Technology Service (GUTS). As more departments across the county begin utilizing cameras, GUTS contractors said they expect those needs to keep increasing.

"Every type of case has a different retention schedule," said Sean Horan, a manager of IT services for Boone County at GUTS. "There are some which only have a four- or five-year retention cycle. There are others that are forever. The problem for us as an IT group is we cannot sit down and say we can delete X or Y, because we don't know."

When you put that into perspective for what that would cost with SANs, it's a no-brainer. Sean HoranManager of IT services for Boone County, Ind., Government Utilities Technology Service

Data management software by Komprise helps sort what data heads to archive storage or what remains on premises, Horan said. He estimated that annual bills with Azure total $25,000 to $30,000 but come out significantly cheaper compared with the on-prem-exclusive mentality of prior decades.

"When you put that into perspective for what that would cost with SANs, it's a no-brainer," Horan said.

Data stored on Azure by the county is also backed up on tape.

Previously, Horan and his team had considered making their on-premises storage entirely flash storage but settled on a hybrid flash and hard drive array totaling 55 TB from Dell EMC. The all-flash configurations he investigated totaled almost $1 million, Horan said, while the hybrid approach rang up to a more reasonable $125,000.

Still, constant expansion into the cloud isn't the all-encompassing storage product for Boone County, Horan added. Instead, smart use of devices can help cut down on the need for redundant recordings and data generations.

"It just snowballs," he said. "Bodycams are a good thing, don't get me wrong, but it's not just the storage. We always try to look at ways to improve processes."

Government organizations have always seen the value in storing data with the cloud, but regulations typically limit who, where and what sort of storage business they can work with, said Dave Raffo, an analyst at Evaluator Group.

"The government was an early proponent of the cloud," Raffo said. "They're following the same thing we're seeing in the enterprise. The government has a lot of extremes, whether it's performance or capacity."

Those regulations mean companies whitelisted through contracts and bids typically have a very lucrative market open to them, Raffo said.

VAST Data recently announced that it received $10 million in orders from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) through its government tech subsidiary, VAST Federal, for its on-premises storage and private cloud offering. Meanwhile, cloud hyperscalers including AWS, Microsoft, Oracle and Google became ensnared in legal battles over the former $10 billion Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract also put forward by the DoD.

"There are a lot of vendors targeting that market," Raffo said.

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Why the EZVIZ BC1 is the perfect wire-free security camera kit for you home – The Ambient

Installing security cameras at home has never been easier. Unlike traditional hard-wired systems that require professional installation wireless, or wire-free battery-powered cameras, such as the EZVIZ BC1 can be installed with little effort.

These wire-free options provide greater flexibility, cloud storage and AI-based features; lowering the entry level for peace of mind.

They can also more than match their wired counterparts for high definition (and beyond) video quality, zoom capabilities and features like colour night vision.

With rechargeable year-round battery life, the EZVIZ BC1 system surpasses wired cameras with advanced mobile-centric features.

Hard-wired cameras require cables to connect to a central recording device, which in turn is plugged into the mains. They provide a highly reliable service for homeowners, but not without flaws and limitations.

Improvements in battery technology, internet connectivity standards and cloud storage lockers have made wire-free battery-powered cameras a genuine and simpler alternative.

Which set-up you decide upon will depend on your including your living arrangements, quality of internet service, appetite for DIY and more.

Read on to see how the truly wire-free camera systems like the EZVIZ BC1 compare to their hard-wired counterparts.

A key benefit to hard-wired systems is the reliability provided by cabled, mains power. Operated from your home mains connection and/or networking cables

However, thanks to advances in battery tech, wire-free cameras are now more appealing. After all, who wants to be climbing ladders once a week to replace/recharge a battery?

The EZVIZ BC1 has a rechargeable 12,900mAh cell (3x larger than most smartphone batteries) which promises an entire year between charges. With the optional EZVIZ solar panel attachment, you can go even longer.

