Innovative Tech of the Week | The Kid's Tablet

Finally - a solution to feeling dumber than our kids when they teach us how to do something on our iPad. Starting October 1, Toys R Us will debut the Tabeo, a tablet just for kids running on Android OS. 

"The device is wrapped in a soft "bumper" to protect the hardware if it falls out of a child's slippery fingers. It also includes extra controls in the device's built-in browser. For example, parents can set different Internet safety controls for up to eight users, either by blocking certain categories of content or disallowing access to specific sites. The Tabeo can also be set to allow Internet access only on certain days or during certain hours." 

It will be interesting to see if parents prefer to get kids their own or keep letting them use the family tablet. While the Tabeo seems much more kid-proof, many of the child safety apps and cases available for regular tablets can render any tablet "safe for children." 

Learn more about the Tabeo kids tablet here 

Construction Technology Integration – Infographic | Visualoop

Thanks to Visualoop.com for featuring our latest Infographic of the Month!

Check it out here

August Infographic of the Month: The 2012 Construction Technology Integration Survey

JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., makers of SmartBidNet, conducted the first annual Construction Technology Integration (CTI) Survey May 30-June 16, 2012. The online, 20 question survey was emailed to thousands of commercial building professionals and promoted via social media, eliciting more than 450 responses. The results were first presented by JBKnowledge President James Benham at the Associated General Contractors (AGC) of America 2012 IT Forum in Chicago, August 16. This infographic provides a snapshot of the survey results.

Any and all feedback is appreciated and will help in developing the 2013 CTI Survey. Leave us a comment!

Check out the infographic here: http://www.smartbidnet.com/infographics

Download your copy of the full CTI Report here: http://www.smartbidnet.com/ctisurvey

SmartBidNet and COSA Featured on the Sage Construction & Real Estate Blog

Let’s Start Talking
Published 9/6/2012
by Dennis Stejskal

I recently spoke at the 2012 AGC IT Forum in Chicago along with James Benham, president of JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., makers of SmartBidNet. In his presentation, James talked about the software now available to contractors from different vendors, the importance of a data exchange standard, and the advantages of integrating construction solutions in the cloud.

I agree 100 percent with what James was saying. In fact his presentation was the perfect segue into my AGC talk about interoperability. James had provided a lot of great examples of integrating data between best of breed software within a construction company. That is one way to look at interoperability.  The other way is exchanging system data between companies involved in a construction project.

Take submittals for example. The reality is 80 to 90 percent of the submittal process is already electronic. However, sharing submittal information between the architect, engineer, contractor and vendor is still time-intensive and error prone because the software programs each one uses don’t talk with one another. They are not interoperable. In order to more efficiently share data, we have to have a data exchange standard that is fully adopted by the construction software community and built into our products.
 
Click here to read the full article 

Associated General Contractors of America IT Forum Conference Rocks Chicago

By Jeanie J. Clapp
Published August 28, 2012
AGC TechBrief 

The fourth annual AGC IT Forum Conference kicked off at the Swissotel in Chicago on Thursday, Aug. 16 with more than 225 attendees eager to learn, ready to share and willing to engage.

"Where Technology and Construction Converge" was the theme and focused on hot topics, such asinteroperability in the cloud, mobile computing, enterprise content management (ECM), affordable solutions and IT trends.

James Benham ignited the event on the first day with his exciting keynote presentation on interoperability in the cloud. Benham, founder and president of JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., stressed the importance of integration. As he noted, other industries are integrating and the construction industry should be as well. "Why can’t we come up with simple de facto standards that exist?" he asked the audience. While agcXML was the industry’s attempt at establishing standards in 2007, adoption unfortunately did not take place.

Enter the Construction Open Software Alliance (COSA).

According to Benham, COSA is comprised of five small software companies that will work together to create industry standards. Those companies are Cloud Takeoff, eSub, Note Vault, Online Plan Service and SmartBidNet. The captured audience at the AGC IT Forum Conference was the first to hear of this exciting new development.

COSA will work to develop quality, robust out-of-the box integration that endorses agcXML standards. Benham stressed, however, that in order to impact change, users must demand integration, participate in the standard and try cloud integrated software. For more information on COSA, readers should visit www.constructionosa.org.

