Category Archives: Technology

Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery Can Improve Cyber Resiliency & Protect Data from Ransomware Threats Using an AI-Based ML Analytics Software and More

Durham, NC, July 20, 2024 — Data protection and recovery are two critical issues for many, if not all, enterprise-level organizations. Choosing the right data management, protection, and recovery solution could make a significant difference in preventing critical downtime and data loss due to cyber attacks, such as ransomware. PT recently conducted a deep dive into the Dell PowerProtect Cyber Recovery solution with CyberSense, an AI-based machine learning (ML) analytics software platform. PT research highlighted many data protection and recovery tools Cyber Recovery utilizes to help prevent devastating data loss, while hands-on testing showed CyberSense can detect database infections in deep levels of infrastructure better than a key competitor.

As the report notes, “PowerProtect Cyber Recovery helps organizations mitigate cyberattacks, enhance data resilience with multiple copies of data backups from separate locations, reduce downtime, and maintain business continuity.”

Indy Autonomous Challenge AI Racecar Presented by Bridgestone Sets Autonomous Hillclimb Record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed

July 18,2024, Goodwood, England : On a busy Sunday afternoon, in front of a global audience of motorsport enthusiasts, The Indy Autonomous Challenge’s (IAC) self-driving AV-24 racecar set the record for the fastest autonomous Hillclimb at the Festival of Speed. The AV-24 is piloted by an AI Driver developed by Team PoliMOVE-MSU (Politecnico di Milano and Michigan State University).

The AV-24 performed a series of three runs during the iconic festival. The record was broken during their third and final run up the Goodwood Hill where the racecar reached a top speed of 111.2 mph (179 kph)and a finish time of 66.37 secs. The record-setting run can be watched here. The previous record has been held by Roborace since 2019 when their “DevBot 2.0” autonomous car clocked a 66.96 sec time at a top speed of 101.16 mph (162.8 kph).

Goodwood is known for its unforgiving narrow course, lined with hay bells and limited run-off space. Attempting an autonomous hill climb at the Festival of Speed required absolute control of grip and slippage from the AV-24’s Bridgestone racing tires as well as precision mapping and localization in a GPS limited environment resulting in a higher than usual reliance on the AV-24’s Luminar Iris lidars.

The IAC and PoliMOVE-MSU teams worked closely with Bridgestone’s tire engineers to optimize performance ahead of the Hillclimb including traveling to Bridgestone’s European Technical Center and European Proving Grounds in Rome. The team also had the unique chance to explore each step of tire production and test how impactful tire performance is on track.

Paul Mitchell, Chairman and President of the IAC: “For three years, the IAC has been pushing the boundaries of high-speed autonomy and setting new records along the way. The Goodwood Hillclimb is a historic backdrop with huge crowds and a global audience that is now aware of the potential of self-driving vehicles to be safely deployed on roads in the future.”

Professor Sergio Savaresi, PoliMOVE-MSU Team Principal: “This challenge represents an important milestone for autonomous mobility. This weekend we overcame significant challenges posed by a complicated track and temperamental weather patterns. Thanks to the exceptional work and skills implemented by our engineering team and tire performance ensured by our Bridgestone racing tires, we made history by showing the public that safe and high-speed vehicular autonomy is possible even in adverse conditions. Our record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed will inspire confidence in future autonomous driving applications.”

Sara Correa, Chief Marketing Officer for Bridgestone in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) added, “Bridgestone is proud to support the PoliMOVE-MSU team in this incredible achievement at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2024. We are committed to partnering with the IAC and its inspiring student engineers to continue testing and improving autonomous technologies in record-setting runs like this and beyond. Motorsports are part of Bridgestone’s DNA, always have been and always will be. And what really matters is that we take the learnings from experiences like this and apply them to the sustainable mobility solutions we develop for society and our customers.”

