Wouldn’t it be nice to receive a non-disruptive upgrade on your emotional well-being? We all understand that we are energy undergoing a physical, human, material experience. Enjoying this experience while doing less and receiving more is the topic of conversation.

 

What You Resist Will Continue to Persist!

This is not a feel-happy saying commonly found on a coffee mug. It is the fundamental, universal law upon which all quantum physics is based. What we focus our attention on expands, what we resist persists, and what we do not give energy to will eventually de-manifest from our experience.

Put in other words, nobody owes you anything except you owning yourself! No matter which way you spin it, everything comes down to solidifying and strengthening your connection with that connection to your higher self. None of what I do today – managing multiple businesses, consoling three tiny humans, being personally connected to some of the most intelligent people in the western hemisphere – would be possible without my chief focus of gratitude for self-love.

Love of self is the most potent energetic vibration existing in the 3D realm. It cannot be handed to you by any external thing or person. More importantly, we can escape the “hamster wheel” trap of constantly comparing our material accomplishments and possessions to those of others. We can have less stressful lives when we begin to understand the fundamental law of quantum physics.

 

The RASHA 

What you’re about to discover will accelerate your soul’s conscious evolution!

If you haven’t noticed, we are all going through a major upheaval in our country (and on the planet). Finding the energy, time, or focus for meditation, yoga, or self-love is, to say the least, difficult. As we put these things on the back burner, the World Health Organization and American Medical Association say up to 90% of all illnesses in modern society are stress-related. In today’s world, each of us is constantly under stress. Stress has become part of our everyday routine.  Sure, some pills we take will temporarily alleviate the symptoms, but putting a band-aid over these symptoms is not the solution. The honest answer is to get to the core of the problem, balance our bodies and reduce stress.

 

A remarkable tool to help us get back on track is a scalar energy therapy. Scalar waves have the power to influence the morphogenetic field—the blueprint of our physical body. Rasha is a scalar plasma technology that harmonizes and balances the autonomic nervous system to move from fight-or-flight stress response to a more restful and relaxed state where healing can occur.

Nikola Tesla, a genius mind, and an exceptional inventor, said, “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” Scalar waves transmit energy and information, and they occupy space. Patented Tesla coils used in the RASHA can generate scalar energy. By harnessing the power of scalar energy, RASHA allows you to re-discover your natural yet dormant power of consciousness expansion leading to deeper and more meaningful consciousness.

 

Other benefits of scalar energy are:

• Weight Loss
• Energy Boost & Loss of Chronic Fatigue
• Muscle & Joint Pain Release
• Sleep Disorders
• Depression Support
• Focus & Clarity
• Mind Expansion

Frequency Accretion in Progress

I have recently used the RASHA, and I’m told that each time you use it is better than the last. The immediate effects are genuinely profound. At first, you fight the belief that a machine can adjust your stress. Once you give in, you leave with a centered and emotionally balanced self.  The set up is simple. You sit in a relaxing lounge chair and place a pair of headphones on your head that play a series of vibrational tones.  The chair begins to resonate the tones and immediately your whole body is relaxed.  Thoughts begin to rush in and after so long the busy monkeys quite down. The core of your ancestral DNA begins to wake up.  New thoughts, feelings, and emotions begin to float in, and a sense of peace lingers.

 

Coherence Technology

While I don’t currently have the means to sell this brilliant technology, I have many other meaningful ways to eliminate the stress from managing your busy IT environment. Zunesis can consciously guide you with the following IT stack assessment, upgrades, migrations, architectural designs, and data center refreshes. Once you’ve upgraded, we can monitor and manage your environment 24/7.

Our senior Microsoft engineer can help eliminate the frustration of figuring out your next license purchase or Share Point migrations. We work closely with many industry-leading manufacturers to provide you the best fit for your organization’s needs. If you don’t have time or access to the RASHA, the next best thing is to call us here at Zunesis to eliminate the noise.  If you would like to learn where you can find a RASHA studio in the Las Vegas area, please contact me.