Click here to read the full article 

Innovative Tech of the Week | That Cloud Thing

We'll let HP explain why the cloud is the latest and greatest technology in the best video spoof we've seen all month. Not as applicable as our usual Tech of the Week posts, but much more entertaining. 

James Benham Introduces COSA & Shares Results of the 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report in Keynote Address at AGC IT Forum in Chicago

James Benham shares the results of the 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report in Keynote address at AGC IT Forum in Chicago, Illinois on August 16. Thirty-five percent of respondents not using any type of construction software solution.

Chicago, IL (PRWEB) August 16, 2012

The results from the 2012 Construction Technology Integration Survey were presented today at the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) IT Forum in Chicago by keynote speaker James Benham, President of JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., developers of SmartBidNet construction bid software. Compiled from the responses of over 450 industry professionals who took the survey, the results revealed interesting numbers and opinions on cloud software usage, mobile expectations, and application integration throughout the construction industry.

The most staggering statistic revealed that among the hundreds of construction companies, at least 35% of respondents in each product category were not using any type of construction software solution and as a result are using excel or other manual processes.

“Not only do we want to share these results to increase awareness of what construction software are out there and how they’re being used, but we also want to initiate discussion and feedback on how these solutions can be better integrated with the other solutions that end-users depend upon. This survey is a call to action to tech providers to improve their services and give AEC companies the capabilities they require to complete their projects,” stated Benham.

The official report will be released to survey participants on August 31st, and available upon request by visiting http://www.smartbidnet.com/ctisurvey. The results are said to be the driving force behind the Construction Open Software Alliance (COSA), also introduced by Mr. Benham during the keynote. COSA is an organization of technology providers working to create standards in open APIs to facilitate integration between the industry’s software providers.

“eSUB is pleased to participate in an effort to standardize construction software systems integration and facilitate a seamless workflow that provides the most options for our end-users. Contractors want to have choices when it comes to their software providers, and the opportunity to integrate those choices. Ultimately, that’s what drives us all to be better. With COSA, we’re laying the foundation to make that happen and it’s exciting,” stated Benny Baltrotsky of eSUB Construction Software, COSA member.

Over 200 construction information technology professionals gathered in Chicago to hear Mr. Benham’s keynote and discuss current trends and accompanying issues in the industry in order to stay on the forefront of the technological developments. In addition to Mr. Benham’s keynote presentation, the AGC IT Forum Conference featured sessions on enterprise content management, tablet computing, mobile applications, and many other current issues in construction information technology.

To learn more about the 2012 AGC IT Forum Conference and keynote presentation visit: http://www.smartbidnet.com/agcit 
To request your copy of the 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report visit: http://www.smartbidnet.com/ctisurvey

Click here to view the original press release on Yahoo! News​

eSUB project management software helps to initiate Construction Open Software Alliance (COSA)

Construction software providers constantly search for ways to satisfy the end-user of its products and services. At eSUB we understand this more than most, having curtailed our software based on the needs of subcontractors. In order to maintain fluid accessibility across multiple platforms, eSUB has become a founding member of the Construction Open Software Alliance (COSA). This collaborative effort looks to standardize the software associated with all aspects of construction and project management. COSA’s main goal is to produce an "efficient [platform] for the end user to operate multiple applications" seamlessly. Some other partners include Cloud Takeoff, NOTEVAULT and SmartBidNet. The 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report lead to the urgency of COSA’s development. James Benham gave the keynote address at the AGC IT Forum in Chicago yesterday on the need for open integration between construction software providers. Read more about the changes taking place in construction software at the official COSA website.

Click here to read the full article 

James Benham of Smartbidnet launches Construction Open Software Alliance at AGC IT Forum | AEC Tech Strategies

James Benham, founder of Smartbidnet, announced the formation of the Construction Open Software Alliance at the Associated General Contractors of America's IT Forum in Chicago today. Speaking at the Sofitel Hotel on Chicago's Wacker Drive, Benham said the COSA will be a a community of software developers and providers who support an open standard in construction software applications, in order to provide the most useful, integrated solutions to the end-user.

