Business and Technology Leadership
Technology Progress and Perspectives from Various States of North America
Digital intelligence for emerging technology trends, activities, innovations, leadership, ventures, and plans
Introduction and Purpose
Technological changes make a substantial impact on the global economy. All developed countries have a significant focus on creating technological innovations. The global technology market is very competitive.
The US economy depends on technology substantially. As a result, many states have started major initiatives to ignite innovation and empower entrepreneurs. The most frequently mentioned technologies are artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data analytics, Mobility, Digital Media, Biotechnology, Telemedicine, and Cloud Computing.
We are now on the cusp of AI revolution.
IoT added a new dimension and more capabilities to AI. Robotics with the power of IоT dеvісе іntеgrаtіоn has elevated machine learning algorithms. With these innovative integrations, rоbоtѕ have started tо outsmart humаnѕ іn terms of соgnіtіvе сарасіtіеs.
As part of my digital intelligence project, I regularly research technology trends and transformation activities, document them and create articles informing residents of the states in North America.
I am pleased that these articles found a good home on NewsBreak. The platform gave high content value scores and distributed them to relevant states. Thus, these articles received substantial views from residents of those states.
On the other hand, unfortunately, the identical versions of these articles on Medium received only a handful of views as the algorithm did not seem to understand the importance of these topics and the research value of the content. I hope this collection can give an opportunity to readers on Medium interested in these important topics to access them easily.
In this post, I created a collection by sharing the links to these articles with a summary so that readers can choose articles that are interesting to them and find them easily in one place.
Massachusetts
Innovative Robotics Ecosystem in Massachusetts Opens New Economic Windows to the Future: Collaborative robotics research, business, and entrepreneurship initiatives create an exemplary economy
This article gives a brief taste of the growing robotics research, business, and entrepreneurship initiatives creating an exemplary economy in Massachusetts. Only the combination of creative people in various organizations working together in an ecosystem has made this economy so robust. Let me give you a brief background about robotics before introducing an exciting robotics ecosystem in Massachusetts. Thе rоbоtісѕ business ѕесtоr evоlvеd with thе сrеаtіоn оf programmable AI (Artificial Intelligence) based rоbоtѕ that саn help humаnѕ. Rоbоtісѕ has grоwn tо include the dеvеlорmеnt, сrеаtіоn, and deployment оf machines thаt еxрlоrе the toughest environments. Intelligent robots can contribute to еnfоrcing law, controlling traffic, fіghtіng fіrеѕ, сlеаnіng hоmеѕ, carrying heavy loads, аnd helping wіth соmрlеx рrосеdurеѕ in hospitals. Robots are known to be hardware-based. But there are also software-based robots. Robotics Process Autоmаtіоn (RPA) is a ѕоftwаrе tесhnоlоgу thаt mаkеѕ it ѕіmрlе tо сrеаtе, dерlоу, аnd mаnаgе ѕоftwаrе robots thаt mimic humаn bеhаvіоr while dеаlіng with digital ѕуѕtеmѕ аnd software. I introduced the business value of RPA. Rоbоtісѕ combines ѕсіеnсе, еngіnееrіng, аnd tесhnоlоgу tо create dеvісеѕ саllеd robots thаt mіmіс humаn behavior. Rоbоtѕ were оrіgіnаllу dеѕіgnеd to реrfоrm repetitive асtіvіtіеѕ ѕuсh аѕ mаkіng vеhісlеѕ оn a car assembly line. Since then a new sector evolved.
Nebraska
Business Growth, Ethics, Governance & Law of Technology for the Future of Nebraska
Even though the state is heavily dependent on agriculture, technology business is growing as well. The young generation embraces technology. Nebraska has startups and aspiring entrepreneurs working on technology innovation. Many startup ventures are focusing on technological advances in Nebraska. Tech Tribune selected ten of the best startups in 2021 based on revenue potential, leadership, product traction, and competitive landscape. They are Opendorse, OpsCompass, CompanyCam, RealmFive, Bulu Group, SecureSky, VIDANYX, Centese, and Travefy. In addition to these startup organizations, Nebraska also has an innovation Campus. As part of the University of Nebraska, Nebraska Innovation Campus is worth mentioning because it connects academia with business organizations. The University of Nebraska has programs in business, computer science, software engineering, and agricultural science. Software engineering is highly regarded and considered its first-of-a-kind program because it is ranked as at this link.
Colorado
Employee Ownership Concept in Colorado Empowers the Capabilities of Technology, Science & Other Businesses
Three key factors are affecting the growth of technology, science, and several other businesses in Colorado. While the government is focusing on legislation items removing hurdles and opening new business opportunities for the private sector, young business organizations are working hard to generate new funds. And large business organizations like Google and Facebook are investing in Colorado. There are many large private business organizations in Colorado. In addition, several federal agencies, such as the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Air Force Academy use Colorado as their basis. What makes Colorado special in economic growth is its unique business model. Colorado has a distinctive business model and a particular focus on employee-owned businesses, giving business responsibility to employees. The Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade has created an inspiring documentary elaborating on the business-ownership focus of the state recently.