 

Pearl Harbor

Dec 7th….The day Pearl Harbor was attacked. The day that the United States was thrust into World War II. It is a day that shaped an entire generation. This began somewhat of a chain reaction all through American society and culture. It spawned many books and movies that retold this fateful day. Some of these were good and some of them were bad (we are looking at you Ben Affleck). But, there was always one overriding message in all of these retellings: the American spirit shone through. Our Armed forces stood up as one. They collectively went to avenge and defend their country and their fellow brothers in arms. There were volunteers to join the Armed Forces lining up around the block of any recruiting station, just days after the attacks. Our factories, research, and development all immediately went into over-drive.

One interesting by product of this happening, American factories never scaled back once the war was over. America stepped in to a global vacuum after the war. Americans helped supply and rebuild much of the war torn world. This, of course led to other long term issues of war and strife, but that is a blog for another day.

 

Impact of Innovation and Technology

As many of you may already know, Pearl Harbor could have been much worse. The American aircraft carriers were not at port.  These carriers ended up being the single most important ship of the war. Had they been there and sunk, WWII would most likely have gone drastically (or even tragically different).

America also had a fledgling technology called radar. While this was not used to quite the effect it should have been, it still provided an advanced warning that was not available only a few years earlier. It has since gone on to become an extremely important technology in not just armed forces applications, but also in our air traffic control, weather, and geological fields.

This was not the only innovation that came out of World War II. Jeeps became the standard for light transportation and support vehicles in this war. The basic design behind these vehicles carries on to one of the most popular car brands on the road today. And of course, the atomic bomb was also developed and used to devasting effect.

 

The Jet Engine

It could be argued that the jet engine was the single most historical and culturally significant innovation that came from WWII. This technology was used sparingly in actual combat. After the war was completed, this technology went on to change many aspects of both military and civilian life. The jet engine paved the way for us to see and visit countries, and it revolutionized the way we do business. Because of the jet engine, American culture spread very quickly (for good or for bad) throughout the world.

But was it more of a significant innovation than the atomic bomb? It is an interesting discussion, partially because both are so closely related. They were both used so thoroughly by our armed forces and politicians for many years, even still to this day.

 

Birth of the Computer

All this being said, I would like to introduce one more piece of technology that I feel give them both a run as being the most vital, important, and culturally significant innovation that came from WWII. This technology definitely got a much slower start out of the gate. It was used in only one specific way for so long that some of you out there might not realize that it was first developed during WWII. The technology I am referring to is the computer.

The term “computer” was actually a reference to a group of mostly women who performed advanced calculations by hand. During the war, the armed forces developed machines for advanced calculations to use in ballistics and to determine trajectories. The group that had been doing these calculations by hand were now employed to program these machines. Obviously, these machines stayed locked away for military uses for some time before companies started working with this same group of people to develop these machines for other uses.

Computers stayed in the background as technologies like jet engines really took off (pun intended). It stayed like this until the personal computer was developed. This was the first stepping stone to the computer not just becoming a vital piece of our work life, but changing the way we live. The jet engine may have introduced us to communities from around the globe, the computer created an actual global community. Computers have also improved upon the jet engine and air travel in general. They make them more efficient and safer. This has in turn allowed the price of airline tickets to be more affordable and used more widely.

 

A Day To Remember

December 7th, will and should always live on in the collective memory of the American people. As it has been so eloquently put, it is “a day that will live in infamy”. We also should not forget the tragic loss of life on this day, but the entirety of the second world war. I give my heart felt thanks to all that were there, and all that continued to serve, and all that serve today.

I also give my thanks to the men and women who used technology to help win that war and then bring this to our everyday lives. They, and all those that have come after (both civilian and military), are an ongoing example of bravery, brilliance, and determination. I, for one, take pride in those who have come before, and I hope that this generation will continue to strive to help make this world a better place.

Not all Doom and Gloom

Covid. Pandemic. Work from home. Social distancing. It is amazing how these terms have become not only a part of our lexicon, but something that is said and repeated by most of us many times a day. Do you feel tired of talking about it? I sure do.

The last time I wrote something for this space was mid-March of this year. Our current situation was just beginning. I will be honest, I thought 1 month or maybe 2, and this whole thing would be passed. We would be back to normal. Now, almost 4 months later, I am not sure what was normal in February will ever be normal again. In fact, I am not sure what normal even is at this point.

