Business

5 Best Technologies To Include In A Smart Office

As you look forward to a smarter 2021, let us know about some impactful technologies to improve employee performance and ROI.

Published

3 years ago

May 6, 2021

Manvendra Chaudhary

5 Best Technologies To Include In A Smart Office

The modern office is developing and new technologies are emerging to make our lives easier and comfortable. Some business tools like the internet and email have become regular fixtures. The office decor is getting futuristic with automated doors, intelligent conference systems, and a digital environment.

Today’s modern office is also getting smarter in data access, usage, and sitting. Smart tools and apps are helping bring efficiency to the table. To-Do list sharing and collaborative spaces are helping enhance employee productivity and time management. Facility management is touch-based, and wireless connectivity is making the world a smaller place. As you look forward to a smarter 2021, let us know about some impactful technologies to improve employee performance and ROI.

Also Read: Social Media Marketing: How to pick a strategy and tools

Energy-Efficient Smart Lighting

Modernizing the workspace is no longer limited to few tables and ceiling fans. Smart lighting can reduce energy costs by 90 percent in office buildings. Factors like LED lighting, IoT sensors make the smart lighting concept future-office relevant.

IoT sensors turn the workstation lights off or on by detecting motion in a room. Then there are lighting luminance controls adjusting indoor lights to the bright outdoor light. As a smart employee, you can maintain the right lighting level in your workstation without wastage. To save some cost, you can purchase carton-damaged lighting products. Their light brilliance and efficiency can come to use for your workstation applications.

Intelligent Smart Desks

Corporate real estate prices are shooting up and beyond budget for small-size firms. You cannot close your eyes to under-used lavish office spaces either. Hot desking is smart for office space optimization, as multiple people can share the same workstation at distinct moments.

Also Read: 10 passive Income businesses you can start while stuck at home

Smart desks follow the search-and-reserve method in online booking. It is a sound way to keep track of employees who have reserved office sitting space. There are sitting and standing options in smart desks and help track the employee profile. Sensor data gives a fruitful insight into hot-desk staff and their preferences and productivity. Screen sharing is another futuristic work trend that allows multiple workers to work on a single project on a computer. It is a classic example of real-time collaboration in editing a document or video or designing a car prototype.

Smart Meeting Rooms

With the increasing workforce in an organization, it may be difficult for office meeting participants to remember the decisions taken and be on the same wavelength with coworkers in remote locations. Smart meeting rooms are collaboration spaces with adequate technology solutions working seamlessly across geographies. Such meeting rooms draw on end-user needs by cataloging and reserving each room based on people’s size and room features.

Wall-mounted whiteboard, video conference camera, smart analytics tools installed in such meeting rooms help remote team members virtually see and participate in the meeting. The meeting management system is a novel idea promoting uninterrupted and seamless business meetings with no interruptions. It also adds value to office spaces and utilities.

Smart Climate Control

Hot vs cold temperature, thermostat wars are common to most offices. It is difficult for companies to match employees’ expectations of an ideal office temperature. Office ventilation and air conditioning can meaningfully influence employees’ productivity.

HVAC systems intelligently detect temperature habits in a defined workspace and adjust the temperature accordingly. This enhances employee comfort and reduces carbon footprint. New technologies go a step further by allowing employees to make a temperature change request from their smartphones and computer devices. IoT-controlled temperature changes encourage workforce communication and understanding during temperature change requests put up by staff.

Video Monitoring And Surveillance

Safety and security are as essential as living and eating. That is why human and assets protection is foremost. Camera technologies must add a level of security to the office ambiance and monitor modern facilities and data used in the workplace.

Video monitors with wide-angle views, low-light, and zoom features allow users to monitor several workstations in office premises at once with the help of split-screen viewing. Images-saving to a computer desktop enables anytime access with date and time search. So, it is easier to track people’s movement and performance within the office during working hours.

Also Read: How to Find a Freelance Web Developer

Final Thoughts

In the age of IoT, motion-detecting devices are helping track office occupants and working. Lighting and temperature control are now technology-enabled and need no human intervention. With most things digitally optimized, even a coffee maker, it is good to invest in innovative office technologies.

However, train your mind to work beyond computer tools. The human mind is a bankable resource of creativity and imagination, logic and aptitude. Get into the habit of penning notes on your notepad, fill your diary with meetings, appointments, thoughts, important dates, and plans. Balance your innovative technologies’ dependence on your individual and rational thinking to complete your tasks. Be kind, proactive, and take risks. Take short-term remote contracts to assess your comfort and delivery.

Business

Sundar Pichai Net Worth 2024: How Much is the CEO of Google Worth?

Published

2 hours ago

May 1, 2024

Vishnu Chaudhary

Sundar Pichai Net Worth 2024: How Much is the CEO of Google Worth?

Who is Sundar Pichai?

Sundar Pichai, born on June 10, 1972, in Madurai, India, is a prominent figure in the tech industry, renowned as the CEO of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google LLC. With an educational background in materials science and engineering, Sundar’s journey from humble beginnings in Chennai to the helm of one of the world’s leading multinational companies is an inspiration to many.

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Sundar Pichai Career

Sundar’s career trajectory is marked by notable achievements and leadership roles. Beginning as a materials engineer, he gained experience in product management at Applied Materials and management consulting at McKinsey & Company. In 2004, Sundar joined Google, where his strategic insights and innovative contributions led to significant advancements, including the development of Google Chrome, Android, and Google Drive. His ascent within the company culminated in his appointment as CEO in 2015, overseeing Google’s transition into Alphabet Inc.

