Saleh Stevens Discusses How Bitcoin Technology Can Change the World

Bitcoin has been everywhere that some people have an idea of what it is. This digital currency has become a revolutionary technology in transferring funds nearly instantly and without a middleman. It’s already making an impact on the global economy. From e-commerce to programmable ways, Saleh Stevens explains five ways in which Bitcoin could change the world as we know it.

1 – Cheaper Bank Transfers

Banks and credit unions move slower than the Bitcoin technology. Long-distance and international bank transfers can take several weeks, depending on the bank and the location from both ends. Even problems can occur when it comes to cross-border sharing. When using Bitcoin technology, bank transfers are faster and easier than ever.

Most bank transfers take place within minutes. This technology has changed the way the money is transferred among countries and across oceans. This is the most efficient option for investors and trading pastors. This often used by foreign exchange traders who have a wide variety of bank accounts and need to make transactions immediately.

2 – Reduced Reliance on Fiat Money

Currency such as coins, credit cards, debit cards, and paper forms have become the most common ways to exchange money. With digital currency on the rise, the global economy will change in new ways. But it’s still unclear on how Bitcoin will replace the older forms of money. Consumers have used credit cards for paying for products and services online. Saleh Stevens says that people who already own a Bitcoin wallet want to ensure that their digital currency will have the same level of security as their credit and debit cards.

3 – A Boost for Global Remittances

Migrants from developing countries are already seeing the benefits of Bitcoin technology. Unfortunately, fees for international transfers have increased between six and 10% for a $200 transfer. With digital currency, an individual can remain private while sending money to families on their smartphone or tablet. They only incur the fees that have to do with the currency exchanges.

Most virtual currency transfer companies use capital to make up for the delays in international transactions. But these capital requirements are lower than for businesses who rely on digital currencies. This doesn’t include capital costs and the cost of transferring that money. Decreasing these costs can make it possible for smaller companies to enter this industry and for existing firms to help developing countries and smaller areas.

4 – Stricter Regulation of Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin and other digital currencies have increased in popularity over the years. Banks are now finding ways to embrace this new technology. This can lead to increased regulation on cryptocurrencies including the financial problems that they could cause. This includes establishing regulations on the currency supply and implementing a tax system to profit off of Bitcoin’s increased growth. To effectively implement these policies, banks and financial institutions need to keep up with this industry.

5 – More Money for the Poor

The increased popularity in developing countries has taken an interest in developing countries. Sixty percent of e-commerce shopping has taken place on mobile phones. Those with a mobile device can save money and send it to another individual. One downside is the large fees, some as much as 20%.

Digital currencies are a safe and convenient form of payment in developing countries where most people don’t have a bank account. Bitcoin and other digital currencies are a better alternative to the other options that come with high inflation costs. Since Bitcoin has become the most stable currency, it could trickle out to other international financial markets. This is a great way to prevent inflation from happening

jeff-broudy-PCIHIPAA

PCIHIPAA CEO Shares How He Got Involved in medical pci

jeff-broudy-PCIHIPAA

When Jeff Broudy of PCIHIPAA was asked why he got involved in the medical field he said the following:

I was working for Intuit in their Payment Solutions Division.  There were all these medical breaches happening along with credit card processing breaches.  My partners and I decided to start a company that focused on helping private practices with payment card industry (PCI) compliance and that quickly morphed into adding HIPAA compliance services.

He’s also mentioned that the PCIHIPAA reviews left by merchants and other users are quite favorable.

You can read the full interview by visiting:
https://www.sweetstartups.com/health-fitness/jeff-broudy-pci-hipaa/

Danny-Errico

4 Ways New Technology Is Affecting The Stock Market

The stock market of old, where trades are executed over the phone and in person, is no longer. Now, electronic algorithms and brokerages dominate the way that the stock market operates. Trades are now done at lightning speed and transactions costs are much lower than they were during the last century. In addition, information travels much faster, giving individual investors more access to timely news than they ever had. Here are four technologies that are changing the way that the stock market operates.

Danny-Errico

The Use of Apps

Apps make it easier for individual investors to have instant access to the stock market no matter where they are. The use of apps also means that there are lower overhead costs. The combination of easy access and low costs makes it such that individual investors have access to the stock market that almost rivals that of institutional investors. Investors do not need to wait to be in front of a computer in order to make their trades. In addition, access to the stock market is now nearly round the clock. Danny Errico is a developer of technologies that can help with financial investments.