At this point it is hard not to be down. It is hard to even find an article that isn’t doom and gloom. For example, I just read an article that talked about how we are “running out of new TV programming” because Hollywood has been shut down for so long. I am sure there are those out there that may not think this is a bad thing (I can just hear it now, “read a book!”). Nonetheless, this article was decidedly negative in how it communicated the current state of our television watching options. There are days where I purposely avoid all media options (TV, Radio, internet, etc), just because it is better for my mental health.

 

A Positive Outlook

All this being said, a positive outlook and little creative thinking can go a long ways. It helps to improve my outlook and the day to day mundane that we are all now currently living in. For one, my family and I have discovered the joys of family board games. I remembered playing board games as a kid and now I find there is a whole sub industry of new and improved games I am just now getting the joy of discovering (not just Settlers of Catan, but plenty of others too!).

Also, video calls, plus plenty of time on my hands, have allowed me to connect with so many friends, family, colleagues, and customers that I normally would not have connected with (or as much). Technology in this area has been a true gift. I am so thankful that we can use this in both our personal and our professional lives. And really maybe that is the “new normal”.

Things like flexibility and creativity are what we need to focus on to drive forward our lives in both the personal or professional arenas. I saw the other day where parents rented out a several of those human hamster balls for their kids to play with friends, but avoid contact. Groups of friends meeting in a parking lot to chat while they sit on the hood of their car or lean out of a sunroof are examples of those of us who are truly thinking “outside” the box. In my wife’s world of weddings, micro weddings with super small guest counts in large venue spaces are quickly becoming the norm.

 

A Sense of Normalcy

Here at Zunesis, video calls are allowing us to maintain “normal” contact with customers and vendors. We are constantly searching for new avenues of improving the quality and experience for participants in video calls. One of our sales associates even had Grub Hub lunch delivered to set up a lunch meeting with a client.

All examples of finding new ways to do “normal” activities. This creativity is helping as we continually run into roadblocks created in this Covid atmosphere. The fluctuating environment means that we have to find solutions to problems, not just once, but each and every time, as yesterday’s solution may no longer be an option.

One instance of this is the long lead time from many of our vendors on most of their major products. What used to take days or weeks, is now taking several months. Guiding our customers to innovative financing solutions which will allow them to purchase before their budgets are available and pay when the product ships and they can use said budget. Providing services (assessments, staff augmentation, etc) that will mitigate these delays. Finding ways to create implementation plans with their management to accommodate the long lead times.

 

Working Towards a Better Tomorrow

Our drive to advocate, protect and serve our customers pushes us to stay flexible and creative. Thus avoiding the doom and gloom perspective. What is amazing to me is how easy it is stay positive, content, and working towards a better tomorrow. When the focus is problem solving (instead of dwelling on them) and creativity (instead of apathy). The other benefit to this attitude is it is infectious (the good kind, of course). If you feel that your organization could use a shot of positivity and creativity don’t hesitate to give us a call. We would be happy to try to bring a little sunshine to your cloudy day.

 2020 – The Future

 

It’s almost the weekend. Almost Christmas. And, almost the year 2020! 2020…doesn’t that sound insane?!

 

When I was a kid, 2020 always sounded like a distant, unreachable year that would consist of flying cars and the people of earth living on settlements on distant planets.  Yet, here it is just a few days away.

 

Although we have seen considerable technological developments in the last 30-40 years, it is not quite the sci-fi landscape we thought it might be by now. That being said; there was a special journey, in the world of IT, that has led it to where it is today. Much like the special journey that has brought us to an event even closer than 2020….the premiere of the new Star Wars movie!

 

A Galaxy Far Far Away

 

The 9^th Star Wars film (or 11^th if you include spinoffs) and final installment in the “Skywalker Saga”, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker premieres tonight!  Given our close-proximity to this cinematic event as well as the year 2020 being just on the horizon, I decided to recap the saga and highlight technological milestones that occurred within each year that a Star Wars film was released. So, let’s take a look at what happened “a long time ago in a galaxy far, far way” as well as not so long ago right here on planet Earth!

