(BPT) – Ebola has been one of the top headlines in the nation in the second half of 2014, resulting in much discussion among government leaders, community leaders and health-care officials as they determine how to test for and treat the disease on U.S. soil.What many of these headlines are missing are the other deadly superbugs already prevalent in hospitals, health care and daycare settings across the country – as well as many communities. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other bacteria are found in many public locations and are often resistant to antibiotics. In the United States, 23,000 deaths are…
Author: Brandpoint
(BPT) – The chaos of the holiday season can leave even the most organized person feeling a little hassled. You have to balance your schedule that’s filling up with holiday activities, your to-do lists of gift shopping and getting ready for guests, and your budget that’s struggling with added seasonal expenses. It all makes these last few weeks of the calendar year feel a bit overwhelming.Fortunately, technology offers a few tools that can help simplify the chaos, allowing you to stress less, and focus on enjoying the festivities even more. So this holiday season, take advantage of these tips, and…
(BPT) – Not long ago, TVs were big, boxy and unattractive. No wonder they were always relegated to the corner of a room, positioned discreetly or masked within large, wooden, entertainment centers to make them fit in an aesthetically pleasing way.Those days are long gone. With the advent of newer technology and thinner screens, this once-humble home electronics device has been reinvented as a critical design statement for the contemporary home.This shift can be attributed to several factors. Surveys show that consumers now prefer larger-screen TVs, so the physical space that TVs take up in the home is greater than…
(BPT) – For teenage girls debating what they want to do with their lives after high school, the adjectives challenging, exciting, rewarding and empowering may not always be used as part of the discussion. But maybe they should be, because there are many opportunities available for high school graduates that encompass these traits, and women are encouraged to seek them out.Where are all of these exciting career opportunities for women to pursue? Many of them are found in the Navy. From flying in an airplane to diving in the ocean, the Navy has dynamic job opportunities with great responsibilities that…
(BPT) – The digital age has made online information widely available both for good and bad purposes. When it comes to the nation’s security, monitoring, tracking, securing and analyzing digital data is a key factor in defending intelligence networks.Creating a line of cyber warfare defense is the U.S. Navy’s responsibility, which has a community charged with mastering the capabilities, tools and techniques required to effectively collect, process, analyze and apply information.This is a growing field, and individuals interested in careers in computer science and computer engineering will find excellent opportunities with the Navy. Enlisted sailors and naval officers specialize in…
(BPT) – By this time every year, TV manufacturers have released their new lineups – complete with the newfangled technologies and new looks. After months of seeing prototypes and concepts, now is the time when TV lovers can get their hands on these models and show them off in their living rooms.The hot TVs this year are called Ultra HD, or 4K. If you haven’t heard of them yet, you will soon. People are so excited about them for one simple reason: picture quality. These TVs have 8 million pixels vs. the 2 million in Full HD TVs. Just like…
(BPT) – Recently, emboldened Russian hackers breached the systems of power plants across the United States and Western Europe. In June, Chinese hackers attempted to gain access to several U.S. power plant operation control systems. And in May, the Department of Homeland Security announced hackers had actually gained control of a mechanical device at an unnamed U.S. energy facility.These brazen cyber attacks on a critical infrastructure have raised new alarms within the information and homeland security sectors. Dr. Jane LeClair, COO at the, National Cybersecurity Institute notes that these types of incidents, in which hackers exploit vulnerabilities within the country’s…
(BPT) – Packing up the bedroom and leaving for college comes with the promise of a semester of learning, meeting new friends and future peers, and good college fun.In addition to the clothes and household goods that will be packed into the car, there are some other items every college-bound student will want. These include the technology gadgets that help students process all of their homework and class projects, as well as the snack foods and cleaning equipment they’ll need to survive the semester. Staples recommends every college student has the following must-have supplies in order to succeed this school…
(BPT) – There’s no denying that STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education is on society’s radar. President Barack Obama’s ‘Educate to Innovate’ initiative hosts a yearly STEM-themed science fair at the White House. STEM summer camps are popping up across the country and hundreds of thousands of parents, educators and policymakers convene annually at STEM conferences nationwide. The nation’s job market even reflects the popularity as recent data shows that across STEM fields, job postings outnumbered unemployed people by almost two to one.Although STEM education is recognized as a crucial way to spark students’ interest in innovation and technology,…
(BPT) – Smartphones have become an essential part of everyday life; from texting and email to social media, Americans rely heavily on their mobile devices. If your mobile phone was taken away, how long could you survive without it?The answer may surprise you: nearly half (47 percent) of U.S. consumers polled say they could not go more than one day without their smartphone, according to the inaugural Bank of America Trends in Consumer Mobility Report. An overwhelming majority (85 percent) say they check their phones at least a few times a day, while more than one-third (35 percent) admit to…