Virginia
STEM Education Prepare Us for the Future
How is Virginia progressing in STEM education? A Springer research paper confirms that “the Commonwealth of Virginia is one of the largest employers of STEM professionals in the United States. CodeVA, a nonprofit computer science advocacy organization, worked with Virginia legislators to develop the nation’s first K-12 computer science framework and has trained cohorts of elementary school teachers to integrate computer science and STEM content into all subject areas.” Virginia has a well-organized and proactive Department of Education (DoE) guiding teachers, students, and parents. The vision of the DoE is to maximize the potential of all learners. The mission of the DoE is to advance equitable and innovative learning. DoE has been working closely with the Governor’s Office, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and other state agencies to ensure schools and communities have the most up-to-date information and resources. DoE has a newsletter called TeacherDirect. It provides a direct line of communication with classroom teachers and educators. It includes information about new instructional resources created by VDOE staff and professional development, grant opportunities, and other information of particular interest to teachers and their students. The most outstanding feature of Virginia DoE is the provision of equality, diversity, and inclusiveness. DoE points out that education is our most effective tool to reduce poverty, address racism, and sustain economic advancement for all Virginians. Therefore, the Commonwealth is committed to ensuring that students and families in Virginia, regardless of their race, financial status, or the languages they speak at home, feel welcomed in their schools. One of the most valuable services of DoE for Virginia is School Quality Profiles. Residents can easily search each school and obtain comprehensive qualitative and quantitative information about the educational institutions.
Oklahoma
Digital Citizenship, Technology Education, & Development Incentives: Innovative progress in Oklahoma
Oklahoma’s government promotes technology education, and digital citizenship and provides developmental incentives. These programs integrate technology into teaching and learning via policy development, professional development, government funds, and strategic planning. The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OESD), led by superintendent Joy Hofheister offers monthly education technology meetings every fourth Monday of each month between 3:30 and 4:30. “Under Hofmeister’s leadership, Oklahoma teachers have won two long-overdue pay increases averaging $7,300.” Digital Citizenship is one of the incentives introduced by OESD. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) technology created a tool to help teachers and students become authorized learners and technology users in the ISTE standards. The focus is on fake news this month. In previous months they covered copyright laws and student data privacy.
Nevada
Governor Sisolak Paints a Magnificent Picture on the Blank Canvas of Nevada
This initiative is a bold and non-traditional economic development for a state that experiences a severe economic and financial crisis. Unfortunately, Nevada residents remain vulnerable in this crisis. This reality inspired Mr. Sisolak to create a new and diversified economy for Nevada. His vision is unique, bold, and beyond the box. He opens honest communication using effective communication channels welcoming a diverse set of views. He is not afraid of answering difficult questions. He is prepared to answer them and address concerns. His grand vision is to make Nevada the Blockchain center of the world using the innovation zones idea. This initiative brings zero risks to the government because it delegates the risks to the private sector owners who plan to participate in this initiative. Mr. Sisolak keeps the applicants responsible and accountable for their deliverables. He also sets clear requirements and obligations with ramifications. For example, the private sector applicants will be making at least a one-billion-dollar investment in creating the smart city infrastructure in uninhabited areas. This infrastructure is expected to create a massive impact on the troubled economy of Nevada. The structured approach from the governor’s team is exemplary. Their approach to the solution is methodical and phase by phase with a clear transition plan. It is also strategic, with a long-term goal covering the next 75 years. Thus, 2021 is the start of a transition for the state. Then the focus will be on gradual transformation. The plan starts with a greenfield development opportunity in uninhabited areas. The long-term goal of the initiative is to create 123,600 new jobs and generate 16.4 billion dollars for the economy.
California
Smart Adoption of Emerging Technologies Made California the Digital Media Capital of the World
As an indication from hindsight and the current growth, the region is expected to stay competitive as it created a sustainable technology infrastructure in the form of innovative media platforms. Rather than products, they focus on growing the platforms enriched by new applications. For example, headquartered in California, media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Netflix, and Tik Tok have billions of users globally. In addition, you can find the top 100 media companies listed by Zippia. These companies not only are popular in the US, but they are also reputable globally. A large group of digital media companies is situated in Los Angeles. According to BuiltinLA, 39 media companies in Los Angeles are shaping the future of content. Content is king for now, and interactive content will be significant for our future. While digital technologies and interactive media are shaping our culture, we need to consider human relationships. According to a recent Media Trends report by Deloitte: Everyone is looking to court the consumer — streamers, video game companies, social media services, and advertisers. But courtship is likely only the first step toward building a lasting relationship. In this world of choice, where consumers are “the belle of the ball,” we wanted to understand their behaviors, how they differ, and how M&E companies can best position themselves as long-term partners.
Utah
July is the “Disability Pride Month” in the US. 2021 is the 31st Anniversary of the ADA.
Utah Celebrates Neurodiversity Acceptance in Disability Pride Month. Why Utah? The reason I cover Utah specifically in this article is its statistical significance in the disabled population percentage in the US. According to stats, Utah has the lowest percentage of the disabled population, depicting 9.1%. The following diagram shows the top lowest range and the next diagram shows the top highest range per state. Numerous non-profit organizations and communities are supporting Disability Pride Month in the US. The easiest and quickest way of winding the centers is through the ADRC (Aging and Disability Resource Center). ADRC (established in 2003) is a collaborative effort of the US Administration for Community Living, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Veterans Health Administration. It is designed to streamline access to long-term care. The purpose of pride month is to promote visibility and awareness of the positive pride felt by people with disabilities. These people may come from different settings, including various ages, ethnicities, religions, and socio-economic backgrounds. The known problem is that some people try to hide their disability, causing emotional and mental stress in many walks of life. These stressful situations may cause some undesirable health issues. This special month encourages residents to accept their disability and share their experiences with others confidently.
