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Showing posts from April, 2023

Fact of the Day – 4/28/2023

Guidehouse Insights says smart city AI revenue estimated to reach $6.5 billion by 2032. The post Fact of the Day – 4/28/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-28-2023/ via IFTTT

Fact of the Day – 4/27/2023

Juniper Research says smart metering will generate $60 billion in revenue for vendors globally by 2027. The post Fact of the Day – 4/27/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-27-2023/ via IFTTT

7 Steps to Quickly Clearing a House for Renovation

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Quickly clearing a house will be hard or easy, depending on key things. Here are some tips to get off to a good one. The post 7 Steps to Quickly Clearing a House for Renovation appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/7-steps-quickly-clearing-house-renovation/ via IFTTT

The State of Work in America

Many vertical markets, such as the manufacturing industry, are ripe for innovation and a new way of working. We are living in an era where inflation is high, many say there is an impending recession, and remote work is a common phrase, as workers demand flexibility. But are the tables starting to turn, even slightly? Is it once again becoming more of an employer’s market? One new report suggests there is a lot shifting at the moment—and businesses need to be aware of the transition that is happening. The new report comes from Morning Consult and looks at how employed U.S. adults feel about work today, in 2023. The organization surveyed 6,610 Americans and asked them about where they are working, how satisfied they are with their jobs, and whether employers face a retention threat. Let’s look at some big takeaways. An Era of Remote Work Perhaps the first one is that fewer Americans are working remotely now compared to 2022. The share of millennials saying they do most of their work

Fact of the Day – 4/26/2023

IDC says Asia/Pacific spending on AI will reach $49 billion by 2026. The post Fact of the Day – 4/26/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-26-2023/ via IFTTT

The Data for Green Building

Green building is a growing trend, from construction through the lifecycle of a facility. Construction professionals are tasked with pushing the necessary data for certification throughout the entire building process, which can be challenging to say the least. Add into this equation that there is often more than one certification many construction organizations are looking to achieve—and the feat becomes even more difficult. The good news is, now, a new process aims to simplify requirements. Earlier in April, the USGBC (U.S. Green Building Council), GBCI (Green Business Certification Inc.), and the IWBI (Intl. WELL Building Institute) released a streamlined process for projects pursuing certifications for the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system and the WELL Building Standard. The intent here is that the process will improve documentation for projects that are pursuing both certifications at the same time or that have already earned on

Half a Million Workers

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The construction labor shortage persists in 2023, as construction companies continue to search for skilled workers and come up empty. In fact, one organization suggests the construction industry will need to attract an estimated 546,000 on top of the normal pace of hiring in 2023 to meet the demand of labor. This number comes from ABC (Associated Builders and Contractors). The research also shows the construction industry averaged more than 390,000 job openings per month in 2022, which ABC says is the highest level on record. For reference, the industry unemployment rate of 4.6% in 2022 was the second lowest on record, higher than only the 4.5% unemployment rate in 2019. As another comparison, national payroll construction employment was 231,000 higher in December 2022 than in December 2021. Looking to 2024, ABC also predicts the industry will need to bring in more than 342,000 new workers on top of normal hiring to meet industry demand, and that’s presuming that construction spend

Fact of the Day – 4/25/2023

Gartner predicts fines from government and other regulatory bodies focused on commerce ethics will exceed $5 billion by 2027. The post Fact of the Day – 4/25/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-25-2023/ via IFTTT

Building a DIY Music Room: Common Mistakes to Avoid

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Many of us dream about building our very own music room in our homes, particularly if we love playing musical instruments or mixing new tracks on decks. The post Building a DIY Music Room: Common Mistakes to Avoid appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/building-diy-music-room-common-mistakes-avoid/ via IFTTT

Sustainable HVAC

Smart homes are advancing, with a sustainability twist. Consider the example of HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) systems, which on average runs two to three times an hour for 10-15 minutes, using about 3,500 watts, which is costing homeowners big dollars every month. Another consideration is if as a society we want to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement and move the needle with global warming to remain under two degrees Celsius, then we must become more sustainable in many areas—including HVAC in homes and buildings. The good news is the systems themselves are advancing to become more sustainable. Falkonair executives have been in the HVAC-R industry for more than 30 years and realized there was a demand for a product to be innovated to change old-style systems to the modernized, energy-efficient way of operating. Made with sustainability in mind, a smarter system was created in 2019 for all HVAC-R equipment, including cooling and heating, m

CAT after Dark

Nights are getting shorter, as winter passes the torch to spring and summer. But the workday is still a controlling aspect of a jobsite’s security; when workers leave, the site “goes dark” and becomes vulnerable for theft and intrusion. Most developers, owners, and contractors require a major site to be secured 24/7 and at night that includes lighting as well as monitoring onsite or remote. But lights require energy—electricity specifically—and in the early days of construction, not every area will have power available. The usual response is to bring in portable generators that run all night on gasoline, diesel, or natural gas. That can cause environmental problems and, in a tight urban area, neighbor noise complaints. Using solar panels and batteries, or even wind turbines for power have been alternatives but now there are other options. Caterpillar has introduced CAT Compact ESS (Energy Storage System), a new mobile battery energy storage system that supplements traditional mobile