The huge advances in cloud technology assist EZVIZ BC1. Event footage captured by the camera is uploaded to the EZVIZ CloudPlay storage locker, where itll remain for up to a month, depending on your subscription plan.

This makes live and recorded imagery available to view on any device compatible with the EZVIZ app.

All data captured is protected by AES 128-bit encryption and the TCL encryption protocol (for which you hold the only key), while multi-level authentication for attempted logins keeps your data safe. All of this pretty much negates the increased risk of hacking once associated with wire-free cameras.

However, where the BC1 cameras and Base Station really excel is that the system also offers a microSD card slot, with up to 256GB of local storage.

That huge capacity is beyond what most of EZVIZs competitors offer.

Local storage gives you continuous recordings if you suffer an internet outage, and you are double protected even if the cameras are damaged or stolen, as your recordings are protected because the microSD card actually goes into the base station.

The BC1 uses the more efficient H.265 video format to capture Full HD 1080p footage, which reduces strain on cloud storage and internet bandwidth.

Thanks to its two built-in spotlights, the BC1 can also render vivid colour imaging, even in the dead of the night in total darkness.

It also boasts an integrated PIR sensor and, combined with that AI we mentioned, the BC1 can distinguish between human movement and other motion, meaning you only get the notifications that you really need.

If an unwanted intruder is detected, those spotlights can flash, and a siren can be activated for maximum security.

However, if its a more friendly face calling say, for example, a delivery driver you can have the BC1 greet them with a personalised recording or us the two-way chat function to have a remote conversation.

Most smart home gadgets now rely on Wi-Fi rather than a wired Ethernet connection.

Battery-powered cameras like the EZVIZ BC1 are fully wireless, do not need mains power and rely on Wi-Fi for connectivity with the cloud storage locker and smartphone apps.

The cameras themselves are equipped with the longer-range 2.4GHz Wi-Fi standard, which is also better at penetrating walls.

However, if you struggle with whole home connectivity, the EZVIZ Base Station includes a range extender to help ensure constant connectivity with all of your cameras.

The good news is the Base Station, which connects to your router using Ethernet, actually sends out its own Wi-Fi signal to connect to the cameras directly, so it wont slow down other Wi-Fi devices in your home.

Wire-free cameras makers like EZVIZ have developed a reputation for pushing the envelope with advanced features that has the legacy manufacturers playing catch-up.

Many of these features are delivered via the companion smartphone app that enables live view and recordings whether you roam. Theres also the ability to pinch and zoom live or recorded footage to get a closer look.

The EZVIZ BC1, for example, promises two-way talk via the app (so you can let intruders know youve spied them lurking in the garden, or converse with the delivery guy) and customisable voice alerts for greetings or deterrents.

Motion detection powered by artificial intelligence can instantly alert users if something untoward has been spotted, but is also smart enough to detect non-human objects so you arent bombarded by alerts.

The cameras also deliver an automatic spotlight and can sound a siren if someone is detected at a pre-set time.

Hard-wired cameras arent called hard for nothing, so most people choose a professional installation, which adds to the cost of any system.

Installation often requires additional wiring run around the home to transmit footage from the cameras to the recording device.

That also means drilling through walls to feed cables to the cameras. For many folks, this professional installation and cabled transmission equates to greater piece of mind.

Battery-powered wire-free cameras like the EZVIZ BC1 are at the opposite end of the scale.

Theres no drilling through the walls and no running additional cables around the home. Most people with a little DIY nous can install the cameras.

The BC1 camera comes with two drilling base options a traditional screw-based one, which is more suited for outdoor mounting, and a magnetic one, which makes installation inside a breeze.

From there, pairing the cameras with the mobile app and Base Station happens wirelessly and can be achieved in seconds.

The BC1 is also IP-certified protection against the elements, so wont suffer outages in heavy rain or snow. The EZVIZ BC1 is IP66 rated against dust and water, meaning neither can enter the enclosure in harmful quantities.