 

Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope

Year: 1977

George Lucas creates groundbreaking first Star Wars film that redefined the space-opera as well as the modern blockbuster. It went on to become the highest grossing film of 1977 and ends up spawning a massive franchise (hence how we got here *wink*).

What happened in tech?

The first personal computers are made available to be sold to public consumers. The Apple II, Commodore PET 2001 and the TRS-80 computers are commonly referred to as the “1977 Trinity” of personal computers.

 

Star Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back

Year: 1980

The biggest movie at the time (Star Wars still reigning supreme from its release 3 years prior) now had to attempt to outdo itself with the biggest sequel of all time. And boy did it deliver! From the introduction of classic characters like Yoda and Lando Calrissian, lightsaber duels, a cliffhanger ending, and the infamous “No, I am your father” line…the second entry into the Star Wars story was bigger and better in almost every way and is still revered as the best in the series.

What happened in tech?

Digital Equipment Corporation, Intel and Xerox introduce the DIX standard for Ethernet

 

Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi

Year: 1983

The original trilogy comes to a close with a third film that introduces new planets, new villains, character shifts and the revelation that Luke and Leia are actually twin siblings of the Skywalker lineage! Say whaaat?!

What happened in tech?

The migration of ARPANET to TCP/IP was officially completed. The new protocols were permanently activated, essentially “giving birth to the internet”.

 

Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace

Year: 1999

George Lucas returned to the director’s chair for the first time since the original Star Wars, 22 years prior. With the rise of CGI, he was able to flesh out some of his ideas that had previously been impossible and helm a new trilogy of prequels delving into the origins of Anakin Skywalker and other major characters. Highly anticipated, The Phantom Menace was the highest grossing film of 1999.

What happened in tech?

A high level of concern arose in 1999 with the fast approach of the year 2000 (or Y2K as we called it back then). The previously unforeseen realization that many systems and programs had been designed around the last two digits of the calendar year, thus making the year 2000 indistinguishable from 1900. Organizations all over the world upgraded their computer systems in anticipation of the problem and very few actual issues occurred. Phew!

 

Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones

Year: 2002

The story gets taken a further 10 years down the road from its predecessor, with a new actor portraying Anakin and an even more elaborate look into the backstory of the Star Wars universe.

What happened in tech?

Funny enough, this entry is also notable from a technological standpoint as it was one of the first motion pictures shot completely on a high-definition digital 24-frame system, as well as being the last Star Wars film to be released on VHS in the United States. The end of an era!

 

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Year: 2005

Speaking of the end of eras, the final entry in the prequel trilogy brought us the fall of Anakin Skywalker to the darkside of The Force. Arguably considered the best of the prequel trilogy. Revenge of the Sith was once again the highest grossing film the year of its release. Quite the track record!

What happened in tech?

Microsoft releases the Xbox 360 gaming console in North America. Storage, memory and computing power that at one time had seemed impossible was now available for home use on a personal gaming system!

 

Star Wars: Episode VII -The Force Awakens

Year: 2015

The epic saga returns picking up where the original trilogy left off. A new director and cast take the reins, while also bringing back series-staples Harrison Ford (Han Solo), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker)!

What happened in tech?

The Apple Watch is released. One of the first “smart watches” of its kind. It quickly became the fastest selling wearable device, selling 4.2 million units.

 

Star Wars: Episode VIII- The Last Jedi

Year: 2017

Mark Hamill reprises his legendary role as Luke Skywalker in a big way. Important story pieces get put into place to set up the final entry into the epic 9-part “Skywalker Saga”!

What happened in tech?

The “WannaCry Ransomware Attack” targets computers around the world.  It infected the Microsoft Windows operating system by encrypting data and demanding ransom payments in the form of Bitcoin cryptocurrency. The attack is stopped within a few days due to emergency patches released by Microsoft. The discovery of a kill switch prevented infected computers from spreading WannaCry any further.

 

Star Wars: Episode IX- The Rise of Skywalker

Year: 2019

Huge amounts of anticipation abound for the 9^th and final chapter. It will wrap up various storylines, resolve cliffhangers, and attempt to satisfy fan expectations! After 42 years, the Star Wars saga finally finishes its sweeping tale, today, December 19^th, 2019!