ShatterGARD’s New Website Simplifies Ordering of Security Window Film

Atlanta, GA, July 17, 2024 — ShatterGARD, Inc., the industry leader in security window film, is proud to announce the launch of its newly designed website, featuring the first-of-its-kind turnkey online ordering system. This industry-first innovation allows consumers to seamlessly obtain a quote for ShatterGUARD glass protection film by simply providing the window dimensions and quantities. ShatterGARD customers can easily schedule a convenient installation appointment online through the website, eliminating the need for phone calls or in-person consultations. Additionally, customers can reschedule installation dates if necessary. Contracts and warranties are also managed through the streamlined online portal.

This groundbreaking system is a testament to ShatterGARD’s commitment to enhancing the customer experience by integrating advanced technologies into the ordering process. The state-of-the-art system ensures that consumers can enjoy the convenience of a fully digital interaction, from initial inquiry to final installation.

“We are thrilled to introduce our new website, which revolutionizes the way our customers interact with our company,” said Jordan Frankel, founder and CEO of ShatterGARD. “Our goal has always been to provide exceptional products with unparalleled convenience. Our online ordering system sets a new standard in the security industry, making it easier than ever for homeowners, businesses, and government entities to protect their property and people with ShatterGUARD’s state-of-the-art glass protection coatings.”

ShatterGARD’s optically clear security and safety films are renowned for their ability to safeguard people against break-ins, severe weather, and even explosions. Manufactured in the United States, ShatterGUARD glass coatings offer a robust layer of protection that holds shattered glass in place, significantly reducing the risk of injury and property damage. Trusted by homeowners, businesses, school systems, the United States military, and even former US presidents, ShatterGARD products are recognized worldwide for their superior effectiveness, durability, and lifetime warranty.

The launch of this one-of-a-kind and convenient online ordering system aligns with ShatterGUARD’s ongoing mission to provide top-tier security and safety film solutions. The ShatterGARD company is in the process of filing a patent for the custom coding behind this innovative system, further solidifying its position as a trailblazer in the industry.

To celebrate the launch, the first 100 customers to complete a ShatterGARD installation through the website’s new online ordering system will receive a free OnGARD door brace ($149 value). Praised by locksmiths, security professionals, and law enforcement, the OnGARD security door brace withstands up to 3,100 pounds of violent force, resisting door kick-ins, sledgehammers, and battering rams.

Chair and First Speakers Announced for Creative Tech New York 2024

New York, NY, July 17, 2024 — Creative Tech New York 2024 is proud to announce its conference chair and initial lineup of distinguished speakers, set to convene on October 24. This inaugural event will bring together leaders in creative technology, including production teams, technology suppliers, marketing services, and innovators, in an enriching environment designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

The event will offer an in-depth exploration of technology’s pivotal role in shaping the future of creativity, featuring practical insights from real-world case studies and strategic discussions with industry-leading creative pioneers.

A super early bird offer is available until Friday, August 9, 2024, saving US$200. Attendees are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to secure their place at a reduced rate. https://www.henrystewartconferences.com/events/creative-tech-new-york-2024

Meet the Speakers:
Michael Francello, Creative Technology Expert
Cindy Mallory, Chapter President, VR/AR Association New York
David Catuhe, Partner Group Engineering Manager, Microsoft
Tarik Mohamed, Co-Founder, Overview Collective

Conference Chair: Jarrod Gingras, Managing Director and Analyst at Real Story Group will lead the discussions. Jarrod is renowned for his expertise in Omnichannel Digital Marketing technologies and co-authored “The Right Way to Select Technology” (2017), bringing unparalleled insights to the event.

The event will feature exclusive networking opportunities with creative tech professionals and decision-makers, presentations by expert speakers from leading U.S. organizations, and updates on cutting-edge technological advancements and emerging trends in the creative tech industry. Attendees will have the chance to explore the latest innovations and technologies presented by sponsors and exhibitors, as well as gain insights from groundbreaking research driving the evolution of creative technology.

