Anna Johansson

Stories By Anna Johansson

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  Buying Guides

  Buying Guides By Anna Johansson

  The Top 7 Technology Upgrades Employees Want to See

  Technology is most often designed to make life easier for employees and employers alike, but not all technology systems and policies comply with this vision. Companies face a number of challenges when finding and implementing new technologies for their workers, including managing expenses, finding the "right" platforms to use, minimizing dissonance when switching systems, and navigating the red tape of bureaucratic decision-making. But ultimately, employees are the ones who will use the technology you provide for them, and their performance depends on getting the right tech in their hands. So what does that tech look like? Most Desired Upgrades These are some of the most demanded technology upgrades, according to workers: 1. Better training software. Better training software allows you to get new people on the job faster, more efficiently, and with greater confidence. Not only does this improve productivity and make your turnover smoother, it better integrates employees into their work environments so they're more confident and better empowered in their individual roles. Software like TalentLMS offers gamification elements to better engage employees, and cross-platform compatibility so your employees can use it pretty much anywhere. 2. Better project management software. After training, your employees will be spending most of their time working on various tasks and projects, according to their team and managers' needs. If your project management system is a mess, it won't matter how efficient or productive your workers are—they'll wind up confused and frustrated. Tech products like Producteev attempt to make life easier by intuitively organizing high-level projects and low-level tasks, so all your workers and supervisors stay on the same page. Every business has different types of projects to work on and productivity goals to aim for, so do your research here. 3. More consistent, integrated communication tech. Everything in business requires some degree of communication, and the better your communication tech is, the more efficiently and accurately your workers will be able to exchange information. Standard tools like Skype are a good choice, but today's worker also wants integrated solutions; for example, they would prefer to hold small conversations in the platform relevant to that conversation, rather than opening an entirely new program. That means you'll need to scout all your new software—including project management and training software—for internal communication abilities. 4. Tech that enables remote work. Remote work is a rising trend, with almost a quarter of workers doing some to all of their work at home last year. It's in demand, which means employees want better tech that enables them to work from home. Most of your internal processes should be digitized, with little to no reliance on tangible things like whiteboards, printed papers, or even physical meeting rooms. 5. Improved devices (or a BYOD policy). Employees are also starting to feel more comfortable using their own devices, rather than company-issued models. Rather than juggling multiple computers and multiple phones, having one tablet or similar device to manage everything can make life easier—especially as workers come and go from the office. Consider instituting a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, possibly compensating your workers for their work-related tech purchases and optimizing your policy for your company security. 6. Regular updates. Technology changes quickly. Every year, new devices flood the market that outcompete their obsolete counterparts by a wide margin; they're more reliable, they're faster, and they're capable of more complex functionality. You don't have to replace your employees' devices every year, but some kind of regular update policy can prevent your workers from being stuck with a slow or unnecessarily old device. 7. Minimalism. There are hundreds of tech products out there, but that doesn't mean you need to have hundreds of tech products running in circulation within your business. Instead, most employees would prefer a more minimalistic approach, utilizing only a handful of different solutions at any one point in time. This means it's usually better to find one or two tech products that achieve a dozen functions between them, rather than a dozen products that all specialize in different areas. It makes things less confusing and easier to learn. Balancing Costs In an ideal world, your company would have enough money and resources to buy every new technology product and update your employees' tech regularly, but that just isn't feasible, even for the richest and most profitable businesses. Your job, therefore, is to find a way to balance your employees' wants with the resources you have available. Talk to your employees to learn what they want or need the most, and set a schedule of updates that fits into your budget. Not only will it help you adhere to your technology upgrade goals, it will boost the morale of your employees as they find they have something to look forward to.