Electronic Exchanges

It used to be that investors had one choice when it came to trading stocks and options. This gave those exchanges an incredible amount of power and leverage in terms of setting securities prices. The proliferation of electronic exchanges has improved the prices that investors receive on their securities transactions. Now, one company can be traded on a multitude of different exchanges, placing the exchanges in direct competition with each other for trading volume. The more exchanges that compete for investors’ business, the better off that investors are. The competition manifests itself in better trade executions and lower costs to trade.

Better Investor Tools

Individual investors now have the same tools at their disposal as the professionals. This includes access to charts and technical indicators. Investors can now get real-time alerts if a stock crosses a key technical level, prompting them to make a trade. The more informed that investors are, the better they are able to perform in the marketplace. Investors are now more able to do their own homework rather than relying on the institutions to provide them with advice. Moreover, the cost to access these tools is declining, making these tools even more accessible to the general population.

Automatic Portfolio Management

The growing trend of robo-advisors takes much of the work and the expense out of managing a portfolio. These financial advisors put a variety of different investment options in the hands of individual investors that they ordinarily could not access. Investors can choose from many different strategies that are available at a low overall cost. These advisors usually charge a percentage of assets under management as a fee. The percentage may even be lower than what a traditional stockbroker will charge. Most often, these accounts are managed on the basis of complicated algorithms so no effort is require on the part of the account holder other than choosing the advisor. This means of investment management relieves investors of the stress of having to make their own financial decisions.

Wall Street is fast becoming a more democratic environment thanks to continuous improvements in technology. This benefits individual investors by leveling the playing field on which they compete. These investors are no longer at as much of a disadvantage as they were previously making investing overall more profitable for them.

Summit Shah

Tech Trends All Doctors Should Be Aware Of

Summit Shah

Each year, we look ahead to the coming trends in technology with a special eye on the healthcare industry. Adapting new technologies to medical care is especially exciting, because it can improve the care of millions of people. This year is no different and there are some exciting breakthroughs on the way.

Telemedicine

Over the past couple of years, telemedicine has started to become more accessible and more widely known. Our technology has now reached a point at which doctors can consult patients over the internet, diagnose some medical conditions, and submit medication prescriptions. This practice provides benefits for both the doctor and patient. The doctor can treat more patients in a shorter amount of time, while bedridden patients or those located in rural areas have greater access to care. Telemedicine is expected to continue to evolve over the next 12 months.

Wearable Technology

We already have wearable tech that records biological data and submits it to the patient’s doctor. Currently, this is primarily helpful in monitoring blood pressure, breathing, and heart rate. There has been limited success in monitoring blood sugar levels, but improvements in that area are in the works. As we head into a new year, wearable tech may be able to record even more valuable information, which will improve patient care.

Smart Pills

Another technology that’s being developed and is expected to hit the market is the smart pill. This technology will deposit a sensor into the blood screen that can record everything from blood sugar levels to the effectiveness of medication. In time, the smart pill may even be used to help allergists, like Dr. Summit Shah, monitor the symptoms of seasonal allergies. This type of internal monitoring and data collecting will help doctors control medication doses more accurately, so side effects can be minimized.

Artificial Intelligence

AI technology is already used in a number of ways in the healthcare industry, including in some of the technologies previously listed here. As we move forward, AI tech is expected to play an even bigger role in healthcare. One primary way it’s expected to change medical treatment is in diagnosing patients. AI programs in diagnostic imaging will provide a higher degree of accuracy, helping caregivers pinpoint tumors and other anomalies more precisely.

Patient Interface Technology

We already have EHR (electronic health record) software, which accumulates all of the data for each patient from billing to treatment initiatives. This technology is expected to evolve, enabling hospitals to communicate more effectively with their patients. These systems will help patients review the diagnosis of their medical conditions, learn more about proposed treatments, and communicate directly with their caregivers. The ultimate goal in improving upon this technology is to allow patients to play a larger role in their medical care.

Specialized Data Analytics

In the past year, big data was the focus of every business, including healthcare. In the coming year, we’re going to shift to collecting more specific data that can be used to customize service for each patient. For instance, analyzing drug use data can help doctors recognize patients at risk of addiction. This type of data may also be able to help doctors judge the effectiveness of medications and other treatments. Using data collecting software will also help improve billing, reducing discrepancies and errors significantly.