What happened in tech?

Oh man. Where to begin! As you can see from this timeline, we have come a long way since 1977! From cloud computing, intelligent storage, advancements in Artificial Intelligence, predictive analytics (the list goes on). The techy and fantastical world first laid out in the original Star Wars comes closer to reality every day. Now we can only sit back and see where it takes us from here. The future seems exciting for tech lovers and Star Wars fans both!

 

May the force be with us all.

 

Zunesis looks forward to working with you in the next decade and seeing where technology takes us next.

E-Rate – “Free Money” from the Government for Education Customer Networks!

 

As a “go-to” E-rate services provider for our valued networking partners, Aruba Networks and Extreme Networks, we have discovered that many hundreds of millions of unspent “E-Rate” monies are still available to customers in the Rocky Mountain Region. This includes K-12 education as well as many libraries, and some child development (pre-K) centers. E-Rate is a great way to refresh aging networking equipment in all or part of your organization and have a large portion of the costs paid for by the US government. Below are some frequently asked questions we wanted to share and answer. We find that many smaller entities may not be aware of this program or the fact that they have “money to spend”.  Zunesis can help them design and implement E-rate compliant, modern, and rugged internal network connection (wired and wireless) infrastructures.

 

What is E-Rate?

 

The Universal Service Schools and Libraries Program – commonly known as the E-rate program – provides discounts on telecom, internet access, and internal connections to eligible schools and libraries. E-rate is funded through the Universal Service Fund (USF). You will see a small fee at the end of each of your land line or wireless service phone bill. This small fee is collected to help fund this program along with additional federal funding. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) writes the rules and standards for this program. The administrator of the E-rate program is the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC).

 

Have you received your E-rate funding and how is funding determined?

 

Did you know that all applicants who submitted an eligible and timely E-rate application in 2015 through 2019 will receive their funding? Many schools have yet to take advantage of the over $4 billion dollars in available E-rate funding. For K-12/charter schools, E-rate discounts range from 20% to 90% of eligible project costs. Discounts are district wide, and an applicant’s discount rate is determined by the percentage of students that qualify for a free or reduced-price lunch.

 

How do I choose a Service Provider?

 

A service provider like Zunesis needs to be selected as part of a specific and regimented bidding process. E-rate applicants must conduct a fair and open competitive bidding process. All applicants must select the most cost-effective service provider. The price of the eligible products and services must be the most heavily weighed bid evaluation factor. Although other factors such as local presence to the state/community, service provider expertise on the proposed product, and ability to provide a complete solution (including implementation) may be other important weighing factors.

 

Why apply for E-Rate funding this year?

 

There has never been a better time to apply for E-rate funding. Because of the increased funding cap, available roll-over funds, and remaining Category Two (aka. “Internal Connections” such as wired switches and wireless access points) maximum budget funds, it is likely that there will be enough funding to support the entire demand in the current fiscal year as well. Also, applicants that seek E-rate funding this year will not have to compete for dollars against the applicants that will have their Category Two budgets refresh in future fiscal years (2020 and beyond).

 

How do I apply for E-Rate funding?

 

To apply for E-rate funding, simply follow the 6-step process outlined in Figure 1 below:

 

 

How do I determine if product is E-rate eligible?

 

It’s important to note that not all networking solutions are E-rate eligible. For example, you can find eligibility of Aruba products using their E-rate Eligibility Lookup Tool.

 

The following table highlights products that are eligible under the current E-rate program from Aruba Networks as a for-instance.

 

 

How can Zunesis help?

 

Zunesis believes in working with our E-rate eligible clients well prior to “step 1” of the above chart to help educate the customer on  some of the best available options for their particular environments. As not all customer needs are the same, we feel it is always best to have a face to face meeting to walk through example environments, discuss customer needs, and provide valuable input into the Competitive Bid process. Please contact your Zunesis account manager to setup your E-Rate readiness review today!

 

Additional Resources

USAC Website for Applicants

Aruba Networking Education Solutions

Zunesis Customer Connect

 

Primary education has come a long way. Classrooms with desks, notebooks, textbooks, and content-centric curriculums have evolved to a more student-centered learning experience. Several technology trends are further driving the need for mobile computing within the classroom.