Both the traditional hard-wired security systems and the newer battery-powered wire-free cameras have great merit.

Both promise round-the-clock vigilance of your home and family with fail-safes to account to power or internet outages.

Both offer safe and reliable methods for storing the footage (DVR/SD card vs cloud, and sometimes both), alerting you to detected motion, while providing high-quality video imagery with night vision and the ability to zoom in and out on perceived threats.

Battery-powered cameras rely mostly on the companion mobile app to interact with the cameras, which opens-up features like two-way audio and customisable greetings.

Conversely, hard-wired systems tend to focus on the in-house recording device as the hub, but many manufacturers have also added mobile components and cloud storage elements.

While you will have to change/recharge battery-powered systems, the EZVIZ BC1 only requires this once a year. Wire-free cameras are also much easier to install with limited DIY skills and can be tidier than a cabled-approach.

The convenience of battery power and a fast Wi-Fi connection cannot be overstated for those you can bank on the connection.

The good news is that its super simple to get your hands on a BC1 system.

Available online and offline, through Amazon, Currys and Maplin, there are several bundle options on offer. The EZVIZ BC1 Kits contain two or three wire-free cameras and the Base Station and prices start from 299.99 for a two-camera setup.

You can add up to four BC1 cameras to a Base Station, ensuring that all corners of your house are covered.

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Five keys to mitigating today’s ransomware risks – Intelligent CIO ME

DmitryDontov, CEO and Chief Architect ofSpin Technology, considers the best ways to approach modern ransomware preventionin the modern workplace.

Ransomware attacksgrew by 435%in 2020 compared to 2019 and thisincrease is not expected to slow down anytime soon. To put that into perspective, ransomware attacks have outpaced the already massive growth rate for overall malware prevalence during that same period (358%). And according toCybersecurityVentures, ransomware damages will cost the worldUS$20 billion in 2021 (nearly 60 times the level of financial repercussions seen in 2015).

Over the last 12 months, the threat landscape has changed dramatically with the rise of remote workforces and the explosion of cloud services. So how can your security strategy evolve as well? When it comes to ransomware, here are five areas to think about.

Itsno secret that remote work has changed the ransomware attack landscape. Now more than ever, employees are operating outside of the traditional corporate perimeter, beyond where the bulk of your security controls are most effective and concentrated. As a result, there are new attack vectors to address, such as vulnerable VPNs and Virtual Desktop workspaces, which means attackers are more likely to target individual users than corporate networks.Theyreusing social engineering methods to make attacks more personalized and sophisticated. This is one of the reasons why 73% of ransomware attacks succeeded in 2020.

Remote work has also forced organizations to invest more heavily in cloud services to ensure employees can access corporate data and resources regardless of their location, making SaaS apps and cloud services a prime target for attackers. Additionally,itsmuch harder to monitor employees activities outside of the office and thus, more challenging to mitigate potential attacks. Lastly, employees increasing use of unprotected home computers andWi-Firouters with default passwords provides many new ransomware opportunities for bad actors.

Butwhatsthe difference between an attack on a corporate network vs. the cloud?A ransomware attack on a corporate network usually occurs in the form of a malicious app that runs a malicious script on a local PC or corporate server. It encrypts data and then spreads to other PCs and servers. In the cloud, there are two ways to encrypt SaaS data. The first is through a syncing app that connects your local device with your cloud environment. The second is through a malicious OAuth app or browser extension with access to your SaaS data via API. More on best practices for detecting and preventing cloud ransomware later.

So how can companies limit the impact of infections on remote workforce devices?Today, many device management tools allow you to install VPNs or anti-malware software remotely, create security policies, prevent employees from visiting suspicious websites, and monitor and manage employee devices often from one centralized cloud-based dashboard. On top of that, you need to implement an activity log monitoring solution that uses AI to intelligently scan and identify behavior anomalies such as abnormal GeoIP login, brute force attacks, etc. For organizations with growing remote workforces, this is a must-have approach to protecting sensitive corporate data and keeping work-from-home employees from causing security disasters that could impact the entire organization.