(BPT) – Smartphones have become an essential part of everyday life; from texting and email to social media, Americans rely heavily on their mobile devices. If your mobile phone was taken away, how long could you survive without it?The answer may surprise you: nearly half (47 percent) of U.S. consumers polled say they could not go more than one day without their smartphone, according to the inaugural Bank of America Trends in Consumer Mobility Report. An overwhelming majority (85 percent) say they check their phones at least a few times a day, while more than one-third (35 percent) admit to…
(BPT) – Between managing careers, navigating the rigors of parenthood, handling the daily to-do list, and finding time to stay in touch with friends, it’s no wonder modern moms and dads are always on the lookout for simple solutions to make life a little less hectic. Luckily, the age of mobile technology brings ultra-convenient apps and Bluetooth-connected devices for everything from shopping to banking and, of course, cooking.Today, more people than ever before are diving into their smartphones and tablets fingertips-first to remove a bit of stress from their day-to-day routines, according to recent study from Flurry Analytics. Findings indicate…
(BPT) – Are you dreaming of a vacation? Whether you’re planning a family trip, a romantic getaway for two, or a solo adventure, technology will likely be by your side. But using technology while away often requires some advance prep to reduce potential disruptions to your personal services, including Web-based email, apps and cloud storage, and to reduce the risk of criminal activity.When you try to sign in to your online services from a new location, companies may throw up roadblocks intended to keep out malicious attackers. To make sure you’re able to access documents or connect with friends while…
(BPT) – To succeed in today’s classrooms, students must be more than book smart – they must be digital learners as well. Modern technology such as e-books, online tutorial programs, educational social media options and apps are providing access to personalized learning opportunities which were not available to previous generations of students.And while this technology is helping children learn and develop in innovative ways, it is also collecting important data about how these students are learning. E-books, for example, have the ability to track which pages a student has read, monitoring a student’s progress. Data collected during learning sessions can…
(BPT) – A lot has changed since you were in school. Your children don’t listen to the same types of music you enjoyed, and they certainly dress differently despite your protests.They learn differently as well.Today’s classrooms are no longer focused on chalkboards and lectures. Digital devices tied to curriculum leveraging big data technology are becoming more central to learning and are key to creating dynamic classrooms that support personalizing learning for every student. This new approach is helping students to learn at their own pace and aids educators to deeply engage with students in their learning process. These new technologies…
(BPT) – A peculiar corkscrew sensation goes up one’s spine when a tornado siren goes off in the dead of night. It means a tornado is on the ground. You know it’s coming. You can hear it and you can feel it. You just can’t see it and don’t know where it is until it might be right on top of you, literally.Tornado season has arrived for many areas of the United States, and unfortunately, hundreds if not thousands of Americans will experience that sensation this spring and summer. For many, those sirens in the middle of the night might…
(BPT) – Everyday technology consumes everyone’s lives as the phone, computer, tablet and other high tech devices have become not just an object, but also a close companion. And for those who are extremely connected to their devices, going without them, even for only a few minutes, can be an anxiety-filled experience. A majority of American adults (56 percent) own smartphones, according to a recent study by the Pew Research Center. Having the ability to check your mail, play games and browse the Internet right in your pocket is a leap forward for technology and staying connected to the workplace,…
(BPT) – What do personalized movie-kiosk offerings, marketing campaigns and Godzilla all have in common? The obvious answer is ‘the movie industry,’ but another equally important common element ties all three together: they’re all the product of big data.’Simply put, big data refers to huge volumes of data that’s manipulated, correlated with other big data sets, and then analyzed to provide unique insights,’ says Ron Kasabian, vice president and general manager of Big Data Solutions at Intel. ‘While the concept may seem very technical and cerebral, big data has a huge impact on many aspects of everyday life – including…
(BPT) – These days, more is expected of working families than ever before. Families with two working parents are now the norm, and in addition to full-time jobs, parents still have errands to run, youth activities to attend and a house to maintain. So how do you do it all? How do you keep your family organized and running efficiently?It may sound difficult, but all this is possible. Following these simple tips will put you and your household on the right track and will help put a limit to daily chaos:* Make it a family affair: Involve kids in cleaning…
(BPT) – Think home technology begins with your wireless, programmable thermostat and ends with the high-definition, 3-D, web-enabled flat-screen TV with surround sound? Think again – whole home technology means using leading-edge devices to improve life in every room of the house, including the bathroom.From toilets that flush without being touched to waterproof TVs for the shower, the latest bathroom technology can make the room safer, cleaner, healthier and more enjoyable for everyone. Here is a handful of high-tech home improvements for one of the most-used rooms in any house:Safer, healthier toiletsYou don’t have to be a scientist to know…