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  Tomorrow

  Tomorrow By Anna Johansson

  How Business Software Will Evolve in 2017 and Beyond

  Businesses everywhere now rely on software for a number of important functions, as they've gradually been able to replace mechanical or—in some cases—human-level tasks with automation. It helps business owners collect and organize data, streamline communication and productivity, and even measure and analyze the results of their efforts. But like all forms of technology, business software is going through constant changes, and 2017 looks to be an interesting year for its advancement. If you're accustomed to a lineup of software dictating how you run your business, look forward to these momentous changes to come: Predictions for Software Evolution These are some of the biggest and most important changes we'll see in the coming years: 1. More intuitive features. Most business software will work harder to make its features more immediately intuitive to use. This leads to higher user satisfaction and easier adoption, which are musts for customer retention and acquisition, respectively. For example, as Deputy illustrates, we'll start seeing functions like "drag and drop" editing and WYSIWYG-style platforms becoming commonplace. Rather than investing in lengthy tutorials, businesses will make the functionality of their software products more discoverable. 2. More flexible integrations. Because businesses are using so many different types of software platforms, the winners of the next several years will be the ones most accommodating to external integrations. SalesForce currently leads the way in that department, with an open API and a full forum dedicated to its peripheral developers. Business owners will be looking for options that allow them to keep the software platforms they already have, and stitch platforms together to consolidate as many functions as possible. 3. Greater reliance on visuals. We're already starting to see more data visualization platforms rise up—Domo is a good example here—but in the future, we'll see even greater reliance on visuals to process information and communicate. Visuals are easier and faster to process, and most software platforms are trying to jump on this bandwagon early. 4. Higher forms of security. Though it's a natural progression and not necessarily something new, business software of the next few years will likely boast higher forms of security. Better encryption, multi-factor authentication, and more advanced methods of storage and retrieval are a minimum here. cybercrimes will always be a threat, and businesses will always be looking for the most cutting-edge security in their software platforms of choice. 5. Greater customizability. Demand for custom-made apps has been rising dramatically over the past few years. Out-of-the-box solutions are fine for some businesses, but most brands are demanding more, especially as technology becomes more sophisticated and more malleable. Expect to see more customizable solutions grow popular for businesses in the next few years. 6. Interdisciplinary specialties. The most successful business software platforms tend to be ones with a niche specialty, such as tracking SEO progress or improving web conversions. However, we may start seeing a trend to interdisciplinary specialties, or hybrid platforms that make the most of both worlds. This is a way to distinguish apps from their competitors and give bonus incentives for business owners who sign up. It's a step away from the specificity we've seen in the past. 7. Blurrier lines. As the Harvard Business Review explains, virtual and augmented reality have the power to completely change how we think about retail—but it may also blur the lines between physical and digital realities in business. When combined with the power of data visualization, an augmented reality platform for managers could radically change how we interact with our environments and with each other. Though unlikely to become popular by the end of 2017, it's reasonable to suspect the emergence of AR and VR for business within the next 5 years. How to Prepare These predictions are all well and good, but what can business owners start doing now to accommodate them, or otherwise anticipate their arrival? Because many of these features and possibilities still lie on the horizon, there aren't many practical options you can take today. Your best bet is to take inventory of your current software platforms and how you're using them, taking special note of any key areas that require improvement, or problems that could be mitigated. This will help you keep an eye out for solutions that could potentially solve those problems, or better equip you in the fight against them. Beyond that, work to stay abreast of new developments and keep working toward more streamlined procedures.

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  Tomorrow

  Tomorrow By Anna Johansson

  Don't Look Now, But VR is About to Revolutionize Fitness Forever

  There's a lot of talk about how virtual reality (VR) technology will revolutionize this industry and that industry, but what few are discussing is how much of an impact it's going to have on an already booming market: the fitness industry. Stagnation in the Fitness Industry We're currently in the season where fitness goals are rampant and aspirations for better health, physique, strength, and stamina are at annual highs. But when you look at fitness through the larger lens of society and what's really happening on a week-in and week-out basis, it becomes clear that a gap exists between what the fitness industry is offering and what consumers actually want. As 21st century Americans, we lead busy lives. A lot of this busyness is unnecessary and self provoked, but that doesn't make it any less of a reality. The number of hours in a day has remained the same, but we've somehow discovered ways to do more of the mindless and less of what really matters. Ultimately, our collective desire to fill our schedules with working, eating, sleeping, binge watching Netflix – you name it – has left us with little time to attend to some of the things that actually matter – i.e. exercise. This reality of American busyness has revealed what few had previously recognized in the fitness industry: stagnation. For years there was little development in technology and approach. Sure, new products and brands emerged, but they weren't actually speaking to the pain points of the modern consumer. With the emergence of VR technology, however, that's all changing. How VR is Changing Fitness for Good VR is doing what no other technology has done for this industry in the past. It's making fitness totally convenient and surprisingly fun. If you've yet to experience VR technology and the role it plays in the fitness industry, then you're in for a treat. Let's check out three specific ways VR is changing fitness for good. 1. Exercise Gamification Why don't people exercise as much as they play games, watch movies, read books, etc.? Quite simply, it isn't as fun. People are in the business of having fun and exercising goes against that core objective. This is where VR comes into play. It's essentially the gamification of exercise – merging fun and fitness. "Coupling exercise to virtual reality results in a more enjoyable experience by contextualizing the exercise," says Daniel Mestre, a senior researcher focused on VR technology. "It notably distracts the participant from exercise-induced pain." 2. Virtual Cycling Did you know that a single hour-long spin session can help you burn as much as 900 calories? That makes it one of the single most efficient home exercises around. But the truth is that most people give up on using a spin bike because it gets boring. The scenery never changes and you'd rather do something more engaging. Enter VR. Companies like Widerun are working on systems that allow you to use VR in conjunction with both standard bikes and spin bikes to immerse yourself in real-world experiences. You can bike through the Swiss Alps, the streets of Paris, or the California countryside – all from the comfort of your own home. Sounds like a lot more fun than staring at drywall. 3. Sale of Fitness Programs YouTube and DVD-based fitness programs have been hugely successful over the past couple of decades and experts are predicting VR technology will take things to an entirely new level. Many companies are already working on VR-based fitness programs – such as Zumba – that allow people to participate in immersive group class experiences from their own living rooms. Look for some additional growth in this area in 2017. The Future of Tech-Driven Fitness In the future, look for technology to drive fitness forward and make it more convenient for busy Americans who find it difficult to find time to stay fit and healthy. While gyms will still exist, and millions will carve out time each week to attend group classes, there will be an increase in home fitness options. This will be thanks, in large part, to the emergence of VR technology and how it's able to transform otherwise boring activities into engaging, multifaceted experiences.