Unfortunately, parts of security education and training justarentworking.A lot of security training platforms and programsdontadequately cover remote work risks. In the world we live in today, these programs must educate employees on how to securely use their devices in potentially vulnerable home environments.

For example, most employees today need to know how to update router admin passwords, monitor and manage connected devices, and more.And,these training programs dont cover best practices for protecting company devices from non-employees that can easily gain access. In many cases, guests and even family members could access a corporate laptop throughout the day, creating yet another concern for SecOps teams to manage.

So, what is the best way to approach modern ransomware prevention?

Keep in mind thatdowntimeis an inevitable risk of any ransomware attack that youcantavoid. Today, an average downtime incident lasts about 16 days and can be tremendously costly. Here aretop reasonshow downtime comes from:

When you design aDisaster Recoverystrategy for your organization, youhave totake downtime into account to reduce the downtime and recovery timeline because when it comes to ransomware attacks today it is no longer if, its already when.

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The 5 Best Lean Six Sigma Courses on LinkedIn Learning To Take in 2021 – Solutions Review

The editors at Solutions Review have compiled this list of the best Lean Six Sigma courses on LinkedIn Learning that IT professionals should consider if theyre looking to grow their skills.

Lean Six Sigma is a methodology that seeks to improve business performance. Unlike Business Process Management (BPM), Lean Six Sigma does so by tracking/decreasing process variability and defects within those processes. As a combination of two powerful process improvement methods: Lean and Six Sigma, this practice has the ability to remove any waste or redundancy from a process. Unlike BPM, Lean Six Sigma approaches business processes from an analytical point of view and aims at improving an organizations overall customer satisfaction.

With this in mind, the editors at Solutions Review have compiled this list of the best Lean Six Sigma courses on LinkedIn Learning to consider taking. The platform is perfect for those looking to take multiple courses or acquire skills in areas, or for those who want the most in-depth experience possible through access to LinkedIn Learnings entire course library or learning paths. In sum, LinkedIn Learning offers training in more than 13 distinct categories with thousands of modules. This list of the best cloud storage courses on LinkedIn Learning below includes links to the modules and our take on each.

Note: Courses are listed in no particular order.

Description: The Green Belts or Black Belts that lead Lean Six Sigma projects are well-trained and ready to guide your project to the finish line. But what do you, as a team member on a Lean Six Sigma project team, need to know to be effective? In this course, Dr. Richard Chua provides coverage of fundamental Lean Six Sigma tools that can help you add value to your project. Here, he focuses on the Analyze, Improve, and Control phases of the DMAICDefine, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Controlapproach. Discover how Lean Six Sigma integrates lean into DMAIC. Then learn how to conduct analysis using tools like cause-effect diagrams, multi-voting, scatter plots, correlation, and regression. Discover how to improve processes using methodologies such as FMEA and Kaizen. Finally, find out how to implement controls and value-stream management practices. For information about the first two phases of DMAIC, make sure to check out the previous installment of theLean Six Sigma Teamsseries.

GO TO TRAINING

Description:Lean Six Sigma combines the principles of lean enterprise and lean manufacturing with Six Sigma to improve performance and systematically remove waste. Supply chain expert and professor Steven Brown explains the basics of using Lean Six Sigma as a structure for your improvement efforts. Steven outlines the process stages in Six Sigma (define, measure, analyze, improve, and control), along with the Lean toolkit: the 5s principles, kanban (scheduling), downtime, poka-yoke (error proofing), and kaizen (continuous improvement). He also explains how leadership works within Lean Six Sigma, the principles of project execution, and how Lean Six Sigma is applied to the service sector and supply chain management.