Success Stories: Smart Traffic Signal

Smart cities are on the rise, as funding is going to improve everything from broadband to infrastructure. Case in point: smart traffic signals. Consider the example of RTC (Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada), which has received $2 million in federal funding to promote transportation efficiency and safety through a smart traffic signal program. This is part of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation’s SMART (Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation) grant program. The funding will be used to create a prototype cloud-based system that optimizes traffic signal timing, and it will additionally use AI (artificial intelligence) analytics at intersections within the City of Las Vegas. Here is how this can help in cities: Improve intersection safety and efficiency. Reduce travel times for emergency response and transit vehicles. Collect data related to safety concerns, such as near-misses and red-light running to better understand unsafe driving patterns.

Fact of the Day – 4/24/2023

ABI Research says smart labels will reach 581 million shipped by 2028. The post Fact of the Day – 4/24/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-24-2023/ via IFTTT

Effective Ways To Deal With A Messy Home

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A combination of tight schedules and fatigue often makes regular cleaning impossible. That is when you start feeling the messy home blues. The post Effective Ways To Deal With A Messy Home appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/effective-ways-deal-messy-home/ via IFTTT

Fact of the Day – 4/21/2023

Guidehouse Insights says global market for energy efficiency investment estimated to grow to $90 million by 2032. The post Fact of the Day – 4/21/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-21-2023/ via IFTTT

How to Refurb a Garden Area

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Refurbishing a garden area can be a daunting task, but with a little planning and effort, it can become a fun and rewarding project The post How to Refurb a Garden Area appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/refurb-garden-area/ via IFTTT

Fact of the Day – 4/20/2023

Juniper Research says fraudulent robocalls cost mobile subscribers a record $58 billion globally this year. The post Fact of the Day – 4/20/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-20-2023/ via IFTTT

Essential Considerations To Start Your Skincare Journey: A Comprehensive Guide

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Discover the ultimate guide to starting your skincare journey with these comprehensive tips and tricks. Read on to learn more. The post Essential Considerations To Start Your Skincare Journey: A Comprehensive Guide appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/essential-considerations-start-skincare-journey-comprehensive-guide/ via IFTTT

Securing OT

With the rise of Industry 4.0 comes the convergence of IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology), which opens a new world of opportunities for critical organizations and manufacturers. More often, we see these two areas coming together, with the objective to improve efficiencies, safety, business acumen, and so much more. It will enable realtime decision making, a more coordinated response to business, shared resources, eliminate unplanned downtime through predictive maintenance, all while making better use of use of data. Quite frankly, I am not sure it makes sense to have these two areas of our business siloed anymore. But with anything, there are hurdles to address. The challenge is many of the operational technology systems controlling our energy systems, our manufacturing plants, and our critical infrastructure are still outdated. They were created at a time when industrial networks were far less connected than they are today. The IT and OT convergence opens m

Mitigating OT Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

Industries like manufacturing, oil and gas, and utilities are just a few of the industries that use OT (operational technology) as part of their digital transformations. But as more industries leverage OT, they must contend with new cybersecurity concerns. New vulnerabilities, as well as new regulations developed to manage these vulnerabilities, mean organizations must adjust their business practices and develop solutions to navigate increasing cybersecurity risks before it’s too late. Concerns over OT security are certainly on the rise, according to a new research study . And they should be, considering the study says fewer than half (47%) of companies have an OT cybersecurity solution in place. Where there are gaps, there are risks, and where there are risks, there are legitimate concerns. So, the question is what can organizations do to fill their security gaps? The new research study, which is from OTORIO and  ServiceNow , includes input from 200 C-suite executives and director

Fact of the Day – 4/18/2023

Gartner says lack of digital skills among CFOs is a key obstacle to autonomous finances. The post Fact of the Day – 4/18/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-18-2023/ via IFTTT

What’s Next for Construction?