There are many more technological leaps forward expected to change healthcare in the near future. In addition to the introduction of new and more effective medical treatments, technology will help doctors provide better patient care and help patients become more involved in their own care. Adapting new innovations for healthcare will help us to better treat illnesses and other health conditions, so we can live longer, healthier, and happier lives.

Sean-Seshadri

6 Certifications All Developers Should Take And Why

Programming skills are on demand now more than ever before, and it is a trend that is not going to change anytime soon. As a developer, you need certifications to help you get ahead in the market by ensuring that you stand out from the competition. If you are geared towards a promotion or getting a new job, a certification will do. If you want to know about the certifications you need to go for, Sean Seshadri advises you to browse through the following programs which will take you to the next level.

Amazon Web Services (AWS Certified Developer – Associate Level)

AWS is a platform the allows you to scale cloud computing for developing web applications. The Associate Level certificate from AWS is for developers who build applications on the Amazon Web Service platform. No prerequisites are available for this program, but you have to take an AWS fundamentals multi-choice exam, security and debugging, plus designing, and deploying cloud-based solutions exams. The exam has approximately 60 questions which take about 80 minutes to finish at the cost of $150.

Microsoft (MTA)

This type of certification targets teenagers or college students who are new to programming. There are several tracks that an MTA Developer takes including Windows development, gaming, mobile, and software development to name a few. There are two ways you can get certification, either on a single track or several tracks. Depending on the path you choose, you need to pass one multiple-choice exam at a fee of $115.

Red Hat

Most of the Fortune 500 companies use open source software that is developed by Red Hat. The RHCJD (Red Hat Certified JBoss Developer) certification recognizes your ability to build JEE (Java Enterprise Edition) applications on JEE-complaint platforms like JBoss Enterprise Middleware Application platform. You can also get ESB Expertise and Camel development certificates.

You have to take a $400 four hour performance-based exam to develop Web projects that are enterprise-ready. The exam includes Web navigation, Web/JSF components, contexts (CDI), identity information through APIs, POJO/JEE components and more.

Puppet Labs

Organizations like Zynga (Farmville) and the New York Stock Exchange use automation software like Puppet IT to manage their infrastructure. Sean Seshadri knows that a developer of Puppet Labs is proficient in creating automation software extensions of Puppet Labs in Ruby language.

The multi-choice exam has 60 questions that cover Puppet functions, facts, faces, testing, report processors, MCollective, integration, and types, and providers. The exam has to be done in 90 minutes, and it costs $200. Although this exam does not have prerequisites, you should prepare by extending Extending Puppet and Fundamentals for System Administrators using Ruby courses.

(CCDH) Cloudera

Apache Hadoop-based software is used by Cloudera to help enterprises process big data sets. Once you get CCDH (Cloudera Certified Developer for Apache Hadoop) certification, you can optimize projects developed by Apache Hadoop. You have to take an exam that has 50 – 55 live questions for about 90 minutes. The exam needs a minimum of 70% as the passing score. The exam costs $295, and it covers data management, querying, and Hadoop infrastructure. You also do not require prerequisites for the exam.

Microsoft (MCSD)

Certifications from Microsoft are highly recognizable. For developers, Microsoft provides several intermediate-level MCSD certificates with its entry-level MTA. The MCSD intermediate-level program offers certifications for Web applications, Windows Store Apps, Application Lifecycle Management, and SharePoint Applications. You have to pass three or four exams that have multiple choices at the cost of $150 each.

How Mobile Apps Like Miss Bongo Avis View The User Experience

The mobile space is the most explored business environment that companies are using. Companies are building their brand by investing heavily in mobile marketing and mobile apps and services. As the budget of many companies gets bigger, there are ways that some companies are using to provide a unique interface to deliver their services. But is it a new way? No, it has always been here with it, and it is in the form of texting.

One company that uses the text messaging user interface is Miss Bongo Avis; it uses this service because it is a universal interface that can be accessed by any mobile phone in any country. How do companies like Miss Bongo Avis and other SMS based services view the user experience?

