Tag Archive for: Technology

How Technology Is Changing How Athletes Perform

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Athletes are a business, and just like any business, performance and competition edge are top priorities for the health of the business. The modern athlete is a carefully crafted machine with the best technology at its disposal to improve the game and to gain a competitive edge over the competition. Training, preparation, health and hydration are all important factors for athlete performance, but technology brings an entirely different approach to the table.

 

CAD software

Computer-aided software is used to design sports equipment. The software system uses data and virtual environment simulation to design equipment that is lighter but more efficient and faster.

 

Prototype simulation

Science and engineering is used to create the ideal sports equipment design. Based on the data collection and performance expectations, a prototype is created. Prototypes are armed with technology that permits engineers and scientists to observe and evaluate the overall performance and efficiency of the prototype. Software permits designers to make small changes to improve the function and performance of the specific prototype. Once the prototype is perfected, it is produced and put into the hands of athletes.

 

Turf transformation

Technology has improved the very fields on which competitions are held. DOW Chemical Company created a specialized polyethylene resin acritical turf for field hockey. The turf is designed to minimize athlete injuries, improve speed on the field, maximize better ball control, and to provide stronger grip for athletes’ shoes. The goal of the turf is to improve the performance on the field and the overall experience for athletes and viewers.

 

Sensors

Some fighters are equipped with sensors on their bodies. The sensors collect data about kick execution, punch accuracy, and the impact of a move against a component. The sensors assist with training and judging competitions, as accuracy are important for scoring and injury prevention.

 

Microchipping

Bio-analytics uses microchips to monitor an athlete’s overall health during a game. A small device is worn by athletes and it tracks all movements. The small device delivers an abundance of information. The real-time data observes accelerations and decelerations, directions, movements and frequency of actions. The data permits teams to develop workout and training strategies based on the data collected. As a result, the athlete’s training targets the most affected areas during a competition. Doing so improves targeted training and performance, and it reduces injuries by accommodating training specifics around the athlete’s individual need.

 

Smart suits

Smart suits are different for each sport. Engineers have transformed track suits and swimsuits to make them more aerodynamic. Gymnasts use special suits to monitor alignment and movements. Mimi Cesar, for example, uses a vibrating suit that uses real-time data to monitor her floor routine. The sensors in the suit create an awareness of time and space, which helps the British gymnast determine where her body is and what she needs to do to execute the perfect move. The suit vibrates when she is out of alignment and when any part of her body is beyond its desired range of motion.

 

Men and women have adopted many different forms of technology to improve performance. Technology simplifies training and creates a new awareness of the athlete.

Motorcycles: The Intense Technology That Makes Them Work

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Motorcycles are becoming increasingly popular each year for many different reasons. Not only do they give you an intimate and adventurous driving experience, but they will save you a ton of money on gas, and not to mention that they are attractive and eye-catching. They are becoming a very popular alternative to cars. Motorcycles have evolved so much, including the way they operate.

 

The Basics

Basically put, motorcycles are 2-wheel motorized vehicles that seat one or two riders. The basic layout of motorcycles has remained unchanged since they were first established many years ago. The main function and structure of a motorcycle is really quite simple when it is broken down. They have gasoline engines, which works just like a car by converting the reciprocating motion of pistons into rotary motion. Then the transmission sends this motion to the back wheel, and when the back wheel turns it sends the motorcycle forward. You steer a motorcycle by the handlebars and by leaning the motorcycle side to side. The handlebars turn the front wheel. It includes hand levers that that give you the ability to operate the clutch and the front brake, and two foot pedals that allow you to change gears and control the rear brake.

 

The Engine

Motorcycle engines are classified by one of three things, which are the number of cylinders they have, the number of strokes in their power cycles, or the capacity of their combustion chambers. The engine of a motorcycle basically works just like the engine of a car does. It has a cylinder block and head, pistons, and a valve train. The pistons move around inside the cylinder block, powered by eruptions of a fuel and air mixture that is triggered by a simple spark. The fuel and air mixture enters the combustion chamber through valves that open and close. The moving pistons turn a crankshaft that converts the energy into rotary motion from the pistons. The transmission transfers the force of the crankshaft to the rear wheel.