Click here to read the full article

Innovative Tech of the Week | The Programmable T-Shirt

At long last, the “wearable, shareable, programmable and 100% cotton tshirt” is here. CuteCircuit's tshirtOS prototype is a washable tshirt with built in display and camera that can be operated from an app on a smartphone to display images, videos, Tweets, and anything else people will come up with. 

"Audio playback via a headphone jack is supported, and the company claims that the camera used in tshirtOS is the smallest in the world. In fact, it measures 2.5 x 2.9 x 2.5 mm and comes from Omnivision, though only captures at 32 x 32 resolution; still, the chest display itself only runs at 32 x 32, consisting of 1,024 ultrathin RGB LEDs."

Well, we know what we're getting our President for Christmas this year. 

Click here to learn more about the programmable tshirtOS or check out the video below 

Seven Must-Have Mobile Apps for the Traveling Construction Professional

The Construction Today Blog
Published on July 27, 2012
By James Benham, President of JBKnowledge

Many construction managers now travel extensively in order to secure projects, visit job sites, and meet with project stakeholders. Areas of work are expanding and technology has made it easier for companies in different regions, states, and countries to work on the same projects remotely, but there still remain project participants who must travel to be onsite, and whose role can’t settle with attending via Skype. For those who sometimes feel that they spend more time finding clothes in their suitcase than their closet, here are some of my favorite mobile apps for traveling.

Google Earth  - The whole world at your fingertips – or maybe just the location of the hotel or construction site you’re trying to find. Google Earth lets you explore anywhere on earth by location, business, geography, photos, integrated Wikipedia articles and more.

Click here to read the full article

James Benham, President of JB Knowledge Technologies Inc., Presents the Exclusive 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report | The Boston Globe

From The Boston Globe via PRWeb
July 30, 2012 

The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) has chosen James Benham, President of JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., developers of SmartBidNet construction bid software, to deliver the keynote presentation at the 2012 AGC IT Forum. Mr. Benham, an entrepreneur and avid construction technologist, will present exclusive findings from the 2012 Construction Technology Integration Report, compiled from responses of over 400 industry professionals. He will also discuss the latest free and paid solutions for streamlining construction projects in the office, on mobile devices, and at the jobsite.

The 2012 IT Forum will take place in Chicago, August 16-17. Over 200 construction information technology professionals will gather to learn and discuss current trends, issues in the industry and how to stay on the forefront of the technological developments yet to come.

Click here to read the full article

Innovative Tech of the Week | Google Wallet

According to Engadget, Google Wallet's has officially stepped up its game and is looking to be the premier provider of cloud payment services for consumers. (And even businesses? We'll see.) By managing all your payment information in the cloud, you can 'tap to pay', monitor expenses and all credit/debit card information from any device, and disable advices if your security is breached. It'll be interesting to see if they can convince consumers of the safety of their data. In the meantime, check out the incredible promotional video below from Google for more details.

And click here to learn more about Google's virtual wallet technology. 

Tech Innovations Simplify and Coordinate the Bid Process

Published in Construction Executive
July 2012
By James Benham, President of JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., Maker of SmartBidNet 

Twenty years ago, the preconstruction process involved stacks of paper, trails of phone calls and nothing more high tech than a filing cabinet. Thanks to the cloud, everything from prequalification to proposal review has become paperless, automated and centralized—cutting administrative costs and boosting project efficiency from subcontractors, estimators and construction managers.  

Which technologies are transforming the bid process for today’s general contractors, and what’s in the works to enhance their future operations? Let’s take a look.  

Click here to read the full article 

Innovative Technology of the Week | Koding

They are calling it "The Developer's Facebook," and after a successful beta run with 10,000 users and 70% of invited users signing up, the founders of Koding are optimistic about its future. The site allows developers to build their projects on a free development server that supports Java, NodeJS, Perl, Python, Ruby, C, C++, Go, and other languages. Users can then communicate and collaborate with other developer members on their projects.

“This project will try to push you to think differently in some ways, ways that you may not feel comfortable at times. It is not just about writing code, it is about thinking how teams and companies will be formed in the future. We will share more, protect less, that’s the idea."

Click here to learn more about the Koding platform