GO TO TRAINING

Description:Learn how to apply Six Sigma to drive improvements in the performance of your processes, products, and services. Dr. Richard Chua explains the fundamentals of Six Sigmaa customer-focused, data-driven approach to improvement. Hell go over the basic concepts, including critical-to-quality (CTQ) requirements, variation, defects per million opportunities (DPMO), the roles and belts of Six Sigma professionals, and the criteria for identifying Six Sigma projects successfully. The rest of the course walks through the five phases of Six Sigma DMAICDefine, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Controland the steps, data, and key deliverables involved in each phase.

GO TO TRAINING

Description:The Green Belts or Black Belts that lead Lean Six Sigma projects are well-trained and ready to guide your project to the finish line. But what do you, as a team member on a Lean Six Sigma project team, need to know to be effective? In this course, Dr. Richard Chua provides coverage of fundamental Lean Six Sigma concepts that can help you add value to your project. Here, he focuses on key tools and techniques in the Define and Measure phases of the DMAICDefine, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Controlapproach. Discover how Lean Six Sigma integrates lean into DMAIC. Learn about the project charter, process mapping, using Pareto charts to identify problem areas, and more. For information about the final three phases of DMAIC, make sure to check out the next installment of theLean Six Sigma Teamsseries.

GO TO TRAINING

Description:Not every lean implementation is an instant success. This course is about a company that went from being very skeptical of lean to adopting it everywhere. Ron Pereira travels to Miami, Florida to visit the team of Techno Coatings, a division of Techno Aerospace, which offers a wide range of services from plating to finishing to restoration. Started over 30 years ago from a true mom and pop shop, this company now serves a global market with the help of its combined manufacturing and finishing experience, highly skilled workforce, and professional management team. Come along with Ron as he learns how the founder and team went from resisting lean to fully embracing itand thriving as a result.

GO TO TRAINING

Editor at Solutions Review

Tess Hanna is an editor and writer at Solutions Review covering Backup and Disaster Recovery, Data Storage, Business Process Management, and Talent Management. Recognized by Onalytica in the 2021 "Who's Who in Data Management." You can contact her at thanna@solutionsreview.com

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Grant Aims to Boost Equity in Robotics and Engineering — THE Journal – T.H.E. Journal

STEM Education

TheNationalScience Foundation awardeda $2.4 million grant for aprogram that aims to introduce black middle school girls to robotics and engineering and nurturingtheir interest through high school and beyond.

Thenew Ujima Girls in Robotics Leadership (GIRL) Project is a free,hands-on engineering and robotics program designed to teachengineering and leadership in a culturally relevant environment togirls in middle and high school. The program is beingrun by the Universityof California Davis'Centerfor Integrated Computing and STEM Education (C-STEM).

TheUjima GIRL Camp takes an existing program, C-STEM's GIRL/GIRL+camps, and adds a cultural component for AfricanAmerican students. "Ujima" is a Swahili word for"collective work and responsibility," which, organizersexplained, is an important principle in many black/African Americanspaces.

Theprogram will work with community colleges in the state and the UmojaCommunity Education Foundation, to recruit AfricanAmerican college students to lead each camp, develop curriculum andserve as mentors.

Asprogram leaders noted, introducing girls to STEM activities in middleschool and nurturing that interest through high school increases thelikelihood that they'll stay in the field. The expectation is that bysupporting black girls' STEM skills in "identity-affirming, funand supportive environments," access barriers will lower andengagement with STEM will persist.

Theproject is being led by an interdisciplinary team:

Cheng'svision is to build a "mentoring pipeline" that will keepparticipants involved from their first Ujima GIRL Camp throughcollege. Ujima GIRL Camp alumni could return as assistant coacheswhen they reach high school and also participate in the GIRL+ Camp.GIRL/GIRL+ alumni in college can return as coaches. In addition,Cheng also wants to encourage participants to create their own UjimaGIRL clubs within their local schools, where they can share theirexperiences with other girls.

Inthe first three years, the program expects to host 48 Ujima GIRL and48 GIRL+ camps statewide, nurturing about 2,000 students. Ifsuccessful, the team hopes to increase that number and expand theprogram nationwide.