Miami — Florida
Unlimited Supply of Cheap Nuclear Energy May Open New Doors To Crypto Wins For Miami
Algorand is new crypto getting attention from crypto enthusiasts globally. Miami‘s mayor, Mr. Suarez, is very outspoken. He voices his thoughts, feelings, and plans publicly in several online forums and in social media. The focus of Mr. Suarez is sustainability. He shows his leadership thinking ahead of his time. He emphasizes Miami’s future on clean and cheap nuclear power as a source of energy for crypto mining. Location does not matter for crypto mining. These miners require two critical resources: a high-speed internet connection and cheap energy for computing power. High-speed internet is not a big problem in the US except in a few states like Montona. Internet speed, even in those states, is not a show stopper. However, energy requirements really matter. Miami is a city with one of the largest expatriate populations in the US. As a result, many residents, instead of using traditional bank accounts, use crypto for money transfers overseas. This view is shared widely in the press and social media. For example, Business Insiders published an article titled “Miami could become the crypto capital of the world, with help from its large expatriate population, say, finance experts”. With the passionate leadership of Mr. Suarez, natural energy sources of the city, and widespread acceptance by residents, Miami can be a central location for crypto mining and trading in the US. This innovative approach can contribute to the city’s business and economic development, leading to the spread of this imminent technological and economic construct globally.
New York
E-Bike Technology, Commute Agility, & Health Focus Define More Sustainable Cities
Leveraging technological advances with health and fitness awareness can contribute to sustainable lifestyles for large cities. E-bikes became very popular with the introduction of Citi Bike, one of the most extensive bike-sharing services, offering 21,500 bikes at over 1,400 stations. New York City has now over 4,500 shared e-bikes. Annual membership to Citi Bike is $179 or billed $15 per month. This membership service includes 45 minutes of classic bike rides, speed-up with e-bikes, and quickly unlocks with a free key. Recently another company has started an e-bike sharing service in New York. JOCO, a micro-mobility brand, is merging sustainability and convenience concepts. JOCO’s mission is to bring joy to commuting in New York. Their premium electric-assist bikes are built from quality materials and provide easy rides for beginners. JOCO’s membership cost is higher than Citi Bike. The annual membership cost is $450, and the monthly charge is $49. It includes $45 e-bike riding and costs $0.25 per min after that. JOCO provides free helmets. And in February 2021, Revel introduced an e-bike subscription service for New York City residents for $99 a month. The service includes an e-bike manufactured by Wing and delivered to customers’ homes. In April 2020, the New York City Council legalized the use of e-bikes and scooters. The top speed for e-bikes is up to 25mph, and for e-scooters up to 20mph. In addition, E-bikes and e-scooters were legalized statewide when the state budget was passed in April 2020.
Colorado
The Sustainability Laws & Emerging Technologies: Addressing Transportation Problems of Colorado
Governor Jared Polis signed a bill into law in June 2021: “Sustainability of the Transportation System”. The primary purpose of the law is to fix Colorado’s underfunded transportation system and make it more sustainable. Elimination of human intervention via technology is a common trend in the transportation industry. Courier drones, self-driving cars, and trucks are prime examples. Now even flying cars, such as by Klein Vision, are on the horizon. And more excitingly, we create space programs and plan to move other planets too. Before introducing the law, let me give you context for my article and a high-level background on the transportation industry. It appears to be a growing problem in every part of the globe due to increasing population and socio-economic factors. In a nutshell, the function of the transportation industry is to move people and goods from one location to another. Even though this definition sounds so simple, it is one of the most complex and involved industries. The transportation industry evolves rapidly. Government, technology, and business organizations spend and invest billions of dollars in fixing and improving transportation problems. Issues are not only economic, technological, and business-related but also touch on the physical and mental health of citizens. For example, accidents, road rages, and heavy traffic affect the well-being of commuters.
Chicago — Illinois
What Does It Take To Be A Smart City? Chicago is a Smarter City Thanks to the Internet of Things & Array of Things
I posted several articles about IoT on News Break, providing business, technical, and design background. My intention in this post is how IoT is a significant industry in Illinois, especially in Chicago. To set the context, one of the critical use cases of IoT is the provision of smart cities. A smart city uses various IoT sensors and other electronic devices to collect valuable data, analyze them and optimize resources accordingly. Some everyday use cases for smart cities can be electricity, water, gas, transportation, traffic management, waste management, crime detection, public safety, and improvement of hospital services. Another important concept related to IoT is the Array of Things (AoT). This is a critical term for smart cities. AoT is a collaborative effort among scientists, universities, federal and local government, industry partners, and communities to collect real-time data on the urban environment, infrastructure, and activity for research and public use. One of the enablers of AoT ‘cyberinfrastructructure’ in the US is the Sage project. The Sage project aims to design and build a new kind of national-scale reusable cyberinfrastructure to enable AI at the edge. Sage will be tested both in AoT and NEON (National Ecological Observatory Network) with enhanced climate and environmental measurement capabilities.
