8 Underrated Emerging Tech Companies.

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Welcome back,

Today, we explore these underrated emerging technology companies. All of these companies are unique and I can't wait to see them expand. Be sure to click on the links to read more information on each company.

Uptake

 

 

 

 

Uptake uses analytics and predictive software to increase safety and enhance performance for companies in industries like construction, aviation and mining. Uptake was founded by Groupon.com co founder Brad Keywell and has the backing of construction-equipment giant Caterpillar.

Hudl

 

 

 

 

 

Hudl is a key component in helping more than 100,000 sports teams nationwide win games. The startup allows coaches to record or upload video to its platform, take notes, drawings, or recordings and share it with players on their mobile devices.

 

 

Heptio

 

 

 

 

 

In 2014, Google released the free software Kubernetes — a tool to manage and maintain huge piles of containers that's based on the tech it had developed for the same function. Kubernetes became very popular, with developers all over the world using it in their own computing infrastructures. Now two of its team members have launched a new startup, Heptio, to turn it into a business and make it accessible to other tech companies.

 

 

Pindrop

 

 

 

 

 

Pindrop is a fraud prevention and authentication tool that is now being used in some of the top banks. The company has spent the last five years building up a digital library of audio traits that can pinpoint where and what kind of call is coming through. If the service or the geography doesn't look right, or if it looks like the same kind of phone print that it's picked up over and over again, then Pindrop can flag the call as a possible risk.

 

 

Starry

 

 

Starry makes a receiver called the Starry Point that hangs out your window like an antenna. You can hook up your own wireless receiver or use its own Starry Station, a $250 device that can tell you right from its screen how fast your internet is performing.

Jamf

 

 

 

 

 

What started out as a bootstrapped company founded by two IT guys who loved Macs has become bigger than what they expected. Jamf makes software that lets companies manage hundreds or thousands of Macs and iOS devices. The company has more than 9,000 customers — including one of the world's biggest Mac users, IBM — and has over 38,000 members in its Jamf Nation, an online community for Apple IT professionals.

 

 

Nowait

 

 

 

Nowait allows users to virtually "get in line" at a restaurant and track their place without having to physically be there. In August, Yelp made an $8 million investment in Nowait and and integrated Nowait's technology into the Yelp app. Now, if Yelp users find a restaurant they like, they're now able to get in line using Nowait directly within the Yelp app.

 

Bellhops

 

 

 

 

Bellhops is an on-demand startup for moving. The Tennessee-based company operates in more than 50 cities nationwide and is staffed by local college students. What sets Bellhops apart from other movers is its convenience: you can instantly get a quote online, reserve a moving crew for $1, and choose from three different types of moves. 

 

 

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I am Megan Meier. A victim of cyberbullying.

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I am Megan Meier, this is my suicide.


Most days of my life has been a struggle. I grew up with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and depression due to a long battle with my weight. I'm only thirteen, but I've never felt pretty or worthwhile for anyone. One day I found this social media website called MySpace and through the site I met this boy, a 16 year old boy called Josh Evans, who I thought really liked me. He asked me to be his friend and I accepted.

I really liked him. I just wished I knew his intentions at the time, then maybe I wouldn't be in this situation, telling you this story. I remember we communicated regularly online and although we never spoke on the phone or saw each other physically, I thought "I had finally found a boy who thought I was pretty". I was happy for time, but nothing lasts forever.

A few weeks went by and the boy started to change the way he spoke to me. He would say that he didn't want to be my friend anymore and concluded one of his lasts messages by saying "The world would be much better off without you". Then, the unspeakable happened, my messages with Josh were known to other classmates. They wrote horrible things about me, I didn't understand why they would do that. Was Josh a fake account and I was being tricked into thinking it was real this whole time? I just wanted to be liked. I just wanted a friend. This was too much for me to fathom. I decided Josh was right, so I took my own life.


Megan Meier was a beautiful 13 years old girl whose life was cut short because of cyber bullying.  Her mother, Tina Meier founded the Megan Meier Foundation, to help fight against cyber bullying.