There are myriad factors impacting the construction industry. Everything from the economy to the labor shortage is having an impact on how quickly, efficiently, and effectively work gets done in construction. The last half of 2022 saw declines in material prices, a winding down period of overheated inflation, and overall volatility. Some suggest we began to see the easing of supply chain issues and COVID measures at the end of last year. But what still lurks ahead for construction in 2023? Let’s take a look inside one crystal ball. JLL’s 2023 U.S. and Canada Construction Outlook suggests the construction industry remains very busy, while also cautious with the anticipation of a downturn. Still, the pipeline remains busy. In the year ahead, the organization expects construction costs to moderate alongside broader inflation, falling closer to the average historical rate. Materials and Supply Chain Lead times and availability for most materials showed mixed improvement over the year,

BYOD in Construction

Construction is an industry that has been mobile by nature since the dawn of time. With the emergence of mobile devices and the cloud, BYOD (bring your own device) is something we talked about long before the COVID-19 pandemic. But now with the rise of remote work, it is a topic that is talked about more widely and broadly. As such, there is more research about the rise of enterprise security risks in an era of remote work and BYOD. Such is the case with a new report from Lookout about the State of Remote Work Security. Looking across all industries, the research suggests a whopping 43% of remote employees use their own device in place of company-issued equipment. And 92% of remote workers perform work tasks on their personal mobile devices. Naturally, there are some inherent security risks that come along with this, as many of these devices are not managed by IT (information technology), which means organizations have very little visibility or control over the risks these devices p

How to Secure Your Finances Properly When Migrating to a Foreign Country

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You want your move to a foreign country to be seamless, especially regarding your finances. Read these tips to avoid any financial troubles in the process. The post How to Secure Your Finances Properly When Migrating to a Foreign Country appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/secure-finances-properly-migrating-foreign-country/ via IFTTT

Knowing Where You Are

The old way was to locate a landmark and say, “I’m a mile and a half from X.” Now, you don’t say anything, you let your GNSS (global navigation satellite system), such as a GPS, send the precise coordinates to the person—or more likely, machine—that needs the information. The use of satellite positioning has grown to a major source of data points for automation and autonomous equipment. For decades, original equipment manufacturers like Caterpillar and aftermarket suppliers, such as Trimble and Topcon Positioning Systems , have been supplying the equipment necessary for GNSS location mapping of machinery. Topcon, for example, has combined multiple sensors and technologies to increase efficiency and simplify heavy equipment operations across multiple manufacturers. Now, that includes automating data exchanges with design and planning tools and software typically used on construction projects, as well as integrations with popular software used by contractors for managing assets, peopl

Construction Equipment Roundup

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Since the days of levers and pulleys, machinery has been critical for construction. We’ve come a long way from A-frames to massive cranes and from spades and shovels to backhoes, but throughout, equipment has been the backbone—and back saving—element of the industry. How the market has been changing points to the expansion of two subsets: rental equipment and autonomous equipment. Both are showing substantial growth, according to various research agencies. Take the overall global construction equipment market as projected by Grandview Research.   Its prediction is the market size will reach almost $162 billion by 2030, showing a 3.9% CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from 2023 to 2030.The investments being made by the U.S. government, as well as many other nations, in the development of public infrastructure is one of the key factors anticipated to fuel the growth. And as population figures increase, there is predicted to be a corresponding demand for residential and commercial cons

Success Stories: Water Conservation

Homes are becoming more sustainable—and manufacturers are coming to market with products that will drive a more circular and sustainable world. Such is the case with water, where innovators are developing new solutions to solve critical water issues. As one example, RainStick’s shower system captures, circulates, and cleans the water in realtime. The unit starts with fresh grid-supplied water; however, instead of going down the drain, RainStick uses proprietary recirculation technology to capture, circulate, and clean the water, all in realtime, to avoid waste. Here is how this can help: Save 80% water and up to 80% energy. Provide almost twice the flow rate compared to a traditional low-flow shower. Use a Wi-Fi circular shower to enable residential water conservation in the home. While this is simply one example, conservation is becoming a greater priority among homeowners. Now, we are seeing more manufacturers and innovators stepping up to develop solutions that can help sol

Fact of the Day – 4/17/2023

ABI Research says machine tool market will reach $245 billion in 2032. The post Fact of the Day – 4/17/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-17-2023/ via IFTTT

Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Furniture Online 

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A house is incomplete without decor. In many homes, furniture plays an important role in defining the overall aesthetic of one or more rooms. The post Mistakes To Avoid When Buying Furniture Online  appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/mistakes-avoid-buying-furniture-online/ via IFTTT

Fact of the Day – 4/14/2023

Berg Insight says shipments of NFC-ready POS terminals reached 75.3 million in 2021. The post Fact of the Day – 4/14/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-14-2023/ via IFTTT

Small Ways to Help You Earn Extra Cash and Save More Money

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Earning extra cash can help you reach a wide range of financial goals, from paying off debt to building up your savings. Here are some tips. The post Small Ways to Help You Earn Extra Cash and Save More Money appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/small-ways-help-earn-extra-cash-save-money/ via IFTTT

Fact of the Day – 4/13/2023

Juniper Research says eSIM IoT connections to outpace eSIM smartphone growth by 2026 globally. The post Fact of the Day – 4/13/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-13-2023/ via IFTTT

