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The trust factor for IoT

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pic from https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7296/15768208714_9f9376cc7d_o_d.jpg We talk a lot about IoT, referring of course, to the Internet of Things. But perhaps we should be thinking of making the T stand for trust. That’s what some are working on now in establishing industry standards to be worth of trust by committing to adopt best practices. Essentially the OTA's best practices and standards boil down to two overarching considerations. One: Device manufacturers have to consider how they will secure the data collected on their devices. Two: The consumer has to be clearly informed about the nature and extent of the data collected. Having that information allows the potential purchaser to know exactly what they would be getting into with the Internet of Things (IoT) device, and whether or not they consider the gains are worth the risk. Having a universal standard also makes it clear how one company compares to another with respect to data privacy and security. Read more in

Mapping the supply chain for greater sustainability

Like the Rome of old, a more transparent and sustainable supply chain is not built in a day. Building it takes planning, mapping, and fine-tuning. Data visualization enables organizations to bridge all three. Awareness of the need for sustainability and transparency in the electronic supply chain is rising. And a number of companies have said they are committed to improving in those areas, whether in response to questions about components of their supply chain, like  conflict minerals , or as a positive choice when defining the company's mission . Read more in  Mapping Out a Better Electronics Supply Chain

3 signs you're doing social media wrong

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Photo by  Adem AY  on  Unsplash This is not an exhaustive list. It was inspired by a quick look at a company profile on Google +. I used to follow that company but just stopped because it clearly is not paying attention to its own posts. It was guilty of all 3 of these:  1. You only post self-promotion and nothing else. 2. You don't respond to any of the comments on your posts, including those with direct questions. 3. You have one guy post "Thanks a lot, [profile name]" on each post, which just makes it look like you hired someone not very bright to comment.  In other words, #DoingItWrong If you have any other signs of doing social media wrong, please write them in the comments!

What would Spock do?

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from https://lurentis.com/blog/driverless-cars-pandoras-box-now-wheels/ Is there an ethical algoirthm for driverless cars Say you’re driving at 30 miles an hour when a child suddenly chases a ball right into the path of your car. You would brake if you can stop in time. If you can’t brake you’d swerve to avoid hitting the child. But what if swerving forces you either to hit another car with passengers in it or a truck that would cause harm to those in your car? Does self-preservation override all other consideration? Would we be driven by the emotional pull of saving a child over all else? Or would we be paralyzed into doing nothing because we can’t bring ourselves to take part in any action that causes harm? These are the types of questions that bring ethics specialists and engineers together in addressing the challenge of directing driverless cars.  Does Spock offer a solution to the problem? He may, if people would accept Vulcan logic. Learn more in   Driverless Ca

Retailers get into predictive analytics

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Here on All Analytics, we’re generally sold on the value of predictive analytics. The question is: Are retailers, particularly those managed by people who believe in their gut intuition, sold on it? Even they are starting to appreciate what analytics can do for their business. Dean Abbott According to Dean Abbott, co-founder and chief data scientist at SmarterHQ and author of Applied Predictive Analytics: Principles and Techniques for the Professional Data Analyst , it is ushering a cultural change for retail. I recently chatted with Abbott about what the application of predictive analytics means to the retail space. Read more in  Predictive Analytics: Data and Retail Expertise

Good data should not come at the cost of Goodwill

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 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a9/2008-08-04_CVS_Pharmacy_in_Durham.jpg CVS recently ran an experiment that's generating a lot of buzz online. Unfortunately, it's not the kind of customer reaction retailer likes to get. The drugstore giant chose the week of July 12 to deviate from its usual offer of special coupons or promotions in printed circulars. They were betting that what they gained in data insight for the week would be worth the price of alienating some customers. - See more at: http://www.baselinemag.com/blogs/dont-sacrifice-goodwill-for-good-data.html#sthash.V3PGO2I9.dpuf

Wooden dolls and today's supply cahin

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It sounds like an oxymoron: smart wooden dolls. However, that's exactly what manufacturer Avakai has created. Though it looks like a simple wooden doll in the shape Russian nesting dolls, it is Bluetooth enabled to offer interactive response. With their stress on connectivity, transparency, sustainability, and adaptability, this company reflects the values we're seeing in today's electronic supply chain. Read more in  picture from http://41.media.tumblr.com/d49c1c89d70c241ecbd9f1a1d6df6b58/tumblr_inline_noacz2YMVN1t8bz9y_1280.jpgA What Wooden Dolls Can Teach Us About Today’s Supply Chain

5G: potential and challenges for the brave new world of IoT

The progression to 5G from 4G is different from the previous advance from 3G because that shift was all about speed and now it's all about connection on an unprecedented scale. More specifically, this time around, the new factor is IoT, and as Aicha Evans, corporate vice president and general manager of the Communications and Devices Group,  Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC), observes, this "new paradigm will require major changes to traditional cellular network topology." Indeed, the 5G realm will encompass a lot more devices, technologies and participants than anything we've seen before. Consequently, collaboration within the industry is essential to keep the various components in communication with each other and on the same page about standards and plans.  That's one of the key differences between the upcoming change and previous progressions, and it holds a great deal of promise for, as well as a number of challenges, for the industry. To get some insid