 

The Brakes

In order to stop a motorcycle you have to use two brakes. One of them is located on the front wheel and is controlled by the right hand, and the other one is located on the rear wheel and is controlled by the right foot. The front brakes are way more powerful and provide the most force, but both brakes should be used at the same time. The front brakes should be used every time the motorcycle is slowed down or stopped.

 

The Steering

When traveling at very low speeds, you simply just have to turn the handlebar in the direction you want to go, but when traveling fast you have to use counter-steering. Counter-steering is when you have to push the handlebars to the left to go right, and to the right to go left.

3 Ways a Virtual CIO Helps Your Business Succeed

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A successful and secure company needs to make investments in technology and infrastructure, but the price can soar. Your business’s infrastructure needs regular maintenance and monitoring, and the solution is typically an in-house team of IT experts, but there is a better, more efficient way to provide your company with critical IT support. A virtual CIO, Chief Information Officer, offers the best of IT without the hefty price tag. When you utilize a virtual CIO, your business will flourish.

 

3 Benefits of a Virtual CIO

A virtual CIO strategy is affordable and one of the most effective ways to access the expertise of a fully staffed IT team. Discover how a virtual CIO can transform your operations.

 

  1. Comprehensive technology analysis

As soon as your company decides to benefit from the extensive services offered by a virtual CIO, the team gets to work to review your network. The goal of the network analysis is to identify any risks to the security system, design a comprehensive defense system that is tailored specifically for your business, make recommendations about cost-saving changes to your current system, and diagnose and evaluate your company’s complete infrastructure. The process creates a roadmap for your business’s IT, which saves you money, offers peace of mind, and keeps you in business all the time.

 

  1. 24/7 security, updates, and data protection

Just because the day ends for you, it doesn’t end for your IT needs. A virtual CIO provides round-the-clock security monitoring and protection, and data backup. Virtual services deliver remote monitoring and access, so you and your business can work remotely and benefit from IT services from anywhere in the world. Virtual CIO is always updating, monitoring and identifying gaps and potential threats so that your business doesn’t experience a complete system failure, devastating data loss, or security intrusion. If something does happen, the virtual CIO will have ensured all of your data was safe, so recovery is swift and downtime is nonexistent. When your business is down, so are your profits, but a virtual CIO is a great addition to your company’s continuity plan to prevent such disasters. If disaster strikes, the virtual CIO will be ready to recover without interrupting daily operations.

 

  1. Efficient utilization of IT budget

Your business has to watch its profit and expenses, and many times, much of what you take in is consumed by the IT, which includes hardware, software, malware, monitoring, recovery and IT services. An in-house team and dedicated room for your infrastructure eats up what is left of your budget, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Virtual CIO services assist you with evaluating your complete IT budget and system, helping you identify overlap, unnecessary expenditures, and areas where remote services will save you money. You will have a better understanding of what you have, what you need, and ways you can save money and maximize services. Virtual CIO does not charge for individual services; it is a complete package with one rate.

How Technology Helps Non-Profits

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In the era of the Internet, non-profits need to be online and take advantage of the latest advances in technology, just as a business would, in order to give its recipients the best services possible. Technology helps give organizations the opportunity to reach out to, and help, more people than ever imagined in the past. These are just a few of the ways technology is helping non-profits.

 

Websites

Take a huge non-profit, like the Humane Society of America. It has a first-class web site with everything you need to know about their mission, and more. Website specifics that help to spread the word include:

  • Videos: Organizations use videos on their websites or a link to a YouTube Channel to illustrate their mission, who they are trying to help, how they do it and why. Here is where non-profits can tie in celebrities who are supporters of the cause, to hopefully entice new donors to join.
  • Blogs and Newsletters: Blogs allow authorities in the field share their expertise while newsletters keep supporters up to date on the organization’s progress.
  • FAQs: Having a list of FAQs is a good idea for a non-profit so any interested party can get information about the cause. A contact email should be added if there are additional questions that were not included in the FAQ section.