Consumer interaction is opened up using text messages

Phones come with pre-installed chatting capabilities that can also help you to purchase products, plan your day and even find entertainment. Well, it sounds too good to be true, but companies like Cloe, Magic and Miss Bongo are using text messaging as their interface. The reason as to why text messaging is a great alternative that is becoming popular even though there is a mobile app frenzy is because of its fundamental function which is texting. This is a 2-way communication that opens up the full range of consumer interaction better than mobile apps. Companies benefit from the flexibility that SMS provides to its users.

There is no redundancy for apps

For smartphones, there are very many mobile apps that can make it hard for you to use your phone. Mobile apps tend to make life harder instead of simpler, and that is why text messaging services have become popular because they eliminate the confusion of different apps.

Text messaging is a multifunctional tool that counteracts the precedence of the mobile apps. Users are able to accomplish very many tasks just from one place, at the same time, retaining the functionality of the mobile app. Texting is by far the most used application in all phones as users keep anticipating messages each and every time.

Businesses like Miss Bongo are able to complete the process of service delivery in a matter of a few steps. When you use a texting service, you can still have other mobile apps running because once you send in your message, you receive an answer within seconds.

Companies get efficient interactions with their customers through text messaging

The simplicity of the text messaging service is what brings about elegance in the user experience of a service. If you compare the graphical user interface and the text-based interface, the rules of interaction between apps changes from one app to the other. But in text-based environments, interactions are liberated because they are similar. Users have a clear way of responding to incoming messages without ever going through the headache of a learning curve.

It is not that hard to download an app and use virtual buttons, but nothing is simpler like sending a text message. It is actually simpler for a customer to text a message than to operate an application. When you allow users to communicate in the simplest way possible, it accommodates everyone because it is a universal platform.

Five different people can ask one question in five different ways, but it can be interpreted in the same query and the proper response sent back. This flexibility of SMS has led companies to adopt this user interface. There are companies that use it for simple notifications, while others use it as its core business line. For instance, Seamless sends you a notification of when your food is on its way, while other airlines send you the real-time information of flight details. Miss Bongo on the other end uses SMS to give you some juicy personal details about yourself when you send a message with your complete name and your city.

In summary, SMS service beats mobile apps in different ways. As a company, you should look at ways you can use text messaging to deliver better services to a wide range of users in a simpler way.

 

How To Choose A Data Management Company

Master Data Management

What is MDM? 
The Master Data Management (MDM) concept has been making waves over the past few years, and this is largely due to the sheer amount of data being transferred across various information systems. MDM helps link all the essential business files in a company into a single useful master file. The whole process entails streamlining data sharing within the inner company circle while ensuring accurate and up-to-date data access across multiple stakeholders. According to Oracle Insight, the increased attention on MDM has been fueled by developments surrounding Business Intelligence (BI) applications. The concept is widely used to unlock the true potential of BI as guided by business performance metrics directed by organization’s own master entities.

Although MDM is closely tied to IT, it is in fact a cross functional process-oriented concept that defines how information relating to customers, products, locations and vendors is accessed, processed and used. The leverage afforded by MDM means businesses can now deal with fragmented and inconsistent data, and effectively overcome supply chain inefficiencies, poor market penetration as well as challenges affecting cross-sell and up sell. With MDM in place, enterprises can also avoid data duplicates and everyday business challenges like ineffective marketing campaigns, loss of customer loyalty and increased compliance cost. Data management issues such as data enriching, consolidation, cleansing and sharing cuts across various industries.

The MDM Disruptive Benefits 
MDM can disrupt a host of industries, including packaging, health and life sciences, public sector, retail enterprises, distribution and communication, media and utility industries. Due to cut throat competition, companies in the communications, media and utilities can use the MDM to rationalize customer information. This can go a long way to minimize duplicates and create a unique identifier leveraged to generate single customer view. Since data management is a tasking and costly affair, companies need to invest in efficient Master Data Management tools to help streamline the various processes. Most of these tools are hosted on Cloud to ensure speedy access. The other attractive features about these tools are compatibility with mobile data and comprehensive data analysis.