"Wewant to give students a life-changing experience and inspire them togo into college, post-secondary studies and careers in STEM,"said Cheng, in a statement. "This program will help them make areal-world connection with math, because we want to give them thetools to be successful in their academic programs and learn in theyears ahead."

"Thisis an exciting opportunity to further encourage the creativity,leadership and scientific genius of black girls and young women inways that many don't have access to in their day-to-day schooling,"added Mustafaa. "I am hopeful about the mutually empoweringbenefit of this project for the participants, our research team, andeveryone else involved."

"Thisgrant will illuminate the talent that our black girls already haveinside them and provide a safe and nurturing environment for growthand development," said Aldredge.

Theprogram is expected to launch next summer.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [emailprotected] or on Twitter @schaffhauser.

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Inventive Podcast reviewed: Packed with barrier-breaking engineers – New Scientist

By Gege Li

Getty Images/Cavan Images

Podcast

Inventive Podcast

Overtone Productions

PICTURE an engineer and you may well imagine a white, university-educated man in a hard hat with a roll of blueprints under his arm.

The Inventive Podcast aims to flip these conceptions by highlighting inspirational and influential engineers who dont fit this constricted, outdated mould.

Host Trevor Cox, an acoustic engineer at the University of Salford, UK, chats with a different guest in each episode before asking a writer to come up with an original story inspired by those conversations. That makes the podcast itself an innovation of sorts, in that it marries fact and fiction to demonstrate there is far more to engineering than people might think.

It is a welcome addition considering the lack of diversity and uptake that still plagues engineering. In the UK, only 12 per cent of engineers are women, and 186,000 new engineers are needed each year until 2024 to make up for the countrys skills shortfall in the profession.

Reassuringly, the podcasts first three episodes feature women, the first of whom is electronics engineer and activist Shrouk El-Attar. Part of her day job involves designing and developing technologies for womens health, including silent breast pumps and a pelvic floor trainer. El-Attar also performs as a belly-dancing drag king by night to challenge societal conventions and raise money for the LGBTQ+ community.

As a woman and asylum seeker from Egypt, El-Attar knows first-hand how being denied opportunities, such as going to university, can cause engineering to suffer not only by being less diverse, but also at the expense of innovation. How many amazing, creative technologies are we missing out on today as a society because were telling these people with the amazing ideas that they dont belong here? she asks.

In response to El-Attars work and her account of being inspired into engineering by the magic people living inside her TV as a child, writer Tania Hershman incorporates poetry to create a thought-provoking story that reflects El-Attars life. It uses the idea of a human being as a circuit board and emphasises the importance of language.

In the second episode, Cox meets Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer who was part of the team that designed The Shard, one of Londons most iconic landmarks. Agrawal also wrote the book Built: The hidden stories behind our structures. She did so to encourage people to become engineers by showing that it is so utterly an intrinsic part of humans and the way weve lived right from the beginning, she tells Cox.

ShroukEl-Attar also performs as a belly-dancing drag king by night to challenge societal conventions

The accompanying story by C. M. Taylor draws on Agrawals self-confessed love for concrete (I have been known to stroke concrete I love feeling it!), as a mysterious figure known as the Night Builder begins to secretly create colossal concrete structures in cities.

Coxs third guest is aerospace engineer Sophie Robinson, who works on a type of drone-inspired aircraft called eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing), with the idea of developing widely accessible air taxis that cut road congestion and carbon emissions.

Robinson is also an avid swimmer, having once swam across the English Channel, a fact that is at the centre of novelist Tony Whites story about an engineer who grapples with the ethical dilemmas of her job while on a cold water swimming trip.

As you would expect from the experience of the personnel, the podcast is built on strong foundations. Cox asks perceptive questions that get to the heart of what it means to be an engineer, as well as helping to flesh out the details of the work itself, while each writers take on the interviews adds an interesting and different element to the show.

The guests enthusiasm is also infectious. Being an engineer is my superpower, replies El-Attar, when Cox asks her which superpower she would like. I hope people see that and that it can be your superpower too.

