Innovative Technology of the Week | Mind Controlled Devices

New developments in electroencephalography (EEG) devices have made it possible to remotely control a toy helicopter by simply thinking about it. 

"As you focus your mind on something -- whether it be a math equation or the lyrics of a song -- your brain produces electric signals...The headset monitors those signals and converts them into flight commands..."

While concentrating your brain waves can only make the helicopter raise off a surface and descend back to it, the implications for such EEG technology are tremendous. And the fact that they are advanced enough to be available to consumers, in a toy, is pretty exciting. One version of the toy will allow users to customize what they want the console to control. Instead of the helicopter, for example, they can turn the TV on and off. They are pitching the product as an aid for improving concentration - whether it proves to do so or not, we hope to see more of this hands-free technology developed for industry use. 

Click here to learn more about this brain-controlled helicopter technology 

JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc. Honored at the 8th Annual Aggie 100

Recognizing the Fastest Growing Aggie-Owned or Managed Companies 

COLLEGE STATION, TX. (Friday, October 26, 2012) – Texas A&M University recognized JB Knowledge Technologies, Inc., makers of SmartBidNet and SmartCompliance, of Bryan, TX as a member of the 2012 Aggie 100 honoring the fastest-growing companies in the world, owned or operated by Texas A&M University former students. JBKnowledge was ranked 60th with a compound annual growth rate of 41.97%  from 2009 through 2011. The Aggie 100, a program created by the Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship in Texas A&M University’s Mays Business School, honors graduates from across disciplines for their success as business leaders and entrepreneurial endeavors.

JBKnowledge was started in 2001 by then Corps Staff member and Mays Business School senior James M. Benham in partnership with his father, James T “Jim” Benham. JBKnowledge has provided custom information technology services for small to large firms in the construction and risk management industries ever since, and established two web-based software products, SmartBidNet and SmartCompliance. SmartBidNet is a leading construction bid invitation software in the commercial building industry while SmartCompliance provides certificate of insurance management technology to risk managers across all industries.

“We’re incredibly proud to accept our fifth Aggie 100 award this year. I had no idea how far this company would go when I started it in my corps dorm room, but I knew we had a great business model and some incredible people to pioneer it for our clients. I’m proud to represent the application of the incredible education Texas A&M can provide,” stated JBKnowledge President James M. Benham.

The 100 Aggie-owned or managed companies with the highest annual revenue growth were recognized at a formal luncheon in the Zone Club on the Texas A&M University campus, Friday, October 26, 2012. More than 650 honorees, families, employees, faculty, administrators, and well-wishers were in attendance to celebrate their success.

“Aggies have paved roads to success across industries and business sectors, as well as across generations,” said Dr. Richard H. Lester, Executive Director of the Mays Business School’s Center for New Ventures and Entrepreneurship. “Aggie leaders have proven time and time again that even in tough economic times, solid business ideas, tenacity and hard work pay off.”

The Aggie 100 list in its entirety may be viewed at www.aggie100.com.

Innovative Tech of the Week | Felix Baumgartner's Red Bull Stratos Jump Equipment

Last Saturday, the name Felix Baumgartner might have meant nothing to you. 8 million views of the live "Red Bull Stratos Jump" later, we can't stop reading about how he did it. While Felix's stone cold guts should be applauded for such a feat, the collaboration and innovation achieved behind the scenes, before and during the jump, was nothing short of incredible. From the suit Felix sported to the scensors that tracked him the entire way, the information technology involved set the tone for future space stunts, exploration, and research alike. If for some reason you missed the jump, below is a video.

And click here for a great article from CNN on the tech behind his jump

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

Eight Questions to ask any Cloud Services Provider | Construction Today

Published on July 11, 2012 in the Construction Today Blog
By James Benham, President of JB Knowledge Technologies, Makers of SmartBidNet

Whether you have cloud technology or you’re shopping around for the right solution, there are several crucial questions to ask any cloud services provider before taking a leap into the cloud. We have developed this list through personal experience of working with prospective clients who weren’t afraid to ask us the hard questions. Below are eight questions and my recommended answers that will keep you informed and your cloud services provider on their toes.

1. How extensive is your experience in the construction industry specifically?
   It is important to look for someone that has at least five years of experience in your specific industry. Don’t be afraid to ask for specific client references to confirm their abilities.

Click here to read the full article

Will cloud computing be your best option? Make sure you answer these questions first.

Cloud computing, cloud technology, cloud services, “in the cloud”, in whatever context, you’ve heard of it. And by now you could probably recognize it by this definition “a type of computing in which "massively scalable IT-enabled capabilities are delivered 'as a service' to external customers using Internet technologies" or by the services you’ve used personally for years that already employ the technology: Gmail, YouTube, Google Docs. Now that cloud technology is transforming corporate IT infrastructure, it’s being used in collaborative areas such as file storage and sharing, web and video conferencing, web-based project management software and online education and training. Many predictions are being thrown around involving billions of dollars saved as IT budgets expand the “Cloud services outsourcing” item, but the decision to use or not use cloud services has not come lightly, especially where sensitive monetary, employee, and client data are involved...

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What technology trends are having a huge impact on risk management?

The latest trends in information technology have a huge impact company-wide, from the IT department implementing new resources to the managers and executives who utilize them. Each office, person, and device add a dimension of risk, cost, storage, and compliance. I’d like to focus on the risk component, and how the information technology trends we are seeing today are challenging risk professionals, more than ever, to know what they are dealing with. And like Charles Tremper once said, “The first step in the risk management process is to acknowledge the reality of risk. Denial is a common tactic that substitutes deliberate ignorance for thoughtful planning.” So let’s get to acknowledging.

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