According to Computer Weekly, the key benefits of investing in Master Data Management tools include:
• Opportunity to access data from single interface. For example, pulling up a client’s CRM and accounts data at once.
• Ability to share common applications and users with little chance of information duplication or reformatting
• Make seamless updates while keeping master data synchronized across the organization
• The MDM tools are highly ideal in organizations that rely heavily on inter departmental data to perform their operations

Factors to consider when choosing MDM company 
There are several important factors to consider when choosing MDM company or platform. According to Exchangewire, the factors include: Local Support, Efficient Data Collection and Organization Capability, Audience Insight and Reporting and Effective Retargeting. Local support is an important deciding factor because of the need to work with a team that will stand with you all through the process implementation. To this end, the MDM Company officials should be able to meet you personally and offer consistent support. A company that is competent in data collection and organization is well-placed to help clients organize first-party data from any data source, whether CRM, mobile platforms, online and offline.

The audience insight and analytics is another important consideration since it helps users differentiate between first and third-party data sources. It also offers insights into ways of engaging the different parties. The insights may include specifics on audience behaviors, interests and demographics. Retargeting is the ability of an MDM Company to create customized campaign-based consumer activities and behaviors. The multifaceted approach can be undertaken online and offline using various devices. The other crucial leads for selecting a Data Management Company include flexibility and cross device access to second party data. The MDM company should be able to identify and reach consumers across various devices and own a third-party data network for crucial insights.

The Profisee Advantage 
Due its transformative digital data management solutions with cross multiple department capability, Profisee has become one of the most powerful entrants in the MDM sector, The company’s data management application Lightswitch solution is designed to give users ultimate control over their data along with quick access to reference data. Users can also the solution to move and improve data when migrating to Dynamics 365. The consultants working for the company are MDM experts with a host of skills in governance, strategic leadership and information management. The company solutions target suppliers, products, reference data, asset locations, customers and everything else. The clients include Orange, Pacific Life, Aarons and GAP, among others.

 

Pros and Cons of Crypto Investing

 

mark-dukas-charlotte

So you say you want to invest in cryptocurrency, do you? While that idea might have gotten you laughed at a few years ago, these days, that type of statement is met with inquisitive looks and questions of “why?”

To be sure, your reasons for investing in cryptos have to be rock solid. Not only is the marketplace incredibly volatile, but with new cryptos arriving every day, you have to be sure about your intentions so that you don’t get sidetracked chasing every new coin that comes on the market. Enlisting the help of a mentor, like Mark Dukas Charlotte, might be a good way to get started.

Still, there are both advantages and disadvantages to getting into this market that you would do well to consider.

Why Should I Invest In Crypto?

The simple answer is, to make money. That’s the main reason anyone invests in anything, whether it be stocks, startups, or cryptocurrencies, but there are a few other reasons to consider crypto instead of traditional marketplaces.

1. Quick Returns. Initial coin offerings are all the rage these days, with some coin startups raising as much as $150 million in only a few hours time. Most startups that raise investor funds are lucky if they’re able to provide a decent return on investment in few years, but investors in some coin startups can cash out in hours with a sizeable return if they choose.

2. Very Liquid. Unlike a traditional marketplace where you have to wait for someone else to buy your stock in a company or for an eventual buyout, coin investors can liquidate their holdings almost whenever they choose. If the coin has a strong enough network of investors, that transaction can happen almost instantaneously. An experienced crypto investor like Mark Dukas can help you decide when the time is right to sell.

3. Full Transparency. While there may be some confusion over what exactly a cryptocurrency does, for those who are familiar with the idea, cryptocurrencies look and act very similar, with the main difference being the network that they operate in. When you invest in a startup, you invest knowing that the company that emerges several years down the road will most likely look drastically different as they pivot to adjust to the market. That’s not the case with crypto: you know what you’re getting and how it operates the moment you buy in.

4. Massive Wealth. It’s not too great of an exaggeration to say that there is an opportunity for such rapid and monumental wealth creation that has never before been seen by mankind. If you had invested $1,000 in Bitcoin around 2010, that investment would have been worth over $100 million today. Mark Dukas has seen several rags-to-riches stories in his time as a crypto investor, and can testify to the heights wealth can reach.

Why Should I Not Invest in Crypto?

It’s not all roses and tulips, however. Before you decide to take the plunge, consider these potential drawbacks.

1. Reliant on Network. Every coin is only as effective as the network that it operates in; if the community doesn’t rally around it, then the network stalls and the coin ultimately fails. Before you invest, take a look to see how many people have bought into the network and whether or not that will continue into the future.

