Transcript 0:00 Talk to me. Information, news, and entertainment on demand. WS Radio.com. 0:11 [upbeat music] Welcome to The Peggy Smedley Show, the voice of IoT in our connected world, with your host, Peggy Smedley. [upbeat music] Hello, listeners, and welcome to today's edition of The Peggy Smedley Show. 0:26 I'm your host, Peggy Smedley. 0:28 The holidays can bring out the best in people, and this is the time of year when we tend to think of others, serve or to give to those in need, and go about our business with a lightness in our step. 0:39 Although I admit after seeing some of the folks, how they handled Black Friday this year, it's clear that the holiday shopping season can bring out the worst in people. But let's focus right now on the good in people. 0:52 In December, we tend to be in a more charitable mindset than in other times of the year. Personally, I like to be thankful for what I have, my family, my friends, a home, a job I love, my health. 1:05 I also like to think about how this industry that I love so much is making a difference in the world. 1:12 IoT technologies really are contributing to the greater good, and I hope all of you agree because I love talking about them. And as one example, think about how the IoT is helping to create smarter cities. 1:25 Smarter cities contribute to a cleaner environment. They make it easier for all of us to get to work or go to school, and they can help support job creation and a healthy economy. 1:38 You know, if you think even more about it, IoT technology also improves how we get from point A to point B as we move toward a future in which vehicles are autonomous. 1:50 This will free up valuable time for all of us as people d- as we used to spend our hours driving in traffic, and autonomous vehicles will also reduce traffic fatalities, at least we all hope, right, significantly. 2:04 The IoT is also contributing to shift to a more patient-centric healthcare. 2:09 So connected devices can help patients take more ownership and control over their own care, and it can move the needle forward to a more proactive model of healthcare. 2:21 And all of this contributes to a better patient outcomes. And when people are healthy, they contribute more to society, and they are in a better position to live more happy lives overall. 2:34 So these are just a few of the big picture examples of how the IoT is making or will make all of our lives better. And I plan to cover a few more specific examples in just a minute. 2:46 In fact, today in segment one, I'll be exploring several IoT solutions and companies that really are making the world a better place. 2:55 But before I do that, I want to tell you about a couple of great guests I have on the show. Today, I'll be talking with Craig Lee. He is the director of the AT&T Foundry located in Plano, Texas. He's a great guy. 3:07 I had a chance to visit the Foundry, and so we'll talk about that. Then I'm going to wrap up the show with another twenty nineteen pioneer, and you all know him, and he's Joshua Peschel. 3:17 He's the assistant professor of agriculture and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University. So stick around. We've got some great guests today. But let's get started. 3:27 One aspect of today's world that is not better than it was than, let's say, in the past, all of these mass shootings that we're seeing. It's pretty sad. 3:37 We've talked about these senseless acts of violence on this show and in many of my podcasts before in conjunction with first response technologies. 3:48 But I'm bringing it up right now because I believe we need to find new ways to get help to those who are struggling with their mental health. 3:57 How can technology play a role in getting help to those who need it when they need it and when they need it the most? Well, there are several ways, but here's one that I think really is very interesting that stands out. 4:12 A team of mental health and technology professionals decided to apply their various talents and skills to create a solution called Woebot, and it serves and it uses l- IoT technology and AI to bring mental health coaching to more people. 4:31 Now, it's a pretty neat idea, and I want to tell you about it. Woebot launched last summer with the goal of creating radically accessible mental health. 4:39 Now, today, it's used by hundreds of thousands of people ranging from ages as young as sixteen to as old as ninety-year-olds in more than a hundred countries. 4:49 Now, Woebot is an artificially intelligent app that draws on the principles of cognitive behavioral therapy to provide tools that could help users in their moments of need. 5:02 Now, it offers intelligent coaching, a sort of a do it yourself cognitive behavioral therapy that in some cases can help people get, get help in tough times. And now I don't know what happened just recently. 5:14 I don't know if you saw the video of the woman who was kind of freaking out on TV just recently in her classroom in high school. I don't know. Maybe this app could have helped her. 5:22 But the point is the founders of Woebot and the apps like it say robots can't replace the services provided by a human psychologist, and I wouldn't think so. 5:32 But for the people struggling with anxiety or depression or whatever might be going on in their lives at that moment, any help is better than no help. And that's what you think. 5:43 And I think Woebot and others like it are a great way the IoT is creating a better world. And you think about it, during the holidays, sometimes people are really up, but sometimes people are really down. 5:55 So we're making services and like this accessible that were not inaccessible, you know, or w-once inaccessible, I should say, thanks to the convenience of mobile devices and apps and the sophisticated technology behind these apps.So I think it's pretty cool. 6:12 So I, I, I'm really excited about that, that we are seeing things that are, are pretty neat in a different way. So I think we're seeing things that we never saw before, um, but I, I... let's move on. 6:27 I've got another one. Last month, the nation had its eyes on California as home after home, uh, acre after acre was destroyed by wildfires. 6:38 Unfortunately, scientists are warning us that natural disasters like wildfires are going to get worse thanks to the Earth's changing climate, right? We've all heard this. So how can technology help? 6:51 There are many ways, but one I like comes from a Spanish startup called Drone Hopper. 6:57 Now, this is really interesting 'cause Drone Hopper creates these firefighting drones that can be, like, where, I guess you could say, where firefighters can't. 7:07 And they offer two versions for their firefighting drone, the Urban Hopper, and then the high-rise buildings and home Wild Hopper, which is suitable for wildfires. 