California
Biotechnology Innovation Excellence & Business Leadership in California: The importance of biotech & how California excels in this business domain
Biotechnology (Biotech) is not a buzzword or hype anymore. Yet, it has its substance and impact on the national and global economy. Biotech-careers reports 8,150 employers of biotechnology in the US and 2,248 of them in California. Before introducing the progress in California, let me give you a very high-level overview of biotechnology introducing its meaning and relationship with other disciplines. First, it can be helpful to understand what biotechnology means, its scope, and the problems it solves. Then, I touch on the business and economic aspects of this exciting field in California. Biotech covers the use of technology for living beings to create new systems, products, and tools from organisms. Healthtech I introduced in another article on News Break is closely related to biotech from a products and tools implementation perspective. As the name suggests, biotech uses technology for manifesting biological outcomes. Contributions of informatics, artificial intelligence (AI), and other emerging technologies such as Big Data, IoT (Internet of Things), data analytics, and Cloud Computing have accelerated the growth of this sector. Even though biotechnology is considered as part of the primary discipline of biology, its scope is extensive. It overlaps with several science disciplines and medical fields, including medicine, genomics, genetic engineering, bioengineering, immunology, and pharmaceuticals.
Tennessee
Startup HealthTech Champions Strive for Well-being of Citizens: These fresh and brilliant Tennessee brains solve fundamental problems in the healthcare industry.
Healthtech includes information technology tools, processes, and people involved in the healthcare industry. Many health tech companies use artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, data analytics, data science, and Cloud Computing. My aim is to give perspectives on healthcare issues that we face and how rapidly emerging technologies address these challenges. In addition, startups present a fresh lookout for this problematic sector. Healthcare and technology are two substantial and inseparable industries in the US. As recorded by CMS.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) national health expenditure data, the industry is reaching $3.8 trillion, meaning $11,582 per person. In addition, according to Statista, the U.S. spending on technology products, services, and the staff was estimated to reach around 1.94 trillion U.S. dollars in 2021. According to Startupranking.com, there are 65,703 startups in the United States. Additionally, Tracxn reports 57,130 startups operating in the healthtech sector. As updated on June 30, 2021, by Tracxn, 137 healthtech startups exist in Nashville, Tennessee.
Florida
Are We Losing Freedom of Speech? Why Florida government focused on content moderation from a different angle and how others reacted to this perspective
Florida is the first state attempting to regulate how social media organizations moderate online content. Can we really regulate the Internet, or more precisely social media like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube? Many attempts to regulate the Internet failed in the past. Probably people of my age would remember this historical speech by John Perry Barlow in 1996. It is called “A Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace”. Content moderation has a substantial impact on the economy, business, politics, freedom of speech, quality of life, international collaboration, and society’s overall well-being. While we all have differing views on social media moderation for various reasons, especially its implementation affecting the free speech of citizens, many experts believe moderation is essential for social media platforms. Otherwise, the internet will be full of harmful materials and thus will be unusable. Finding the middle ground in this discussion is challenging and certainly is not a trivial task. Content moderation on the Internet became a big issue since the emergence of gigantic networks like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Quora, Reddit, and many more. If moderation does not happen, possibly all we see is disturbing and harmful content for society. Content related to porn and drugs prevails on the web. Many public content platforms invest millions of dollars to keep their sites safe and secure for the public. Artificial Intelligence (AI) plays an important role in detecting, monitoring, alerting, and censoring content to some extent. However, AI is still not sufficient to understand the subtleties of human language. Some complex posts certainly require human intervention.
Seattle — Washington
Seattle Startup Ventures Shine Brighter in Tech Industry: Many tech startup ventures are flourishing in this fascinating city.
Something is special about Seattle as far as computer technology is concerned. As a technologist, I have been observing technological developments in Seattle since 1986 when Microsoft moved to the Redmond campus, in the Seattle metropolitan area, and other offices in Bellevue and Issaquah. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Seattle had 174,740 computer and mathematical jobs, accounting for 8.9% of local area employment, significantly higher than the 3.3% share nationally in 2020. In addition, the average hourly wage for this occupational group locally was $61.42, significantly above the national wage of $46.53. Why does Seattle depict these shining scores in the tech industry? The first idea coming to my mind is innovative tech companies choose Seattle as their headquarters. Everyone knows about Microsoft, Amazon, Salesforce, and Instructure. But there are so many more. You can search them at this link. I reviewed a remarkable report posted by Adrienne Teeley on the BuiltInSeattle site. The opening of the report is a piece of excellent news for Seattle citizens: “Seattle closed out the decade with a bang, with local start-ups raking in a collective $3.5 billion in venture capital last year”.
New Jersey
Permit the Use of Telemedicine for Medical Cannabis The emergence and implications of telemedicine and telehealth for the US Healthcare System
According to WHO, a key challenge is to ensure that all people enjoy the benefits of digital technologies. This organization makes sure that innovation and technology help to reduce the inequities in our world. WHO advises that countries must be guided by evidence to establish sustainable harmonized digital systems, not seduced by every new gadget. As emphasized by NCBI (US National Center for Biotechnology Information), inserting technology into a medical intervention should not be without deliberate design. According to the NCBI research workshop report (The Role of Telehealth in an Evolving Health Care Environment), Telemedicine has “seven deadly barriers”. They are money, regulations, hype, adoption, technology, evidence, and success. The umbrella term “digital health” refers to the use of digital technologies for health. It covers eHealth, mobile health (mHealth), and the use of information technology domains such as big data, artificial intelligence, mobility, and IoT (Internet of Things). Mobile wireless technologies such as smartphones helped mHealth to gain acceptance for over a decade. Telemedicine has manifested with the emergence of supportive telecommunication devices, enhanced video systems, and smart applications. As defined by WHO, telehealth is the most basic engagement of eHealth, involving telecommunications and virtual technology to deliver health care outside of traditional facilities. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy to deliver a conditional veto to the Senate.