2. High Floor to Entry. Before a coin can even come to market, it has to have a certain amount of capital to develop and implement the coin into the network. If they don’t raise enough money, the coin fails and the company goes belly-up. Be careful that you don’t buy into a coin that will hold no value in a couple of months.

3. The threat of Poor Leadership. For purposes of investing, it’s best to think about every coin as a start-up in and of itself. It needs capital to get started, solves a problem within the community, and has a team of managers that oversee operations. If those managers don’t do a good job of shepherding the business, expect to see a coin that falters and doesn’t reach its full potential. Or, even worse, goes under completely. Every business is only as effective as it’s leadership, and crypto is no different.

4. Incredibly Unstable. This is perhaps the biggest issue facing cryptos on an hourly basis, as Mark Dukas Charlotte can testify to. A coin that seems to be doing really well can tank within a matter of minutes, and skyrocket to 4,000% its initial value an hour later. It’s the most unpredictable commodity on the market today, so if you’re one of those investors that doesn’t like to take huge risks, crypto investing might not be for you. If you can stomach the volatility, however, there’s a lot of money to be made.

 

User IQ

6 Reasons Why Millennials & Gen Z Are More Influenced by Technology

User IQ
Millennials and generation Z are often called by older generations as self-centered, entitled, and indecisive people. Is this really the truth behind these newer set of thinkers and movers? These characteristics may be seen in some of them, but it is not good to generalize the capabilities of this crowd.

In fact, it has been shown that the millennials and generation Z are the most adaptive when it comes to technology. They are the ones shaping the technology. A lot of startups built by millennials are also anchored on technology. Social media has been continuously evolving to cater to their needs. The ages of teenagers and kids who have their own smartphones or have access to social media have generally been younger, according to most studies.

Why is this so? What caused these two latest groups of people to become more inclined to technology than their older counterparts? In this post, we will be looking into several reasons why this population has become tech-savvy than ever before.

6 Reasons Why Millennials & Gen Z Are More Influenced by Technology

1. The 90s was the beginning of the internet revolution

Back in the 80s, the internet was a foreign word. It was only used for commercial or military purposes, and the internet is basically a data space where users can exchange technical information needed to do tasks. With the development of the dial-up connection, graphic-user interface internet browser, it became possible for kids of the 90s and 2000s to explore the world of the internet. Internet sites have popped up for them to read information on, play games, and even learn the language of the web during the time that is was fairly new.

2. The internet became a source of free, easily-accessible information

Since the dawn of the world wide web, and the rise of the search engine Google, it has become possible for people to easily find information online. The older generation was used to sourcing information on the library and traditional media outlets. The newer generation of students can access libraries even bigger than they could ever imagine. The convenience and power of easy access made the newer generation have more user adoption to find information online.

3. Technology has also assisted many areas of business sectors

The business sector used to rely on traditional means. This usually involves setting up a physical outlet for employees, promoting their business on TV, radio, paper and all other forms of conventional methods. With the rise of the internet and gadgets, businesses can now promote their products and services online. They can find partnerships with other companies who assist in customer on boarding and customer success. These used to be methods that were only possible through human contact. With the possibilities that technology offers, these processes can be highly automated for businesses to use. This is why millennial and generation Z startups always have an online domain because of the many advantages it brings.

4. Technology has made the newer generations more connected than ever

Have you heard of the terms online dating, online chat buddies, and video call groups? These are terms that were unheard of 3-4 decades ago. With the rise of technology also comes the rise of interconnectedness. People can now call their family, friends and other loved ones from another side of the globe at no costs. Landline companies have waned because of the popularity of social media platforms where we can be updated with each other’s lives in a single swipe or tap of a button. This has made the newer generations more inclined to technology, as their time proved to be a moment where we are swapping the old developments for the most innovative ones.

5. Technology’s fast-paced nature also changed the course of career development

Technology has made the world evolve in a fast-paced manner. This also means that all aspects of our lives are affected including careers. One of the most in-demand jobs today require some knowledge of technology, such as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) majors. These are subjects that a lot of millennials and generation Z people take because they know that technology is at an all-time high-demand. Even subjects that seem to be untouched by technological advancements also have to operate using high-tech mediums. The world is constantly changing and job evolution is a proof of that.