7:18 Now, the drones incorporate this nebulization technology, which cools the devices by mist evaporation, radiation blockage, and oxygen removal. Now, pretty cool, right? 7:30 I, I get really pumped when I hear all this, like, nerdy technology stuff. But the devices are equipped with this thermographic cameras and navigation systems that work day and night. 7:41 They send real-time data from the site of the fire, providing decision-makers with critical information about things like terrain conditions, atmospheric conditions, uh, fire intensity. But think about this. 7:55 Think about how we are saving firefighters from going into the heat of things in such dangerous conditions. 8:02 So when first responders can make more informed decisions in real time, they're going to be more prepared to coordinate emergency teams, uh, execute evacuation procedures, and in general, fight these fires more successfully and, you know, not put their lives so much at risk. 8:20 I mean, they're always at risk, but think about that for a second. You know, I'm just about out of time, but let's talk about one more quick example of how IoT is making our world a better place. 8:31 A company called Aclima has developed a sensing platform that combines cloud computing with machine learning to collect and analyze data that can add to society's environmental intelligence. 8:45 Now, this is pretty interesting, and I like this one. 8:47 In other words, by strategically leveraging sensing technology, Aclima is addressing the global need for this hyperlocal, actionable information about air pollution and climate emissions, particularly in urban areas. 9:04 So leveraging technology to enhance climate science is definitely for the greater good, and I'm excited to keep watching companies like Aclima to see how this data helps us to understand and manage our communities, our cities, our industries. 9:21 But think about this. How are all of these unique solutions going to come together to help us come up with creative ideas the way we're doing things in ways to come up with new IoT creative ideas? 9:37 What I like is we're, we're coming up with one robot. 9:40 You know, when right now we think about times when we need an app to help us when we're down, when we have firefighters, when we need something that we need to have, you know, using drones or whatever for urban or rural areas, right? 9:57 We're using drones in unique ways. But think about the ways we're doing that. 10:02 Now, we've got, uh, Craig Lee gonna come on, and Craig Lee's gonna talk about how AT&T's Foundry has really unique, creative ways that they're doing things. 10:11 And I think what's most interesting there is they are working in tandem with businesses to come up with new ways and innovative ways to use IoT solutions. 10:23 And that's what's so interesting 'cause we can come up with creative ways to use it in smart cities, mental health, manufacturing, construction, retail. 10:33 The IoT is only limited by our imagination, and that's why we're only beginning to see now some really great things because AI and machine learning is taking the Internet of Things to new creative ways and new ideas. 10:48 But I'm really curious on what you think are going to be these next creative, innovative ideas, and I think what are you thinking you want to see come out of the Internet of Things? 11:01 We've seen new ideas emerge every day, but where? I mean, CES is just around the corner, and we all know we're going to see all these new great ideas come. 11:13 But what ideas do you think are going to be unveiled at CES in January? Because I'm always excited. Will it be more autonomous vehicles? Will it be something more for the home? 11:25 Will it be something more for safety and security? I mean, when we saw the Ring come out, we thought, "Wow, that's great to protect our homes." But what is the next big evolution that we're going to see? 11:39 Well, I'm running out of time here, but I'd love for you to chime in on Twitter after the show and tell me what are your favorite examples of how the IoT is making our world a better place. What do you think? 11:52 Because only when you tell me what those great ideas are can we share with them. So I want you to give me your thoughts and share with me. Send me a tweet on social media at connectedwmag. Again, connectedwmag. 12:05 I really want you to share those thoughts with me, tell me what you think, because we can get a dialogue going, and I'd love to share those and start and figure out what we can do. You know, put them up on LinkedIn. 12:15 I'd love to hear you there. So all right, listeners, we are out of time for this first segment. 12:20 But, you know, again, share your thoughts with me on connectedwmag [upbeat music] and always check out our past archives at www.thepeggySmedleyShow.com. All right, stick around. 12:30 We've got more to come right after this commercial break. As always, this is The Peggy Smedley Show, the podcasting voice of IoT and relevant technology. 12:39 Remember, with great technology-Did you know the majority of radio listeners are between the ages of thirty-five and fifty-four, have a household income of more than one hundred thousand dollars, are classified as executives or professionals, and share the show they listen to? 12:58 Become part of The Peggy Smedley Show to reach listeners looking for information on connected devices through cost-effective radio commercials or segment sponsorships. 13:07 Contact us at six three zero nine three three zero eight four four for more information, or visit peggysmedleyshow.com. [upbeat music] Education. Industry experts back to the basics. 13:18 Is your company using the Internet of Things to its fullest potential? Enlist the Peggy Smedley Institute and its team of experts to create a customized plan for how to apply the IoT to your specific needs. 13:30 Learn everything you need to know to achieve tangible business outcomes in today's digital economy. Contact us at six three zero nine three three zero eight four four. 13:39 That's six three zero nine three three zero eight four four, or visit learnatIoT.com. [upbeat music] Video consumption is on the rise, so to reach this audience, Constructek Magazine created Constructek TV. 13:55 Constructek TV helps construction professionals leverage emerging solutions to better their business. Tune in to constructek.tv to catch the latest show on the first and third Tuesday of each month. 14:06 Like, view, and subscribe to constructek.tv. Bringing dynamic video to construction. [upbeat music] Take a break from politics. Tune in and learn something. 14:19 WS Radio shows are worth your time and are filled with tips and advice. 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