Creative Tech New York 2024 will be co-located with DAM New York 2024, offering additional networking opportunities and insights into digital asset management.

Barbara Koenig-Pfannkuche Selected as a VIP by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide

Hendersonville, TN, July 16, 2024 — Barbara Koenig-Pfannkuche of Hendersonville,Tennessee, has been selected as a VIP by Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide for her outstanding achievements and high level of success in the field of engineering.

About Barbara Koenig-Pfannkuche
Barbara Koenig-Pfannkuche retired after serving as an electronic engineer for 40 years. She spent most of her career with the Chicago Board of Education teaching electricity, electronics, appliance, and computer repair. She also engineered cameras for government planes and was a model in the 1950’s. In addition, she helped work on the early fax machine before transitioning into education, where she taught electronics engineering to college students and inmates in the jail system. Koenig-Pfannkuche also worked for Pierce Wire Recorder, Chicago Aerial Industries, Hammond Organ, Union Thermal Electric, Victor Adding Machines, C.P. Clare and E.P.L.

A well-recognized member of Strathmore’s Who’s Who Worldwide, Koenig-Pfannkuche has been featured on the famous Reuters Billboard in Times Square in New York City and recognized as a Top Ten Women of the Year and as a Top Executive in 2019.

Born in Chicago, Illinois, Koenig-Pfannkuche was the first female permitted to take electric workshop and shop courses in high school. She received an A.S. in electronics from DeVry University in 1957 and was honored as the first woman to attend that school. She obtained a B.S. in Industrial Education Electronics from Chicago State University in 1975.

In her retirement, Barbara enjoys travel, farming, gardening, and snow skiing.

The Bliss-Box Bridge Takes the Power of Bliss-Box Adapters to a Console

Sanford, FL, July 16, 2024 — Bliss-Box.net introduces the Bliss-Box Bridge.With the Bridge, users can game on any console using any controller, experience gaming in ways previously thought impossible, or bring their dream gaming setups to life. It also allows users to extend the power of the Bliss-Box adapter to their favorite console. The Bridge transforms these ideas into reality.

The Bridge requires the use of an LLAPI device, such as any Bliss-Box product. Devices that support LLAPI include, but are not limited to, the Gamer-Pro, 4-Play, Gamer-Pro Jr., Gamer-Pro Advanced, BliSTer, LLAOD, LLAMA, and potentially others.

How it works: The Bliss-Box Gamer-Pro, GPA, and 4-Play are USB devices designed for USB hosts. However, all Bliss-Box devices communicate via a universal protocol over two wires (LLAPI). This communication occurs over the USB lines without disrupting USB hardware. When the Bliss-Box Bridge is connected to an LLAPI-capable device, it starts transmitting controller data at a rapid rate of 500 microseconds per request—twice as fast as the fastest USB poll rate. The Bridge then communicates this data to the console. The console controls the polling rate (typically 16 milliseconds), and while it awaits the next poll, the Bliss-Box gathers the payload.

What users need to know: If using the Bridge with a non-USB-based console, a cable is required. These cables are readily available or can be made. Since it is not possible to test every game on every console, firmware updates are released regularly. If any issues arise, users should look for updates.

Additional capabilities: The Bridge is also compatible with PCs, supporting xinput. It offers multiple usage options on PC, PS3, and other platforms. The USB rate is significantly faster than the GP/4P adapter due to its use of USB 2.0. The Bridge can even enhance the performance of older adapters.

Chair and First Speakers Announced for Inaugural Conference on Semantic Data 2024

New York, NY, July 15, 2024 –Henry Stewart Events unveils the conference chair and speakers for its inaugural event on “Semantic Data: Taxonomy, Ontology, and Knowledge Graphs,” scheduled for October 23, 2024, in New York City. This one-day event offers an opportunity for data managers and information professionals to gather as a community to review essential tools and approaches necessary to compete in the age of AI.