Montana
Why We Need Faster Internet: The Internet has become essential in all walks of life. Our business, education, and health require the Internet.
One of the necessities was created by the recent pandemic. Many Americans work from home. Many schools provide distance education. Remote work and education require fast Internet. Employees need to use audio and video tools that require a fast internet connection. For example, one of the commonly used communication tools is Zoom. Zoom software, owned by Zoom Video Communication, provides video-telephony and online chat services to workers. Zoom uses a peer-to-peer architecture using Cloud Computing services. Zoom is not only used for work but also social relations and distance education. The best solution to fast Internet is using “Fiber Optic” technology which can provide a speed up to 1000 Mbps (1Gpbs). This means that the state would need more fiber cables installed. Many government, business, and educational organizations started using optical fiber communications. According to Fast Speed Internet, there are 37 Internet providers in Montana. The top three are Xfinity, AT&T, and CenturyLink. In addition, GooglePlay has a mobile app for Montana Internet users. According to the GooglePlay site, Montana Internet Support runs a variety of network tests and diagnostics. It’ll then identify problems with your network that could be reducing your available internet speed and give you basic instructions on how to resolve them. The Internet has become a utility as important as electricity, water, and gas. We need it for business, education, health, entertainment and more. All our citizens need a fast and reliable Internet connection to survive and thrive in this economic climate.
North Carolina
North Carolina is Getting a $1B Slice of the $430B Apple Pie: What does the $1 billion investment of Apple mean for NC citizens?
Apple brings great hope to North Carolina for contributing to tech employment in the state. On 26 April, Apple announced an acceleration of its US investments, with plans to make new contributions of more than $430 billion and add 20,000 new jobs across the country over the next five years. This press release from Apple subtitled as “The accelerated commitment will fund a new North Carolina campus and job-creating investments in innovative fields like silicon engineering and 5G technology”. Yesterday, another great news hit the press for North Carolina. A news piece from ABC11 News reported: “Lowest paying Apple jobs in RTP will be worth $133,000 a year, new documents reveal”. The report mentions: “The records from the Department of Commerce show the state’s Economic Investment Committee approved an $845 million jobs grant that would be tied to new jobs created for the proposed project through the end of 2032. Apple would have to create a minimum of 2,700 jobs by then to avoid defaulting on the grant. Governor Roy Cooper introduces the progress in this video as embedded from the ABC11 site. In Apple’s April news release, the particular area that attracted my attention to North Caroline was the section titled “Establishing a New North Carolina Campus”. This section mentions that: As part of its investments and expansion, Apple plans to invest over $1 billion in North Carolina and will begin construction on a new campus and engineering hub in the Research Triangle area. The investment will create at least 3,000 new jobs in machine learning, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and other cutting-edge fields. Creating new jobs in artificial intelligence, machine learning, and software engineering is of particular interest to the Research Triangle Park (RTP).
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Lawmakers Request Firmer Rules About Controversial & Invasive AI Surveillance: Artificial Intelligence tools are growing persistently and causing perceived intrusion of privacy
The purpose of this article is to highlight critical concerns caused by invasive surveillance technology leveraging a recent law change request in Massachusetts. In a report by CyberBizSource, as Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey seek a federal facial recognition ban, Massachusetts lawmakers push for stricter state rules on this controversial AI and biometric technology. Pressley’s and Markey’s proposals aim to narrow public agencies’ ability to use controversial AI biometric software in Massachusetts. The report quoted Carol Rose, the chief director of the ACLU of Massachusetts, who said: “This law is an important step towards reining in facial recognition expertise and defending all individuals from invasive surveillance. In Massachusetts and nationwide, individuals ought to have the ability to search for medical therapy, attend spiritual providers, and go to family and friends without worrying that authorities companies are protecting tabs on their every move.” Biometrics can invade our privacy overtly. The impact and implications can be severe. The issues of Biometrics are globally known and widely discussed in science, technology, legal, and ethical forums. It is a concern for business, government, and academic organizations. From a technical perspective, the premise of using biometric software is to rely on the difficulty of impersonating the human presenting the trait to a device. As human beings, some of our markers, such as fingertips and eye retinas, are unique. As a result, they are more powerful and reliable than passwords and digital tokens. However, they come with inherent issues. Within the broad spectrum of biometrics, the most controversial aspect is “face surveillance” systems. These systems are designed to analyze images of our faces to identify and track citizens at a distance without their knowledge and consent.
Chicago
The AI McDonaldization Era Means Humans And Robots Must Work Side-By-Side: Burger robots are already cooking delicious meals. And MacDonald’s AI voice recognition system is at ten drive-throughs in Chicago now.