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Insights on the Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Global Market to 2026 – Featuring Adani Group, Citizen Solar and Enerparc AG Among…

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The "Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market Research Report by Product, by Application, by Region - Global Forecast to 2026 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market size was estimated at USD 128.59 Billion in 2020 and expected to reach USD 143.76 Billion in 2021, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) 12.13% to reach USD 255.62 Billion by 2026.

Competitive Strategic Window:

The Competitive Strategic Window analyses the competitive landscape in terms of markets, applications, and geographies to help the vendor define an alignment or fit between their capabilities and opportunities for future growth prospects. It describes the optimal or favorable fit for the vendors to adopt successive merger and acquisition strategies, geography expansion, research & development, and new product introduction strategies to execute further business expansion and growth during a forecast period.

FPNV Positioning Matrix:

The FPNV Positioning Matrix evaluates and categorizes the vendors in the Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market based on Business Strategy (Business Growth, Industry Coverage, Financial Viability, and Channel Support) and Product Satisfaction (Value for Money, Ease of Use, Product Features, and Customer Support) that aids businesses in better decision making and understanding the competitive landscape.

Market Share Analysis:

The Market Share Analysis offers the analysis of vendors considering their contribution to the overall market. It provides the idea of its revenue generation into the overall market compared to other vendors in the space. It provides insights into how vendors are performing in terms of revenue generation and customer base compared to others. Knowing market share offers an idea of the size and competitiveness of the vendors for the base year. It reveals the market characteristics in terms of accumulation, fragmentation, dominance, and amalgamation traits.

The report provides insights on the following pointers:

1. Market Penetration: Provides comprehensive information on the market offered by the key players

2. Market Development: Provides in-depth information about lucrative emerging markets and analyze penetration across mature segments of the markets

3. Market Diversification: Provides detailed information about new product launches, untapped geographies, recent developments, and investments

4. Competitive Assessment & Intelligence: Provides an exhaustive assessment of market shares, strategies, products, certification, regulatory approvals, patent landscape, and manufacturing capabilities of the leading players

5. Product Development & Innovation: Provides intelligent insights on future technologies, R&D activities, and breakthrough product developments

The report answers questions such as:

1. What is the market size and forecast of the Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market?

2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market during the forecast period?

3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market?

4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market?

5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market?

6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market?

7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Solar Engineering, Procurement & Construction Market?

Market Dynamics

Drivers

Restraints

Opportunities

Challenges

Companies Mentioned

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/k3mhjc

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MIT engineers create inflatable robotic hand with real-time tactile control – Designboom

engineers at MIT and shanghai jiao tong university have created a soft, lightweight and potentially low-cost neuroprosthetic hand. resembling the inflatable robot in the animated film big hero 6, the artificial hand is made of a soft, stretchy material, together with a simple pneumatic system that inflates fingers and bends them in specific positions.

this is not a product yet, but the performance is already similar or superior to existing neuroprosthetics, which were excited about, said xuanhe zhao, professor of mechanical engineering and of civil and environmental engineering at MIT. theres huge potential to make this soft prosthetic very low cost, for low-income families who have suffered from amputation.

an MIT-developed inflatable robotic hand gives amputees real-time tactile control. the smart hand is soft and elastic, weighs about half a pound, and costs a fraction of comparable prosthetics image courtesy of the researchers

the inflatable robotic hand was tested by amputees, who were able to perform everyday tasks like zipping a suitcase, pouring a carton of juice, and petting a cat. designed with a system of tactile feedback, the prosthetic restored some primitive sensation in a volunteers residual limb. the system, which includes a small pump and valves, is worn at the waist, reducing the prosthetics weight. this system inflates the fingers in positions that mimic common grasps, like pinching two or three fingers and making a cup out of the palm.

we now have four grasp types. there can be more, zhao concluded. this design can be improved, with better decoding technology, higher-density myoelectric arrays, and a more compact pump that could be worn on the wrist. we also want to customize the design for mass production, so we can translate soft robotic technology to benefit society.

project info:

name: inflatable robotic hand

created by:engineers at MIT and shanghai jiao tong university

more info: here

juliana neira I designboom

aug 25, 2021

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Etihad Engineering and Israel Aerospace Industries in aircraft conversion tie-up – The National

Etihad Airways' engineering unit has signed an agreement with Israel Aerospace Industries, or IAI, to set up a site in Abu Dhabi that will convert Boeing 777-300ER passenger planes into freighters as air cargo demand strengthens worldwide.