Sundar Pichai’s Net Worth

As of 2024, Sundar Pichai’s net worth is estimated to exceed $1.66 Billion, primarily attributed to his role as CEO of Alphabet Inc. and his ownership of approximately 520,668 shares of Alphabet Inc. stock. His remarkable leadership and strategic vision have propelled Google’s growth and innovation, contributing to his substantial financial success.

Sundar Pichai Age

As of 2023, Sundar Pichai is 50 years old, having been born on June 10, 1972.

Sundar Pichai Family: Wife and Children

Sundar Pichai is married to Anjali Pichai, whom he met during his college years at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur. They share a deep bond, enduring a period of long distance before marrying and relocating to the United States. Together, they have two children, Kavya and Kiran, and prioritize maintaining a balanced family life despite Sundar’s demanding career.

Sundar Pichai Height and Weight

Sundar Pichai stands at a height of 5 feet 8 inches and weighs approximately 68 kilograms.

Also Read: Eric Eisner Net Worth 2024: How Much is the Film Producer Worth?

Business

Important Ripple V. SEC Lawsuit Update: Parties Cross Swords Over A Key Witness Testimony

Published

22 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Manoj Nair

The legal wrangling between Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is becoming increasingly acrimonious. Despite the crypto sector eagerly awaiting an outcome, the case grows more complicated with each passing day.

In a recent move, the SEC filed its opposition to Ripple’s motion to strike new expert materials, including a testimony known as the ‘Fox Declaration,’ which Ripple claimed represents unsolicited expert opinion.

However, the SEC countered this argument, stating that it was a common process akin to standard summary evidence in support of calculations for disgorgement.

The SEC insisted, ‘It’s not an expert report, does not rely on specialized experience, and does not render any opinions at all, let alone an “expert” one. Nor does it present the testimony of a percipient witness. Rather, it applies basic arithmetic to Ripple’s financial records to streamline the presentation of evidence to Judge Torres… The court should deny Ripple’s motion.’

The SEC also said that the ‘Fox Declaration’ consists of information derived from Ripple’s own documents, including tax returns and financial statements, which can be useful for determining the case’s outcome. The SEC also reminded that this very argument was already struck down by Federal Judge Torres earlier.

XRP Lawsuit: Whales Shift 74M XRP Amid Approaching SEC Deadline, What’s Next?

Just before the SEC’s deadline in the Ripple lawsuit, there was significant whale activity, with transactions affecting over 74 million XRP, leading to increased speculation about the motive behind this move. However, XRP prices have taken a hit, more due to a global crypto market sell-off and significant whale movements. Later in the day, the SEC is expected to file its reply in the Ripple case.

It was an eventful day, with major crypto assets facing the heat and values tanking. XRP prices have dropped by 4%, but major whale activity involving significant transfers of XRP, totaling $15.92 million to Bitstamp by unidentified whales, has experts talking and wondering about the real motive behind this action. Coupled with the uncertainties around the ongoing legal battle between Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the future of the crypto sector hangs in balance with the final result of this legal wrangling.

Also Read: Philips Settles for $1.1 Billion Over Sleep Apnea Device Recall Linked to Cancer Risks

Business

Philips Settles for $1.1 Billion Over Sleep Apnea Device Recall Linked to Cancer Risks

Published

22 hours ago

April 30, 2024

Manoj Nair

Dutch conglomerate Philips has concluded a $1.1 billion deal to resolve claims in the United States related to the recall of more than 1 million breathing machines. These devices, also known as sleep apnea devices, were recalled in 2021 due to concerns that they posed a potential cancer risk.

Philips had recalled millions of its CPAP machines from the market after concerns arose that components used in the device, especially the foam, could enter the airways and potentially cause cancer. The recall occurred in 2021, and further sales of the devices were halted. The money from the deal will cover injury claims for 58,000 people, earmarking $1.075 billion for a personal injury settlement and $25 million for medical monitoring.

Lawyers representing the plaintiffs stated,

“Ultimately, these combined agreements accomplish what we sought to achieve when this litigation began — holding Philips accountable by obtaining care for those with physical injuries and compensation for those needing new respiratory devices.”

CPAP machines, an acronym for continuous positive airway pressure machines, are used to treat sleep apnea, a serious sleep disorder where a person’s breathing is obstructed during sleep. This can be caused by the throat muscles obstructing the airways, brain disorders, or unknown causes. CPAP machines help restore the air supply via a mask and keep the airways open.

An estimated 33 million Americans use CPAP machines to treat the symptoms of sleep apnea, according to figures released by the National Council on Aging. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to several complications, including higher risks of developing diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases.

Some customers alleged that Philips’ DreamStation machines, which were then the brand leader, had been expelling gas and bits of foam into their lungs. Philips made no admission of fault in its products and stated that most of the claims were related to “alleged technical malfunctions” that did not involve any serious injury or death. However, Chief Executive Roy Jakobs said in a statement on Monday that the company is genuinely concerned with any discomfort the patients may have experienced.

Philips is facing a number of litigations in the US and is effectively out of the sleep machines and ventilators market, with its presence limited to selling replacement parts and servicing the machines that already exist in hospitals and patients’ homes. Earlier this year, Philips agreed to a decree requiring it to halt the sale of its devices in the US until certain conditions are met. It also agreed to repair and replace the more than 1 million breathing machines currently used by patients in the US.

What can consumers do?

The settlement, which must be approved by a judge, entitles users to a $100 award if they return their recalled device by August 9, 2024 — the claim deadline. Users who believe their device is defective should act soon to verify this if they haven’t already, and Philips’ recall page offers ways to check serial numbers and register a product. A dedicated website is available which accepts claims for the financial-loss settlement. Payments tied to the settlement are expected to be completed by 2025.

The news has been welcomed in the share markets, and Royal Philips NV shares soared nearly 30 percent in Amsterdam since the settlement amount is much less than what was expected.

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