Food safety is a critical concern globally. It affects our health. AI is one of the tools to create food safety. Automation and standardization using AI can reduce human errors hence increasing safety and reducing risks. As we know, computers are more consistent than humans. They follow instructions based on logic. They don’t have the emotions to change procedures based on their urges and mood swings. Thanks to IoT (Internet of Things) and Big Data, machines get smarter and make better-informed decisions. IoT sensors can observe and monitor conditions in food. For example, they can keep particular foods at required temperatures. Uncooked food can cause food poisoning. IoT devices can address this situation. For example, when cooking utensils have been configured for a specific temperature, they ensure the food is cooked properly. Some foods may require a very low temperature to preserve them properly. IoT-equipped refrigerators can be programmed to safeguard these types of food. By keeping our food stores at the required temperature, we can prevent food degeneration and wastage. These intelligent devices can prevent foodborne sickness. Many AI initiatives are happening for cooking and cleaning food. For example, NVIDIA robotics research opened New AI Research Lab aiming to create reactive, adaptive, and human-like actions. You can learn more about the NVIDIA robotics experience from this YouTube video by Nathan Ratliff, Distinguished Research Scientist. Robotics is proliferating and becoming mainstream in the food industry. However, not all restaurants can afford these expensive tools. For example, Flippy is around $60K. Miso Robotics partnered with CaliBurger, a fast-food restaurant chain, to create Flippy, the world’s first autonomous robotic kitchen assistant, as reported by NBC News in 2018. You can watch the demonstration of Flippy in this YouTube video.
Los Angeles — California
How Professional Gamers Earn Money With Twitch: Smart gamers use the largest streaming platform with massive traffic collaboratively.
Twitch is a live streaming platform focused on video game streaming. Sometimes people confuse Twitch with normal video gaming channels such as YouTube. The key difference is that you can watch videos on those platforms, but you can manage real-time streamed content on Twitch. So, the main difference is lasting content versus streamed content. There are many tools to help gamers to use the Twitch platform more effectively. The most commonly used tools are Sound Alerts, Twitch Tracker, Tipeeestream, Twitch Emotes, SullyGnome, TeeBoard, Virtual Audio Cable (VAC), Virtual Goods LiveExchange, MooBot, and InfoWriter. You can get Sponsor Banners from Steamlabs as explained in this YouTube video. Why is Twitch so important to gamers from a financial perspective? Twitch helps aspiring gamers to become professional winners who earn income by playing. There are several ways you can make money using Twitch. The most common ones are donations, brand sponsorship, merchandising, subscriptions, ad revenues, game sales, and affiliate marketing. To be able to make good money on Twitch, you need a large number of followers and millions of channel views. You also need to understand the fan management and monetising process. You can see the top 30 Twitch influencers from the Top Twitch Streamers page of Influencer Marketing Hub.
New York
A Bizarre And Hilarious Story Likely Caused By Artificial Intelligence Is there a way that a human mind can keep up with an artificial intelligence machine?
AI is not mature enough to think a single person cannot need massive amounts of goods. If it were an average human, he or she would question the anomaly as the first check. So let me elaborate on it. If AI makes an error, it can be at a massive scale. This is a bizarre yet hilarious story within the context of AI. I came across Jillian’s story after reading the tech news and watching a few videos from the US TV stations. Here is what I found. According to NBC News, Jillian received “Lots of packages. Some on pallets dropped off by huge delivery trucks. Over 100 packages later, Cannan, of Buffalo, New York, was inundated with thousands of items she did not order or want. She initially thought the boxes were supplies her business partner ordered, but after opening some of them, she found they contained thousands of silicone support frames to use inside face masks in both adult and children’s sizes.” More notable about Jillian’s response is: “I’m trying to put a positive spin on it. I have four little kids, and I’m trying to show them how to make lemonade out of lemons and just kind of run with it.” The details are elaborated on in this link.
San Francisco — California
Can Artificial Intelligence Eliminate Shoplifting In America? Yes, most likely, it can!
Shoplifting is a severe problem in the United States. According to Loss Prevention Media, there are 27 million shoplifters, equating to 1 in 11 people in the United States today. More than 10 million people have been caught shoplifting in the past five years. And 25% of them are children. These stats are compiled by National Association for Shoplifting Prevention (NASP). Currently, the worst city is San Francisco, California. However, the recent Fox News video encouraged me to pen this article. In a news post by NYPost.com titled “Thieves now mock the rule of law in ‘progressive’ cities like San Francisco”, the situation is highlighted: “Clearly, San Francisco is in trouble. Walgreens officials stated in May that thefts in its Frisco stores quadrupled their national average. The chain has had to shutter 17 locations where merchandise was getting lifted rather than bought”. I reviewed the NASP’s position in this context. I found that the mission of NASP is: “to raise public awareness about the harmful effects of shoplifting on youth, families and communities, unite public opinion toward constructive solutions, deliver needed programs and services and engage community action in prevention efforts to improve the lives of those affected and reduce the number of people who become involved”. NASP’s statement about the shoplifting situation in America is an eye-opener: “The estimated 27 million shoplifting offenders, and the frequency, magnitude and cost of their repeat offenses, are a daily drain on retail resources, but the societal response to misdemeanor shoplifting are inconsistent and often inadequate; thus shoplifting continues to thrive and its escalation is putting store associates, customers, and communities at risk”.
Mississippi
Let’s Meet MISSI! She’s Mississippi’s First Artificial Chatbot. Discover what this artificial intelligent chatbot can do for you.