6. The newer generation has more opportunities to succeed when they have knowledge of technology

Given the current technological advancements, millennials and generation Z are aware that they are in a competitive realm. This isn’t just about job placements, but also in many opportunities in life. When we have access to the latest information, the latest gadgets, the latest tech resources, we are almost certain that we can be ahead of our reluctant counterparts. The simple fact that people make use of better mobile phones, better appliances, and high-end cars is a proof that people want to get ahead in life through technology.

It is interesting to note that even if the younger generation receives criticism for their supposedly “entitled” behavior, we can see that they are also the population who will propel the world into its more advanced state. With technology developing even faster then we can catch up on, we can entrust the younger crowd to take control of the future as they ride and build on these advancements.

Andrew Knight New Canaan

Should Technology in Sports be Limited?

Andrew Knight New Canaan
The world of sports has always been a breeding ground for new technologies which later trickle down to the human on the street who reaps the benefit in their everyday life. As baseball and winter sports enthusiast Andrew Knight New Canaan understands, the introduction of new technologies is something that is highly controversial and difficult to regulate for many. The issue of whether to ban certain technologies is a difficult one to face for governing bodies who are often struck by the need to maintain a level playing field while attracting sponsors and global coverage through the capturing of the public imagination through the breaking of records and new feats of human endeavor.

The use of new technologies has a long history

The introduction of new technologies in sports has been an ongoing issue in many different areas for decades with motorsports often seen as the main area of concern for those who are looking to introduce new technologies. Many sports fans look to the sport of cycling in the late 1980s and early 1990s as the time when technology exploded in the sport and spread into different arena’s.

However, technology and controversy have gone hand in hand for decades with numerous incidents reported over the years such as the ComBat controversy which struck cricket in 1979. Australian Dennis Lillee arrived to bat in a match against England with an aluminum bat in hand instead of the traditional willow and immediately found himself involved in a controversy. Not only did his own captain, Greg Chappell sends out a traditional bat for Lillee to use but the English team complained about the bat damaging the soft leather ball.

The bat was actually designed as a cheap alternative for schools and developing nations to use to encourage the spread of cricket across the world with Lillee using the 1979 Test Match as a marketing ploy to encourage sales. In the weeks after the match, the global cricket authorities banned the use of all bats apart from those created with a wooden face which would not damage the integrity of the sport.

Cycling kicks off the trend for increased technology

The combination of man and machine may be one of the most impressive of recent times with British cyclist Chris Boardman teaming with the engineers of sportscar manufacturer Lotus to create the Windcheetah bicycle. The Guardian reports Boardman had already become interested in the use of technology to assist in developing his own time trial style which was aided by the use of information and data about revolutions per minute and power distribution in the late 1980s; around the same time, engineer Mike Burrows developed a new design for a bicycle which lowered wind resistance and improved the connection between rider and bike.

At the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Boardman debuted the much anticipated and controversial bicycle breaking the world record in the first two rounds of competition and overhauling the world champion Jens Lehmann in just 13 laps of the 4,000-meter pursuit to claim a gold medal. Boardman would eventually retire from cycling in 2000 by taking the world absolute hour record using a bicycle equipped with the technology available in 1972 by more than 10 kilometers showing his own use of technology and data had aided his career as much as the technological breakthroughs made by Lotus, according to The Guardian.

Bodysuits and more

Competition is the driving force behind sports and the desire to break records pushes elite sportspeople to attempt to discover new technologies which can push them towards a greater level of success. The New York Times reports in speedskating and swimming, the use of new technologies has become a controversial aspect of the sports but these are also difficult to eliminate from a sport as the plateauing of various records and performance levels is a major issue which could drive away fans and athletes alike.

The use of full bodysuits was banned by swimming authorities in the early 21st-century after records began to fall in many different events because of the use of new technologies including new fabrics designed to eliminate drag. In other areas, technology has an impact in keeping the playing field level and with safety in mind; during the 1980s and 1990s the battle between javelin throwers Steve Backley and Jan Zelezny which saw regular throws over 90 meters prompted a redesign of the javelin using new technology to keep the equipment in the safety area of athletics track infields.

As technology has moved forward for baseball players such as Andrew Knight New Canaan the need to ensure the human factor in sport remains in play has always been of great importance. Banning all technology would be impossible as many athletes rely on the sponsorship of technology-based groups for survival and to ensure the race to better existing records continues to capture the imagination of the public.