This is the dark side of what the internet can do, so please try to always keep a positive mindset in order to live a good life.

Stay strong!

Interview with a Devops Engineer.

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DevOps is a combination of software development and operations. It is essentially a melding of these two disciplines in order to emphasize communication, collaboration, and cohesion between the traditionally separate developer and IT operations teams.


Akash Jain is a Devops engineer from India. He also was a tutor for Chegg.com but started tutoring on his own. Although we have never physically met, I decided to conduct a short interview with Akash Jain during this blog post to demonstrate his knowledge as a Devops Engineer. Akash is the best tutor I have had and he has a lot of knowledge across many subjects in the Information technology field such as Java and C++ Programming, Database Management and Discrete Structures.


During the interview conducted I asked Akash :


What does a Devops Engineer do ?

As a Devops Engineer my job is to ensure continuous integration and deploy of all the services developed in company. I do that using automation tools like chef, Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes and cloud technologies like Amazon Web service and Google Cloud.

What inspired you?

I didn't choose this profession, the profession chose me. I wanted to be a software engineer or machine learning engineering but the requirements of company were different and I worked accordingly and things fell into place and enjoy the work that I do. It's the new things that I learn at work that inspire me to go to the office everyday.

How do you keeps your skills current ?

Devops is all about keeping yourself updated with the current technologies currently developing and I keep reading blogs and work with people working in big MNC's and observe their work which gives me insights on what I can change in my current implementations and do my work more efficiently.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I like to live in the present and I don't think much about the future. It may be taken as carelessness but in today's world everything is dynamic. I might not enjoy my work after sometime or may get interested in other field. Or it might be that I decide to have my own startup if I am with the right people. So it all depends on where I am, with whom I am and what work I am doing at that point to time.

Thank you so much Akash Jain for taking part in this interview! Also, if anyone reading this blog ever needs tutoring on the field of Information Technology, here is his contact information: akash.jain5587 @ gmail.com


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Futuristic tech that will blow your mind.

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Welcome back,

Here are a few technologies headed your way in the near future:




The Hologram

Design homes. Play games. Build worlds. All using 3 full dimensions. Holograms have already been implemented and used for concerts and other types of entertainment for the masses but what if you could have your smartphone utilize this technology like an episode out of Star Trek: The Next Generation? This technology will change the world and it has so many applications that it deserves its own blog post. 




Household Robots and Drones  

Imagine a world where robots are at your side. They could be helping with the dishes, vacuuming the carpet or fixing the bed. Well, we won't be imagining it too much longer. Whether it is Honda’s ASIMO, a helper bot designed to interact with and aid humans, or a rise in the use of machines to perform human tasks, we can expect that this is not a trend that will slow down anytime soon.




Nanotechnology

Now, that you can imagine a world with robots in your house, try imagining a world with microscopic robots inside your body. These machines are so small that they can be powered by the beating of your heart or the chemical energy inside of cells. With nanotechnology, we can track the progress of diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer, create more efficient batteries, and create damage- and rust-resistant materials that could last forever or break down when exposed to certain waves of light.



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A breakthrough for a paralyzed man.

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Breaking through with a thumbs up!



There hsve been many breakthroughs in technology that have occurred in the past 5 years ranging from cool gadgets to prosthetic arms. However, one breakthrough in particular happened early this year. In an article written by, The Guardian, titled "Paralyzed man moves arm using power of thought", Bill Kochevar, 53, was paralyzed from the neck down due to a tragic accident where he crashed his bike into a truck. Fortunately for Kochevar, he became the subject of a neuroscience based experimental technology where he could actually move his arm using electrical implants in the motor cortex of his brain and sensors in his arm. 



The technology was pioneered by the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. The technology is the first of its kind and is developing at a slow progressive pace. A quote from the article reads:

So far it has helped a man with Tetraplegia to reach and grasp, meaning he could feed himself and drink. With further development, we believe the technology could give more accurate control, allowing a wider range of actions, which could begin to transform the lives of people living with paralysis.