The new site, where Etihad Engineering will provide two conversion lines that accommodate several aircraft conversions a year, aims to meet growing demand for wide-body freighter jets with long-haul capacity, the company said on Wednesday.

The Boeing 777-300ERSF is not only extremely attractive to customers but a technological breakthrough, given that it is the first in its size category to offer extensive cargo solutions," said Tony Douglas, group chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group.

"Not only do we see the demand but we view it as a greener, more profitable, highly innovative solution for our airline customers, and an excellent way to drive value for our business.

Air freight has been a rare bright spot for the global aviation industry during the Covid-19 pandemic, which forced airlines globally to ground their fleets, lay off staff and seek government bailouts.

Cargo revenue has been a lifeline for many airlines facing travel restrictions and more virulent Covid-19 strains that have affected international passenger traffic.

Global demand for air cargo grew 8 per cent in the first half of 2021, above pre-crisis levels, making it the strongest half-year growth since 2017, when the industry posted a year-on-year growth of 10.2 per cent, according to the International Air Transport Association, the airline lobby group.

Boeing 777-300ER jets are used by airlines on long-haul routes.

The new partnership comes a year after the UAE and Israel agreed to normalise relations.

"The agreement we signed adds a significant tier to the relations between Israel and the Gulf states," said Yossi Melamed, executive vice president and general manager of the IAI Aviation Group.

"I have no doubt, following this agreement, additional agreements with companies in the region will arrive and they will economically benefit the sides involved."

Updated: August 25th 2021, 12:08 PM

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Farm boy goes from computer engineering the across world to local med student – CHVN Radio

A Manitoban man is proving to himself that anything is possible, including makinga mid-life career change and going to medical school.

Stephen Dueck says growing up on a farm in southeast Manitoba taught him hard work. This is amentality that helped him to obtain his Master of Science in computer engineering, working around the world in places like Saudia Arabia and Nigeria, and stretching past Earthwith the European Space Agency's tech.

"Everything I did as a computer engineer became increasingly about relationships for me," Dueck says. "I found the actual technical solution, it wasn't the most important thing."

A conversation with a managersparked a thought for Dueck.

"I started asking myself 'what if I was as smart as I thought I was?' Which is in some ways; it's a crazy thought. I think everybody thinks they are smart and capable in (their)own way but I started really challenging myself."

In the after-hours of his day job, he began volunteering with people, like newcomers to Canada.

"It really did something to my heart and I wanted that volunteering thing that I was doing after hours to become a full-time part of my life; to be something I thought about and did all the time."

He says using the gift he has been given to quickly learn from books, Dueck decided to go to medical school.

"The simplest idea that I have is that the word sacred and the word sacrificedcomefrom the sameroot. So that the way that I sacrificed the life that I've been given should be sacred and sacrifice as an expression of love, I think in terms of spiritual matters, is thesimplest orienting principle thatIhave."

Watching that sacrifice in his loved ones as they parent,Dueck is inspired.

"Going back to the idea of'sacrifice is love,' it was that level of sacrifice and that level of love that really set the standard for me in my own life. Sowhat I am trying to do with medicine is trying to do something that matches that level, or maybe gets inthe neighbourhood of it."

As he enters the "second half" of his life, Dueck is thinking about how technology can help people who are historically marginalized in healthcare.

Dueck says after donning his white coat, he is keeping it close by all day long.

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