 

Online Donations

An online donation section is used by the Humane Society, Michael J Fox’s Parkinson’s site and many more. This is ideal for non-profits because it is so easy for a donor to click, and send money for support. Most sites have pre-set amounts ($25, $50, $100 etc) for selection, but there are spots available for donors to type in any amount they choose. This is such a great innovation for non-profits because it cuts down on the dependency of mail, phone and fund raisers for solicitation.

 

Social Media

Non-profits are jumping on the social media bandwagon like everyone else. This is an excellent platform for an organization to gain followers that will receive their mission message every time they log on. Hashtags are a great way to draw attention to a cause on Twitter or Facebook, such as the Humane Society’s recent #Spayday to bring attention to neutering animals to control the population. It is also a great way to create events and invite people, such as an animal cruelty fundraiser or a 5K where the proceeds go to the organization.

 

Recruiting Volunteers

With all of the above technological advances being used by non-profits, it is easier than ever to recruit volunteers. Viewing videos on the web sites and social media posts and Tweets will attract those who want to help. Email and social media also makes it simple to reach someone, and not have to meet face-to-face for an initial visit. It makes it much more efficient than having to make a ton of calls or wait for replies to mailers. With video conferencing and chats, it is possible to recruit volunteers or donors from anywhere in the world, and not have to leave your home office.

How 3D Printing Technology Could Change the World

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Prepare yourself for the next Industrial Revolution. 3D printers are here and already changing
the world. The technology is going to make life as we know it unrecognizable in the next few
decades to come, the techie visionaries say it is for the better. The science behind these
machines is advancing at a rapid rate, as items from body parts to vehicles are being created
on 3D printers.

About the 3D Printer

If you’re unfamiliar with this technology, you won’t be for long. A 3D printer can create a three
dimensional object, by building it a layer at a time, until you have the item you desire. Designs
start with a digital file that instructs the printer just what to “print”. It is able to make items out
of metal, plastic, nylon and over a hundred more materials. No longer will we need to find
parts to screw together or weld to make an object. All you have to do is design it on the
computer. Experts say eventually we will be able to make anything, anywhere. If you’re not
convinced they will change the world, let us explain what is already being done with these
amazing machines.

3D Printed Cars

At the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Local Motors debuted its Strati
EV, a 3D printed car that you can drive in. The wiring, motor and suspension are plugged into
the 3D printed frame and exterior. The carbon fiber body and chassis weigh 1100 pounds.
This is only one example of how 3D printers are working in the automotive world. Oak Ridge
national Laboratory has unveiled a Cobra that was created, 3-D printed, assembled, painted
and driven in only six weeks. This is surely only the beginning for the auto industry.

3D Printed Body Parts

This is exciting for those who have lost limbs or are in need of a transplant. Currently,
prosthetic limbs are being created that are tailored to fit the individual so that symmetry is
restored to their body, as well as a sense of feeling “normal” around others. In the medical
world, organs like skin, kidneys and heart replicas are being printed. Imagine how this will
affect the life span of a human being.

3D Printed Food

England has produced the first 3D printed hamburger with a machine called “The Foodini”.
The creators claim it will change the way we prepare food in the future. Imagine having
whatever you desire created from scratch right before your eyes with only the press of a
button, and the insertion of a few food capsules containing the ingredients you need. This is
surely only the start as experts talk about replicating livestock for consumption down the road.

Keeping it Local with Less Waste

With 3D printing, there will be no need to outsource to countries like China or Indonesia. We
will be able to domestically manufacture goods easily. It will create much less waste because
of the preciseness of these printers, which will do wonders for the landfills and environment.

What do you think about 3D printers in the future? Pros? Cons? Let us know in the comment
section below!