 

 

4 Trends Driving Adoption of Mobile Technology in the Classroom

 

E-learning has grown into a multibillion-dollar market in the primary education (K-12) arena.¹ Educational publishers are seeing their revenues from digital materials (electronic textbooks and other tools) eclipse revenues from printed textbooks.² The upside for publishers, as well as research into best practices for e-learning, have led to four important trends driving adoption in the classroom:

 

• Licensing models — Publishing companies offer cost-effective e-licensing models for schools to present students with the most current information.
• Supplementary tools — Other materials beyond traditional textbooks are now available to supplement the curriculums to help students have access to as much information as possible.
• Gamification — This enhances learning, as students enjoy the challenges and competitive aspects that stimulate learning.³
• Personalized learning — Students learn at different rates, and they more effectively acquire the collaboration and innovation skills required for college and beyond when learning environments are augmented with technology.

 

While all this is good news for students, one of the biggest challenges for 1:1 learning initiatives is the need for teachers to embrace the technology. If the technology or software is perceived to be too cumbersome, teachers will not willingly support it. Therefore, for any district-wide or school-wide implementation of mobile technology, teachers need to feel comfortable and find value in it.

 

 

So, What Makes a Good Mobile Solution for K-12 Education?

 

Built for Students

 

Modern learning is often project-based, which requires reading and creation of content, collaboration, and presentation. More schools recognize that preparing students for technology-based fields — such as engineering, computer science, and vocations that require either coding or math calculation — requires the use of mobile technology that supports this sort of functionality.

 

However, students are tough on most things, including their own smartphones and textbooks. Therefore, devices need to be rugged and able to withstand drops, spills, and shocks. Devices should also be thin enough to fit easily in a backpack.

 

Built for Teachers

 

We’ve highlighted the important aspects of personal devices, such as laptops, from a student’s perspective. However, to be successful, teachers need solutions that accomplish the following:

 

• Enable teachers to differentiate instruction so students at different levels can learn successfully at their own rate.
• Facilitate instruction through software and collaborative tools. Solutions should help teachers orchestrate their classrooms, and save time with easier lesson planning, administrative and assessment workflows.
• Monitor student progress. Software that links the students’ devices with those of teachers can help teachers discern areas where students are individually or collectively having trouble.

 

 

1:1 Solutions Designed Specifically for Schools

 

HP has invested time and money in understanding the education market and gathering feedback from thousands of teachers, students, and school administrators to created impactful education technology. HP Education solutions, such as the HP ProBook x360 11 G1 Education Edition, are designed and built for dynamic learning environments to enable anytime, anywhere creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking while meeting lean budget requirements. Their goal is to create richer educational experiences, improve learning outcomes, and save teachers time.

 

If you are interested in implementing a 1:1 learning initiative in your school district, consider how convertible laptops from HP can cost-effectively enrich your curriculum and better prepare your students for the next part of their journey, whether it’s college or a job, as well as save your teachers time and help them engage their students more effectively.

 

 

 

Ocean waters are warming and becoming more acidic, ice caps are melting, and sea levels are rising. Warmer global temperatures affect our water supplies, agriculture, power and transportation systems, the natural environment, and even our own health and safety.

 

Multiple studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals show that 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree 1: Climate-warming trends over the past century are mostly due to human activities.

 

While technology has played its part in causing climate change it can also help us get to solutions. Here are five initiatives taking place in the technology community that can fight climate change:

1. Data centers

The world’s most influential companies including Apple, NIKE, IKEA, Johnson & Johnson, and Starbucks, representing over US $1 trillion in annual revenue, are committed to 100% renewable power. Much of the energy used in data centers is not from the actual technology. Instead, it’s from cooling the servers. As well as delivering on emission reduction goals, renewable power can help manage fluctuating energy costs, improve reputation and provide energy security. It also shows business leadership on climate change. This could have massive impact if paired alongside robust government policy that boosts confidence and enables long-term investments.