Advancing Lithium Microbattery Technology

Wearable and hearable devices have grown significantly in the past decade. In fact, just from 2021 to 2022, the growth rate was 41.51% and it is anticipated to rise another 18% compound annual growth rate through 2026. Still, challenges remain such as energy density and charging capabilities—and many tech companies and manufacturers are working to solve existing hurdles in this market. Li-on (lithium-ion) microbattery has limitations that prevent product manufacturers from meeting demand for new features and better charging capabilities. Recently I discovered a company called, Ensurge Micropower that hopes to be at the forefront of solving this problem with its solid-state lithium microbattery technology. The company suggests it offers twice the energy density and three times the charging speed. The CEO is even the founder of Electric Revolution Ventures. I am inspired by the passion to spark the battery, semiconductor, and EV space. Ensurge reports it has developed a solid-state l

Fact of the Day – 4/12/2023

IDC says ICT spending in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland will reach $275 billion this year, as investment focus shifts to AI. The post Fact of the Day – 4/12/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-12-2023/ via IFTTT

Top Mistakes to Avoid When Renovating Your Home

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So that you can hopefully avoid making them, here are several of the top mistakes people make when renovating their homes. The post Top Mistakes to Avoid When Renovating Your Home appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/top-mistakes-avoid-renovating-home/ via IFTTT

Construction Pay Landscape

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The skilled labor shortage continues to be an ongoing challenge at most construction companies—something many are actively trying to solve. In fact, the National Assn. for Business Economics has found roughly 57% reported skilled labor shortages at the beginning of last year. Like many organizations, it is looking to provide resources to help. To help better identify the construction job landscape—and the opportunities that exist for skilled trades—Today’s Homeowner takes a look at the average pay for 10 jobs, their expected growth, and the places that are hot spots for skilled trade opportunities. As I have been saying for years, the skilled trades offer young workers well-paying jobs and benefits. In fact, this study finds four of the study’s 10 skilled trade jobs have average earnings that exceed the national average ($58,260). In today’s blog I want to dig into the numbers just a little more by looking at the highest earner in the report here: construction manager. This indi

Build Mighty Homes—Quickly

Today’s homebuilder needs to craft structures that are sustainable, resilient, and meets the needs of the homeowner. Today’s homebuilder also needs to build homes quickly, with little workforce. Enter prefab housing, offsite manufacturing, and 3D printing, which are slowly starting to become a more viable option for many homebuilders. Consider the example of Mighty Buildings , which is a 3D printing company that is opening a factory to print climate-resilient homes for the U.S. market. A new factory in Monterrey, Mexico, can produce its components for an entire home during each day of operation and is focused on scaling the development in the Southern California region, beginning with Desert Hot Springs. Build Resilient Homes With the use of new material science, robotics, and automation, Mighty Buildings can create climate-resilient, carbon-neutral housing that is comfortable and can withstand severe weather including hurricanes and earthquakes. Here is how Mighty Buildings does th

Fact of the Day – 4/10/2023

ABI Research says smart poles and corridors will reach $132 billion by 2030. The post Fact of the Day – 4/10/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-10-2023/ via IFTTT

Reasons Why Being an Influencer Can Be a Great Career

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Being an influencer can be a fun and exciting career. Here's what you should know about it. The post Reasons Why Being an Influencer Can Be a Great Career appeared first on At Home in the Future . from At Home in the Future https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/reasons-influencer-can-great-career/ via IFTTT

Fact of the Day – 4/7/2023

Juniper Research says consumer instant payment transactions will exceed 235 billion globally by 2027. The post Fact of the Day – 4/7/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-7-2023/ via IFTTT

Hello world!

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start writing! from Just another WordPress site https://athomeinthefuture.com/2023/04/06/hello-world/ via IFTTT

Fact of the Day – 4/6/2023

Forrester says Millennial and GenZ buyers are more demanding, with 90% citing dissatisfaction with their vendors. The post Fact of the Day – 4/6/2023 appeared first on Connected World . from Connected World https://connectedworld.com/fact-of-the-day-4-6-2023/ via IFTTT

Intel Positions Itself to Capitalize on Explosive Growth in AI

Thanks in part to OpenAI and its ChatGPT model, AI (artificial intelligence) is having “a moment.” Of course, in the enterprise space, AI has been having a moment for quite some time, but how will what’s happening in generative AI right now—right here in 2023—push the space forward? The opportunity for AI is certainly ripe. According to Statista’s AI readiness index rankings , the U.S. is the nation best situated in the world to implement AI in sectors like public services, which includes everything from healthcare to education to transportation. How will companies respond so they can harness the power of a trend? In tech, trends often move the needle not only on consumer and enterprise awareness but also on technology innovation and adoption. In a recent investor webinar, Intel detailed its data center and AI business by walking investors through its roadmap and how it plans to capitalize on the explosive growth of AI. Intel executives noted the massive AI opportunity sitting in