We know this technology is very new, but once it is fully developed, it will provide many more people suffering from this condition with a chance at a better life. If you would like to read the full article please do not hesitate to click on the link above. 



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Net Neutrality. Why you should care.

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Welcome back, 

Today, I will discuss a little on net neutrality and its importance and the impact it has on the internet community.

So... What is net neutrality? 

The internet is a vast interconnected pool of seemingly endless data. Through the principle of net neutrality, packets of data are sent to everyone in the world equally. Basically, the internet stays open to everyone without discrimination. 

So... Why should you care ? 

Net neutrality is being threatened by those who seek to control it's traffic. These bigwigs are Internet Service Provider's or ISP's, who (with the downfall of net neutrality) can dictate usage terms for both websites and users alike. An ISP can charge more to those users consuming more of those precious data packets. If you liked streaming video before, you might end up having to cut the habit. ISP's can also charge those companies that provide the streaming video that you like watching, like Netflix and YouTube, to maintain a certain streaming speed on their end. 

The FCC is currently fighting the hard battle and standing up for net neutrality. We all use the internet, whether it be for knowledge, free speech or just to make an honest living and net neutrality keeps things afloat. These companies are becoming ruthless in their endeavors to control the internet but the internet can never truly be contained and the fight will keep going.

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How To Do Computer Yoga.

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Welcome back,

We are so dedicated to our work sometimes that we forget to take a break and stretch our problems away. Everyone needs a break, so if you're feeling wound up in work or at school, here is how to relax with computer yoga. Then you will be able get back to work feeling refreshed and ready to take on the day!


Follow these steps and you're guaranteed to feel better thoughout the day.

1. Move your head and chant the "om" mantra in your head. Turn your head left and right and then, forward and backward. 
2. Move your shoulders so that all tensions resolve. Find the way that works best for you. Move forward, and then move another way round. Move with your elbows and keep chanting the om mantra.
3. Move your spine to the right and the left side. Chant the om mantra when you're doing this.
4. Massage your body from head to feet. Hold your hands together over your head, rub the palms, visualize the sky above you.
5. Move your hand and send good vibes to your loved ones and to all people.
6. Rub your palms together. Feel the energy moving through your hands.
7. Put your hands on your legs or your belly. Make your mind calm and think the mantra "Om" in your head, your thorax, your belly, your legs, feet, in the earth and in the whole cosmos. 
8. Stop your thinking for a minute. Simply sit there. Don't think about anything.
9. Done!

 
I hope this works for you !

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Prosthetic Arm Wikipedia Post Follow Up.

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Welcome back,

Turns out the additional entry I posted on the Internet Of Things, about the DEKA Luke Arm on Wikipedia has remained in the Medical and Healthcare section of the post. Here is what the Wikipedia post look's like now:

IoT devices can be used to enable remote health monitoring and emergency notification systems. These health monitoring devices can range from blood pressure and heart rate monitors to advanced devices capable of monitoring specialized implants, such as pacemakers, Fitbit electronic wristbands, or advanced hearing aids.^[49] Some hospitals have begun implementing "smart beds" that can detect when they are occupied and when a patient is attempting to get up. It can also adjust itself to ensure appropriate pressure and support is applied to the patient without the manual interaction of nurses.

^[81] Specialized sensors can also be equipped within living spaces to monitor the health and general well-being of senior citizens, while also ensuring that proper treatment is being administered and assisting people regain lost mobility via therapy as well.^[82] Other consumer devices to encourage healthy living, such as, connected scales or wearable heart monitors, are also a possibility with the IoT.^[83] More and more end-to-end health monitoring IoT platforms are coming up for antenatal and chronic patients, helping one manage health vitals and recurring medication requirements.^{[citation needed]}

Medical advancements have taken many forms, such as the Research & Development Corporation (DEKA) prosthetic limbs for disabled amputees. The battery powered arm uses myoelectricity, a device that converts muscle group sensations into motor control. FDA has already approved these arms in 2014. The arm is nicked named Luke Arm after Luke Skywalker (Star Wars).^[84]

Also, Click Here to access the Wikipedia Post and Click Here to access my previous blog post on the matter.