Before introducing MISSI (Government of Mississippi State Chatbot), let me give you a brief background on AI Chatbots so that you can understand their importance of her better. Chatbots are not toys as they sound. Instead, they are used by business and government organizations for important client and citizen services. According to Gartner, by 2022, 70% of white-collar workers will interact with conversational platforms daily. In another Gartner report, by 2022, $3.9 trillion projected AI-derived business value growth could occur. In addition, a Juniper Research report expects $8 billion projected business cost savings from chatbots by 2022. According to CNBC, 75% to 90% projected percentage of queries to be handled by bots by 2022. Another interesting forecast from Juniper Research points out that banks can automate up to 90% of their customer interaction using chatbots by 2022. One of the reasons for chatbots get attention from business organizations is financial gain. For example, according to a CNBC report, companies can save $0.70 per customer interaction. I have been designing and working with chatbots as part of my AI (Artificial Intelligence) projects for several years. Chatbots аrе intelligent соmрutеr programs that саn mimic humаn conversations bу undеrѕtаndіng the соntеxt of thе message. Nаturаl Lаnguаgе Prосеѕѕіng (NLP) that is a mасhіnе learning tесhnоlоgу makes thіѕ capability happen. NLP аllоwѕ соmрutеrѕ tо receive іnрut in the form of voice оr tеxt from humans, analyze the text or voice, and then rеѕроnd lоgісаllу.
California
Lessons From FBI’s Recovery Of Colonial Pipeline’s DarkSide Bitcoins For Ransomware Attacks: Security awareness, knowledge, and skills can remove fear and empower us in effectively dealing with this situation.
The U.S Department of Justice seized $2.3 million in cryptocurrency paid to the ransomware extortionists Darkside. The Honorable Laurel Beeler, U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of California, authorized the seizure warrant. Ransomware has become a massive problem for governments, businesses, and individuals globally. As a result, cybersecurity Costs Are On The Rise. Many business organizations struggle to deal with the complexity of cybersecurity and prohibitive costs to their budget. Statista website highlights that according to an annual report on global cybersecurity, there were a total of 304 million ransomware attacks worldwide in 2020. This was a 62 per cent increase from a year prior and the second-highest figure since 2014, with the highest on the record being 638 million attacks in 2016. As pointed out by FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate: “There is no place beyond the reach of the FBI to conceal illicit funds that will prevent us from imposing risk and consequences upon malicious cyber actors. We will continue to use all of our available resources and leverage our domestic and international partnerships to disrupt ransomware attacks and protect our private sector partners and the American public.”
New York
Importance of The NVDRS Database & How It Relates to The “LGBTQ Essential Data Act”: Violence never rests. Data is gold for violence prevention.
According to NVDRS (National Violent Death Reporting System) website, in the United States, more than seven people per hour die a violent death. More than 18,800 people were victims of homicide, and over 48,000 people died by suicide in 2018 alone. NVDRS is the only state-based surveillance system pooling more than 600 unique data elements fed by multiple sources into a usable and anonymous database. NVDRS covers all types of violent deaths. It includes people of all ages with specific entries for children, youth, and the elderly aiming for violence prevention in its system. NVDRS is a critical system because we need to know the facts. With only facts, we can find a mechanism to prevent violent deaths. Facts are required by medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement officers. The systemic problem is the lack of coherence and integration in data systems to provide a comprehensive and complete picture of the facts. Without federated data systems, it is not possible to satisfy the requirements of investigators. NVDRS is an integrated system with an anonymous database fed by collected facts from death certificates, examiner and law enforcement reports. CDC (Centers for Disease Control And Prevention) makes this essential database available for decision-makers and program planners to develop and customize violence prevention work. The reason I introduce and highlight the importance of NVDRS is its necessity for a bill. The “LGBTQ Essential Data Act” would require law enforcement to include sexual orientation and gender identity information. Sean Patrick Maloney’s statement is important to understand.
Texas
Texas Governor Informs Us About Signing A Cryptocurrency Law Why does this bill matter?
According to the Texas Government site, Mr Abbott is named “Best Governor in the Nation” in 2020. He continues to build on his record as a strong conservative leader who fights to preserve Texas values. Based on information on Texas Legislature Online History, the bill [HB 4474] was approved on 05/31/2021. The site’s caption text for the bill shows “Relating to the control of virtual currency and the rights of purchasers who obtain control of virtual currency for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code”. As reported in this source, the bill provides a formal definition of virtual currency and outlines guidelines for cryptocurrency businesses in the state. A “Virtual currency” means a digital representation of value that functions as a medium of exchange, unit of account, and/or store of value and is often secured using blockchain technology. Definitions are critical to set boundaries in life and bring order to the business world. Without definition, we will face chaos. The cryptocurrency world is murky. It is full of unknowns. Cryptocurrencies are relatively new and cause unusual clashing with the physical world. As documented in IEEE digital library, the first cryptocurrency paper titled “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” was published in 2009.
Georgia
How Georgia Leads Multiple Technology Sectors To Accelerate Economy: an overview from different perspectives
Georgia leads technology sectors such as telecommunication services, financial technology (FinTech), health technology (HealthTech), information security (InfoSec), interactive marketing, logistics and supply chain technologies, mission-critical data centers, smart energy, digital media and entertainment with an integrated approach. Georgia’s technology sector is promoting a culture that appeals to an emerging workforce. Georgia is building technology clusters with a focus on markets and regions. For instance, Atlanta serves as the primary technology hub representing 66% of the overall technology employment. The first industry group that I want to cover in Georgia is logistics and supply chain technology. The state has a logistics infrastructure that includes around 300 companies involved in the development of technology. These companies support more than 11,000 providers of logistics services operating throughout the state. Georgia is the 12th largest export state and the 9th largest import state in the US.