Madi Weland Solomon, Head of Client Solutions and Services at Graphifi, chairs the conference. Madi is a creative technologist with expertise in DAM, enterprise taxonomy and ontology development, information architecture, digital strategy, and semantic technologies.

First Speakers Announced:
Lulit Tesfaye, Partner, VP of Knowledge & Data Services and Engineering, Enterprise Knowledge, LLC
Polly Alexander, Director, Metadata and Taxonomy, WebMD Ignite
Bonnie Griffin, Global Customer Operations Taxonomist, Paypal
Heather Hedden, Senior Consultant, Enterprise Knowledge LLC
Ahren Lehnert, Principal Taxonomist, Nike

Why Attend:
• Engage with fellow industry professionals from diverse sectors across the USA.
• Gain actionable insights for addressing semantic data challenges, covering taxonomy, knowledge graph, and ontology development.
• Network with peers and foster valuable connections within the semantic data community.
• Stay updated on standards, best practices, and emerging trends in semantic data management and AI technology.

Semantic Data New York 2024 is co-located with DAM (Digital Asset Management) New York 2024, providing additional opportunities for networking and learning about the latest developments in digital asset management.

Tracey T. Travis to Retire From The Estee Lauder Companies as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

July 15, 2024,New York, United States : The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE: EL) today announced that Tracey T. Travis, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, has decided to retire, effective June 30, 2025, after more than twelve years of exemplary leadership and service at the company. A successor for the CFO role has been identified and will be named in the coming weeks. Tracey will work closely with this person to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

“Tracey has been an invaluable business partner and a trusted advisor to me, our executives and Board of Directors, as well as a mentor and role model to many across our organization,” said Fabrizio Freda, President and Chief Executive Officer. “She has built and led a robust, integrated Global Finance & Strategy organization that has served as a valued business partner across the company and has helped to optimize delivery of our financial plans. Her financial acumen, discipline, and operational excellence have been essential to our company’s growth, and so many areas of our organization have her valuable imprint on them.”

Since joining The Estée Lauder Companies (ELC), Tracey has led the company’s Global Finance, Accounting, Tax, Treasury, Investor Relations, Information Technology, and Strategy and New Business Development organizations. Tracey has also co-led the company’s Global Value Council and served as a member of the Executive Leadership Team and the Investment Development Committee. Tracey has also been a respected and engaging leader in her extensive work with our global investor community.

Under her guidance, the company has enhanced its financial strength and flexibility, enabling us to further invest in our long-term growth drivers, such as innovation, digital transformation, emerging markets, talent development, and M&A strategy. Additionally, Tracey has played a pivotal role in leading and advancing the financial profile of our global brand portfolio.

Over the last twelve years, Tracey built a robust, integrated Global Finance & Strategy (F&S) organization at ELC that serves as a valued business partner across the company, with a particular focus on cultivating talent across the organization to bring new perspectives to the finance function. Under her leadership, F&S has provided financial guidance throughout the enterprise while maximizing business and transformational opportunities, optimizing the capital structure, and supporting brand growth strategies and cash management. Tracey leaves the F&S function a transformed organization.

Together with ELC’s senior leadership, Tracey has deeply embedded the company’s corporate strategy throughout the organization, solidifying core planning processes with an emphasis on executional excellence. Working alongside senior leadership, Tracey and her team have implemented and driven a progressive end-to-end M&A strategy and value-driven empowerment and integration, including many important strategic acquisitions and investments such as DECIEM and TOM FORD. Tracey has also led the New Incubation Ventures (NIV) team to enable the sourcing, building, and growth of the brands and business models of tomorrow.

Tracey has helped further improve and elevate the company’s Information Technology function, strengthening its competitive edge through investments in areas such as digital tech centers around the world, embodying ELC’s global approach to technology management and innovation and enhancing the diversity of its capabilities. Tracey also served as an instrumental leader in establishing the company’s shared services capability to support the business and its growth.