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Facial Recognition.

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Welcome back,

Facial recognition is becoming a major issue for our security. This technology was supposed to be only government centric but has trickled down into consumer markets. In a recent blog post from Photoshelter.com, Allen Murabayashi, CEO of photoshelter, writes on the dangers of this increasing trend. He states, Facial recognition is a particularly problematic form of biometric identification because it doesn’t require us to ink our fingers or speak into a microphone. The mere act of stepping out onto the street in most big cities guarantees that we will be captured by a camera, and in the future, we will be automatically identified (if it isn’t already happening)."  Click here or the image above to see the full post. Moore speaks on the societal impacts of this technology.



What are the impacts of facial recognition technology on our society?



With this fairly new technology, privacy will always be an issue, the main problem with facial recognition is that we can be easily tracked and our whereabouts can be kept and stored in databases without consent. For example, a person can be a identified at a store and the tracker can know exactly where they'll be going in public all through facial recognition. The worst part of it all is that it is completely invisible. This technology has the potential of being very dangerous and poses a great threat to our personal security.




What are my comments? 

I feel what we are looking at here is a "double edged sword". There are some definite pros and cons to this technology. One pro, I feel the most obvious, is would the capture and constant tracking of criminals. One con I think is relevant, would be for anyone that has access to these type's of facial recognition databases can use it to invade someone else's privacy. It is definitely something that needs to be handled in a court of law. 





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More links to cool websites on the internet.

Hello all,

Welcome back!

Today I have researched more websites for you guys (and gals) to explore. Have fun and don't forget to checkout this link to my previous blog post for other cool websites. Enjoy!





Patatap.com

Patatap is an interactive website that responds to the keys on your keyboard with a sound and a brief animation.  Once you start typing in random paragraphs, it becomes almost hypnotic, in a way. A fun way to unwind and relax. Trust me, it'll do wonders during a bad day.

  HiveStory.com

Here’s something for the writers among you: This website is an online platform to create and collaborate on a story. You sign up, write your contribution, and then the members vote on how the story will take place. Should be a fun process to see how a story that you contributed to unfolds. 






Addicted2success.com

Addicted 2 Success features articles that are designed to inspire and empower people who are looking to turn their life around. There’s entrepreneurship, self-development, and an all-round focus on success and on getting things done!













There you have it! Have Fun!

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Links to cool websites to look at on the internet.

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Welcome Back,

 Because  I care about your well being and to make sure you guys are staying proactive, I have decided to composed a list of three cool websites you guys can look at on your downtime. Click on the hyperlink to check them out!

Coursera.com

With Coursera.com you can learn from literally thousands of options, a lot of which are free. Knowledge is power after all, especially unnecessary knowledge!

Duolingo.com

This website is especially useful for learning many different types of languages. You never know, you could be saying pick up lines in French and reading books in Mandarin.









Goodtricks.net 

 This website is not as productive but still useful. Learn magic tricks on the fly and become the next David Blaine. Plus you can always use it to impress some friends. 

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The Nemesis Machine. A cybernetic utopia.

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Welcome back, once again!



Today I am going to introduce a video demonstrating the nemesis machine.

The nemesis machine is a mini city made up data processing hardware, lights, and spinners. The city is actually a piece of artwork that focuses on how we consciously or unconsciously influence each other. The mini city demonstrates the movement of data in real time across the internet. The lights and buzzers are all the result of sensors across London being used for surveillance information. The nemesis machine shows the reactions to the constant changes coming from many sensors in London.

The nemesis machine poses the question of who the data belongs to and raise's the issue of privacy through our everyday contributions to the ever changing force that is data. 

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3D printing. Truly amazing!

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Welcome back!

Take a look at this,

The objects shown in the picture above are the result of a fairly new kind of technology called 3D printing. 3D printing combines layers of material to create virtually any object using a digital model via the internet.


Below is a picture of the actual 3D printer used to create these objects.

It is called the Formlabs Fuse 1 SLS 3D Printer and if you planning on buying one, you are going to have to pay the starting rate, which is at 10,000 dollars.