Wisconsin
The Economic Importance of Health & Information Technology Investment & Jobs in Wisconsin Portfolio
This article introduces some highlights from the Wisconsin Portfolio published by the Wisconsin Technology Council and the Tech Council Investor Networks in 2021. I review the analysis of entrepreneurial and investment activities for health and technology in Wisconsin and share some key economic and business patterns. But, first, let look what fuels at the growth of investment capital in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Technology Council and the Tech Council Investor Networks presented the 2021 Wisconsin Portfolio. It is a premier investing report containing a complete compilation and analysis of entrepreneurial and investment activity in Wisconsin, tracking the investment data of the state. In addition, the Tech Council Investor Networks attempts to create the most comprehensive list of early-stage investing in Wisconsin. These councils gathered and analyzed data using public reports, databases, filings, press releases, company websites, investor surveys, and interviews. They also contacted some entrepreneurs who raised funding. AT&T was one of the sponsors of Wisconsin Portfolio. Looking at this annual trend chart, in 2020, Wisconsin’s entrepreneurs raised $483,663 million. While there 123 deals were closed in 2019, only 114 deals were achieved in 2020. However, investment value in 2020 is higher than the previous year. Early-stage companies completed these 114 deals.
Michigan
Michigan’s Leadership in Smart Mobility Legislation, Technology Innovations, & Business Practices
Despite the global challenges, Michigan is at the forefront of mobility market growth. The state includes over 75% of the automotive research and development, 60% of the industry’s suppliers in the US. A quarter of US assembly plants exist in Michigan. In addition, Michigan ranks number one in new automotive-related jobs created since 2009. The state is known as number one nationally in having the highest concentration of mechanical and industrial engineers. Michigan ranks the first in the nation in connected and automated vehicle projects. The state is also the first in mobility-related patents, including data processing, vehicles, navigation, and relative location, with over 2,500 patents. Many universities have industry-oriented courses. For example, Wayne State University, Michigan Technological University, Michigan State University, and the University of Michigan have multiple engineering programs related to technological developments in Michigan. The Center for Sustainable Systems develops and applies life-cycle and systems analysis methods, models, and metrics for advancing sustainability and transforming systems to better meet human needs. The Center has pioneered methods in life cycle analysis, design, and optimization and has led over 200 research projects focused on a wide range of topics including alternative vehicle technology, renewable energy systems, buildings and infrastructure, information technology, and more.
Alabama
How Technology Accelerators & Innovation Bills Spark Business Passion for Alabama Entrepreneurs
Known as the Yellowhammer State, Alabama has unique technology capabilities and created good economic development outcomes, especially related to technology employment and entrepreneurial empowerment. As reported by Alabama Newscenter, in 2019, more innovation and technology startups moved to Alabama. The report commented, “Alabama has quickly established itself as an attractive home for founders wanting to launch and grow startups”. The report quoted Britney Summerville, vice president of community involvement at Shipt, who commented: “Technology is a huge part of our thriving ecosystem right now, and we are seeing no signs of that slowing down. We want to continue to remind our legislators and supporters of business in the state that technology is here and growing and that we’ll do it better and do it more with everybody’s support.” Like any state, the economy slowed down in Alabama. Closure of businesses in some significant sectors of the economy caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in sudden drops in employment and economic output in 2020. However, there was a piece of good news on This is Alabama that published an article last April titled “Alabama sees an uptick in small business during a pandemic”. The critical point in the report is: “Even as Alabama businesses faced seemingly insurmountable odds in 2020, the state’s burgeoning startup community held strong as entrepreneurs found ways to pivot and adapt to new challenges.” Technology jobs in Alabama look promising. A press release by CompTIA in April 2021 informed that technology employment in Alabama expanded by 3,200 new jobs. The data was obtained by Cyberstates based on analysis of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, EMSI (Economic Modeling Specialists International), Burning Glass Technologies, and Hoovers.
Pennsylvania
Innovation Partnership for Small Business Success in Pennsylvania: How Pennsylvania government and partners lead small business innovations and investments
Small business is a critical success factor for the US economy. According to the Office of Advocacy, small businesses generate 44% of U.S. economic activity. In addition, the news release mentions that small businesses are the lifeblood of the US economy because they create two-thirds of net new jobs and drive US innovation and competitiveness. As the report points out this is a significant contribution. However, this overall share has declined gradually. Despite all, some states make good progress. For example, Pennsylvania is a state which puts great emphasis on small businesses. In this article, I provide a few highlights from this exemplary state on how small businesses get the focus of government and their business partners. The inspiration of the state comes from William Penn who established Pennsylvania’s founding principles of freedom, tolerance, and innovation. As you might have seen in the recent news, Governor Tom Wolf announced a $97 million investment in clean, lead-free water infrastructure projects in 19 counties.
Conclusion
It took me a while to produce these reports based on my recent reviews of the technology and industry literature.
I hope these articles can provide you with useful information on emerging technology trends, activities, innovations, leadership, digital ventures, transformation initiatives, and government plans in various states of North America.
I will add more articles to this collection based on my ongoing research on digital intelligence in this geography.
Thank you for reading my perspectives.
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