Tracey played a critical role in strengthening talent development and engagement by developing and growing ELC’s Finance & Strategy Leadership Development Program (FASLEAP), and guiding the function’s approach to identifying, training, and placing top talent. Tracey has also been a committed Global Executive Sponsor of the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN) employee resource group (ERG), where she helped further a culture of recognizing women as pioneers in the beauty industry and highlighting their creativity and ingenuity in shaping trends and redefining standards. She has been a passionate advocate for the company’s efforts across philanthropy, citizenship and sustainability, and inclusion, diversity and equity, including by championing initiatives to advance racial equity and representation within the company and the beauty industry.

“An inspiring and visionary leader, Tracey has been deeply committed to exemplifying our values throughout her years of dedicated service to our company,” said William P. Lauder, Executive Chairman. “Tracey has had a remarkable impact on driving our business forward by leading our portfolio strategy, but also by developing our talent, cultivating a culture of inclusion and continued learning, and advancing initiatives to foster a more diverse and equitable workplace and marketplace.”

Tracey has been honored with numerous industry awards and accolades throughout her distinguished career. She received a Best CFO award by Institutional Investor magazine, was recognized as one of the “Top 100 African Americans in Corporate America,” as well as “The Most Powerful Women in Corporate America” by Black Enterprise magazine. In 2019, she was honored with an Achiever Award by Cosmetic Executive Women. Tracey currently serves as a director on the Board of Accenture PLC and the Board of Meta Platforms Inc.

Flexxbotics Announces Transforming Laser Marking Operations with Collaborative Robotic Automation Event with FOBA and Universal Robots

Boston, MA, July 13, 2024 — Flexxbotics, delivering digital solutions for robot-driven manufacturing at scale, today announced the upcoming event, Transforming Laser Marking Operations with Collaborative Robotic Automation. This live demonstration, in-person event is sponsored by FOBA Laser Marking + Engraving, Universal Robots and Flexxbotics and will be hosted at the MassRobotics facility in Boston, MA on Thursday 1 August from 8:30am – 12pm EST Free to Attend | Register Now.

Laser marking & engraving is critical for unique part identification (UID), compliance, and branding, however, capacity constraints and labor shortage issues can create serious throughput challenges.

To increase output and improve profit per part, forward thinking manufacturers are transforming their Laser Marking operations with Advanced Robotic Machine Tending. Utilizing collaborative robots from Universal Robots with Flexxbotics digitalization technology, companies running FOBA Laser Marking & Engraving systems can increase the machine-to-man ratio to 10:1 or more and run ‘lights out’ safely for additional capacity, precision quality, and improved profit margins.

The half day session will include a live demonstration of a cobot-enabled FOBA and provide best practices, proven approaches to real-world applications, as well as, specific information for your initiative.
Sessions will include:

Live Operational Demonstration of UR cobot-enabled FOBA Laser Marker enabled by Flexxbotics

Robotic Automation and Lean Manufacturing Applied to Laser Marking by Faycal Benayad, FOBA

Getting Started with Cobot Automation in Laser Marking Operations by Silas Neale, Universal Robots

Running Advanced Robotic Machine Tending with Laser Marking & Etching for Continuous Operations by Tyler Bouchard, Flexxbotics

Flexxbotics enables robot-driven manufacturing at scale. Flexxbotics solution digitalizes robotic production with autonomous process control for next generation smart factory environments. Flexxbotics breakthrough, the unique FlexxCORE™ technology, seamlessly connects and coordinates robots with existing automation equipment, IT systems and people.

“Complex part geometries and frequent changeovers have traditionally made robotic-enablement of laser marking complicated, now Flexxbotics solves these challenges,” said Tyler Bouchard, Flexxbotics CEO & Co-founder. “We’re rapidly advancing robot-driven manufacturing to enable companies to increase output while maintaining the highest levels of quality and compliance.”