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Virtual Reality. What's real?

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Welcome back!

Here are some videos demonstrating 360 view which is a type of virtual reality. Although, these videos are better appreciated through devices like Google Cardboard, you can still toggle around the video to experience the 360 view. Try it in full screen!

PAC-MAN 360

Every Super Mario Game Ever 360

Annoying Orange in 360

I hope you've enjoyed the this taste of Virtual Reality!

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Say goodbye to these products and services!

Hey you!

 Nice to see you back! (not really).

Yoo-hooo!

The internet moves fast! So quickly in fact that every year there is always a new piece of tech out to get.  So with all of these exciting treats being produced and distributed on the regular, the younger generation doesn't have any time to appreciate old technologies that came before them. When I was growing up I remembered hanging on to my cassette player and using my old desktop windows 98 (that thing took up so much space) but eventually I had to move on to CD players and the more convenient laptop. So here are some product and services that will disappear just as my Sony Walkman cassette player (with the FM radio and bass booster) did so many years ago and corresponding reasons why. 

•  Cash, checkbooks, credit cards and ATM's-online banking takeover
•  USB sticks-Cloud storage takeover
•  Passwords-Biometrics takeover
•  The remote control-Remote control app takeover 
•  Static documents and paper agreements-Cloud agreements/Encrypted email takeover  

So there you have it, maybe you might miss them or maybe you wont but regardless its happening whether we like or not. The over is coming... Sounds spooky right? eh, maybe not.

Even so, I'd like to dedicate a long overdue moment of silence for my Sony Walkman cassette player (so many memories).

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3 Things I dislike about the internet... lol

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Welcome Back! 

We all know that the internet of things (IoT) is derived of the many things that make our lives more simple but, that doesn't mean that everything on the internet is good for us. This blog is about the amazing things that are produced in the IoT but, just to show you that I'm not a robot sent to brainwash you into thinking the internet is without it's flaws, I have decided to come up with this list of 3 things I dislike about the internet. Im sure most of you can relate. Enjoy!

1.It Makes Me Angry 

I don't know about you, but I do pretty much everything on the internet such as finances, general researching, working, blogging, talking, chatting, texting, clothes shopping, gift shopping, grocery shopping (thanks to amazon), driving with GPS, listening to music, watching videos and the list can go a lot farther than that. So with all of the things I do everyday with the internet at my disposal, Imagine what would happen if (this has happened before) in the middle of work the internet decides to freeze up because it's taken up too much bandwidth traffic? Just trust on this one, I won't be the only one in frustration mode, just the ask the customer. With so many things that we do with the internet, we have to have it working at all times in order for our lives to stay afloat. I mean when I think about the way things work in this day and age, I realized for most companies, if the boss says the internet is not working that is most likely a day off. Bringing up my next point ...

2. It is out of my control 

The internet is very young, with the rise of the electronic computer in the 1950's and the very beginnings of the World Wide Web in the late 1980's it is an astonishing sight to see how far we have come. Unfortunately, the main with the internet is we do not fully understand it and because we don't fully understand it, it can and will be used against us. The internet and those who know how to control it can violate our rights of privacy and steal our most precious information like photo memorabilia or worse, money. Aside from that, the internet is becoming more and more congested everyday with billions more signing on around the more it can very difficult keep an eye on everyone. 

3. There is a lot of misinformation

With billions joining the internet around the world you can be sure to expect an abundance of rumors, hoaxes and flat out fake news. There are trends since the internet came out like photoshopping that I feel are distasteful and take away from natural beauty of the human image. Regardless, however way which I go about it I don't think these trends are going away time soon. 

So let's us work together!

Aside from all of these things the internet is still somewhere, (even amongst all of the garbage) where humans can still have a place to share knowledge globally without remorse but, not without consequences. It can provide us with a means to feel connected to the rest of the world but not without a feeling of detachment form reality. So make sure to lay off the apps every once in
awhile, there are real people out there, turn away from the screen and look around! 

Happy Sunday!

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