March 2018 – Croixstone

Pervasive Computing 101

In a recent MIT Sloan Management Review article, Dr. Albert H. Segars from University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School outlined seven core technologies that are altering nearly every dimension of our lives and their implications for commerce, health care, learning, the environment and more. According to Dr. Segars, pervasive computing is one of the core technologies that every business leader should become familiar with as the digital revolution rages on.

Pervasive computing, also called ubiquitous computing, is a concept where information, media, context, and processing power are delivered conveniently to us in all kinds of things. The Apple Watch’s ability to alert users of incoming phone calls and to allow users to complete calls through the watch, is an example of pervasive computing. The large network of connected microprocessors embedded in everyday objects allows access to information from virtually anywhere and at any time.

First pioneered in the late 1980s at the Olivetti Research Laboratory in Cambridge England, the development of the “Active Badge“, a small clip-on microcomputer employee ID card, enabled the company to track employee movement. This spurred articles by the The New York Times, ComputerWorld and other publications about George Orwell’s Big Brother prediction coming true.

Mark Weiser, considered to be the father of ubiquitous computing, soon began building early ubiquitous computing devices with his colleagues at Xerox PARC and popularized the term “pervasive computing” with the creation of IBM’s Pervasive Computing division.

Today, pervasive computing generally involves wireless communications and networking technologies, mobile devices, embedded systems, wearables, wireless sensors, voice recognition, AI and more. According to a recent study report published by Market Research Future, the global market of pervasive computing technology is booming and expected to gain prominence. Technology advancements and the increased demand for Internet of Things (IoT) continue to drive the growth.

Application of Pervasive Computing Technology:

Communications
Logistics
Transportation (by air, land and sea)
Energy
Learning
Military
Banking/Finance
Production
Smart Homes
E-commerce
Security & Safety
Healthcare/Medical Technology
Media

To learn more, read:

Happy Pi Day!

For those of us who love numbers, we know the significance of today…it’s Pi Day! What makes pi (π) so special? You may recall from your days in school that pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference (the distance around the circle) to its diameter (the distance across the circle at its widest point), and the digits of pi never end and never show a pattern. Some of us even memorized the starting digits of pi, 3.14159265359…

Due to its connection to cycles and its involvement in equations relevant to circular or harmonic motion, pi is used every day in billions of computations, from large-scale supercomputers simulating the earth’s climate to the mechanics behind your ability to talk on your cell phone. Here are just a few of the areas where pi is used:

Normal Probability Distribution – Sometimes referred to as the bell curve, normal distributions show up in nearly every specialized field of study — finance, medicine, physics, engineering, etc. — and is applicable to a wide range of natural phenomena such as standardized test scores, lifespan of a product, rolling of dice, and tracking of population dynamics.
Signal Processing & Spectrum Analysis – Pi is found in sine waves, used for signal processing in sound and light waves. Watching tv or listening to the radio, taking an ultrasound of a baby in the womb, and studying the behavior of ocean waves all involve the use of pi. Your cell phone technology uses pi when communicating with a local cell tower.
Other Applications – The design of clocks, the skin of an airplane, GPS navigation, the make-up of your DNA, the construction of arches, bridges and buildings, and the rhythms of sleep and wakefulness that govern our bodies can also all be determined or described using pi.

There is an endless number of applications of pi. Even though we can’t see pi, it is at work in the world around us each day.

Happy Pi Day from Croixstone Consulting!

Seven Business Rebel Beliefs

Croixstone is proud to represent an exclusive group of highly-experienced business mavericks who enjoy tackling industry challenges. Our group of rebel talent, also known as “constructive non-conformists,” understands the importance of questioning the status quo and has the people skills to work with others to advance ideas for change. Recently, Inc. ran an article titled “7 Beliefs Business Rebels Hold That Disrupts Their Competition.” S.C. Gwynne, New York Times bestselling author of The Perfect Pass, explained the seven beliefs as follows:

Play Simple. A winning team doesn’t necessarily rely on complicated “plays” or on the quantity of them. Instead, insist on keeping your playbook simple. Simplicity is memorable.
Redefine Boundaries. Don’t accept the conditions in which you work as a given. If you need to move the lines on the playing field, then do it.
Redefine Expectations. Evaluate the “rules” that everyone follows and find leverage points to pivot away from tradition and create new expectations.
Believe in Greatness. No matter your track record or the obstacles in your way believe that great outcomes are possible. People perform to the expectation levels you set.
Look to the Past to Change the Future. While rebels defy conventional wisdom, they also study the past to learn trends and patterns that can change the future.
Be Persistent. Steadfast in their resolve, rebels internalize their purpose. This helps them to stay persistent despite the temptation to back down or dial back their ambition.
Believe in People. A business is nothing without the commitment and resolve of its people. Invest heavily in your talent.

Do you hold these same beliefs? If yes, reach out to Patti Weber, our Chief Experience Officer, at pweber@www.croixstone.consulting!

Don’t Be a LinkedIn Dinosaur

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for today’s consulting professional. That said, the world’s most popular social networking site for professionals is evolving and transforming at lightning speed. Here are four of LinkedIn’s latest features to keep you in the know…and stop you from becoming a LinkedIn dinosaur!

LinkedIn Search – has been updated with redesigned functionality and features to help deliver more relevant results.
“Connections of” Filter – use your extended network to search connections of your connections through the Connections of filter and find people who work in a specific industry, location or company.
LinkedIn Video – pictures tell a 1,000 words. Learn how to use LinkedIn Video to share your experience and perspectives.
Active Status – you can use LinkedIn’s “green dot” feature to learn who in your network is online and potentially available to communicate with you.