 

2. Mobile apps

It takes some digging to find apps that will help you create real change on a daily basis, but they’re out there. Here are some examples of apps that can help you monitor and reduce your carbon footprint and waste:

 

• • Oroeco is an app that tracks your carbon footprint by placing a carbon value on everything you buy, eat, and do, and then shows you how you compare with your neighbors.
  • PaperKarma is an easy way to cut paper waste. Take a photo of your junk mail, send it through the app, and PaperKarma will figure out what it is and take you off the mailing list.
  • GiveO2 tracks your carbon footprint as you travel. Turn on the tracker when you start a new trip, and it will automatically calculate a timeline of your carbon usage. At the end, you can “offset” it by supporting a sustainable project of your choice.

 

3. IoT

Monitoring our energy usage makes it possible to be smarter about it. Take Nest, for instance. While an un-programmed thermostat can waste 20% of heating and cooling, Nest tackles the issue with a smart thermostat that learns your patterns and automatically adjusts to save energy. The Internet of Things can save energy and carbon footprints with things as simple as using an app to turn off the lights or with apps like IFTTT, which hooks up to many different types of systems. The IoT can also involve monitoring your sprinkler system to save water, or use sensors to tell you to take a different route when driving to avoid idling in traffic and wasting gas.

 

4. Open source movement

Open data and open source technologies are a huge way to accelerate environmental research and innovation. Take Tesla, for example. By opening the company’s patents to everyone, Elon Musk wanted to make sure electric vehicles succeeded faster.

 

5. Mapping

Interactive maps really drive home the point of climate change and can lead the way to remedies. Map layers defining vegetation, soil type, geology, precipitation, and human infrastructure can help model and plan for future change. New mapping technology can make us safer and less reliant on fossil fuels. The U.S Geologic Survey’s 3D Elevation Program is being developed to use advanced mapping to better update hazard maps for floods and earthquakes and find out where the best areas for solar and wind farms.

 

As you can see, many of these things only require small changes from individuals in order to make a difference for our climate. Some will require much more intentional decisions from businesses. The good news, however, is that with this intentionality, individuals and corporations alike can take action to help our climate. If we’re all in this together, perhaps it’s time that we take a look – individually and corporately – at how we can make a difference.

 

1. J. Cook, et al, “Consensus on consensus: a synthesis of consensus estimates on human-caused global warming,” Environmental Research Letters Vol. 11 No. 4, (13 April 2016); DOI:10.1088/1748-9326/11/4/048002

What in the world does “metathesiophobia” mean? Simply stated, this is the fear of change. The origin of the term is Greek, meta- meaning “change” and -phobos meaning “fear.” We all have fear of change on some level. It is and always evolving; and some of us, more than others, have inherited this trait through our genetics.
When it comes to changes in technology – which we all know are constant – we generally experience two conflicting emotions: we feel excitement at the prospect of something new while simultaneously experiencing a feeling of resistance. We naturally resist change because we fear what we don’t know. Over the years, the evolution of technology has fueled this fear. Although we’ve seen many grand technological advances, we’ve also witnessed too many technology flops to count. This leaves us asking questions about every new technology on the market: What if it does not work? What if this change brings down my network? The list could go on and on indefinitely.
Although it is natural, and even responsible, for IT staff to approach changes in their IT environment with caution, approaching it with fear is not necessary. Worrying about the “What ifs” in any circumstance may help avoid pitfalls, but results are only ever achieved once some level of risk is taken. The beautiful thing is that changing your IT environment doesn’t have to be scary; it can be exciting. It can be done with confidence.
Working with Value-Added Resellers (VARs), who in turn work with companies that have deep R&D budgets, can eliminate the fear associated with implementing new technologies. You can rest assured that the R&D has been done; in fact, manufactures like HP test each new product to the limit, fix the bugs they find, and release to the public once they’re fully confident in the final outcome.
Working with a good VAR like Zunesis allows you the opportunity to demo IT products before you buy them. This means that not only can you be confident that the product or solution works, generally speaking, but you can be confident it will work in your environment. It allows you to see the pros and cons for yourself before you make a purchase decision.
Let Zunesis remove fear from your life. I will be discussing this for my next few blogs. If you would like more information to help you be confident moving forward, let me know; and I will be glad to help.