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  Tomorrow

  Tomorrow By Anna Johansson

  Smart Home Trends That Will Dominate in 2017

  Smart home technology has existed in some form or fashion for decades. In the 80s and 90s, we saw home alarm systems with motion detector technology become mainstream. Then, there were centralized radio and intercom systems and a few other technologies. But over the past five years, we've seen much more steady and concentrated growth as the idea of a fully "smart" home has just about become a reality. And in 2017, you can look for this market to totally explode. Four Smart Home Trends Worth Keeping an Eye On The smart home probably will look a little different than what we've seen in Hollywood movies, but it'll be every bit as useful. Here are some trends worth watching in 2017. 1. Cost-Effective Smart Thermostats The very first area where you can expect growth is in the thermostat niche. The reason is that this has consistently been one of the most well advertised and marketed areas of smart home technology. Fueled largely by brands like Nest, these campaigns have done a decent job of explaining the dual benefits of smart thermostats. As Green Residential puts it, "Not only do they allow for increased comfort and customization, but they provide tremendous cost-savings over the life of the device." Anytime you can present an offer that increases comfort and reduces cost, you have a winner. 2. Voice Controlled Devices It's not enough to have touch-screen access to your devices, one of the growing trends in the market is hands-free voice control. The technology is essentially the same as what's used to control Siri on the iPhone. Amazon is one of the leaders in this area, really pushing their Echo product that uses "Alexa" to stream music, search the internet, report sports scores, etc. The goal is to ultimately have one device in the home that can voice-control everything from TVs to thermostats. 3. Enhanced Aesthetics The thing about smart home technology is that it can't just perform well. It also has to look the part. People are very particular about their home's design and don't want elements that look out of place. But with so many design styles, it's challenging for manufacturers to produce enough variety. In 2017, look for increased customization during the order process. This could involve unique "skins," color selection, and even material selection. When the aesthetics catch up to the technology, sales will really begin to take off. 4. VR Enters the Home "With several global tech leaders introducing VR headsets to the consumer market in 2016, CTA expects this to be the tech sector's overwhelming leader in year-to-year growth," Electronic House reported last summer. "Unit sales will increase by 296 percent over last year, reaching 800,000 units sold. Total revenues are projected to reach $432 million, a 332 percent increase this year." Those were last year's predictions for VR. And while we don't have up-to-date figures on what actually happened, we have to assume that those figures are pretty accurate. Ultimately, what this has done is pave the way for even more growth in 2017. Look for VR to enter the home for the first time and change the way media is consumed. Will 2017 Be the Year? This isn't the first time someone has predicted "the year of the smart home," but we're certainly closer than we've ever been before. The technology has existed in previous years, but there's always been a healthy amount of market skepticism from people who aren't comfortable investing in something they've never used before. This friction is starting to dissipate as widespread use of mobile devices and wearables have conditioned people to the utility of ubiquitous technology. Only time will tell what 2017 holds, but all signs indicate significant growth in this tech market.

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  Tomorrow

  Tomorrow By Anna Johansson

  Where Does 3D Printing Go From Here?

  3D printing has started to take over the world, revolutionizing the prototyping process and putting more tangible parts in the hands of any user with design software and a few dollars to pay for raw materials. In 2016, it was estimated to bring in $7.1 billion in revenue, with that number expected to triple by 2020. However, the technology is still in its infancy. Over the course of the next decade, we'll see 3D printing come into its own and evolve in new directions we can only currently imagine. But what might those directions look like? How can we expect 3D printing to develop in the next several years? Newer Materials For starters, most 3D printing applications use different types of plastics like ABS and PLA, or epoxy resins to produce materials. These raw materials are relatively inexpensive, malleable, easy to melt, and can produce reliably solid finished products. However, they still have a limited range of application. More specific applications, like custom metal work or electrical components, require niche-specific materials and quite possibly, more precise or different machinery to get the job done. In the next few years, we'll start to see the development of machines that can produce steel, aluminum, semi-conductive, or even more foreign substances reliable and efficiently. Nano Printing You might be able to print a fist-sized gear or an inches-tall sculpture for a quick repair or your own amusement, but there's a limit to how small most modern 3D printers can print. The future will likely give us machines that can print products on micro-meter scales, opening up a world of opportunity, especially with biomimicry technology; for example, printing nano-sized structures could enable us to make plastics that mimic the effects of tarantula hairs, spider silk, salamander toes, or other impressive animal parts we barely understand. Nano printing could also lead us to some interesting developments and treatments for medical conditions, including 3D printed injections that function in the bloodstream—like nanobots, which have been predicted as a development for decades. More Affordable, More Portable Looking at some simpler developments, it's likely that 3D printing overall will become more affordable and more portable for consumers. Today, even the most affordable 3D printers cost at least a few hundred dollars, and more expensive equipment is gargantuan and fixated to one spot. This is prohibitive for consumers looking for prototyping, part replacement, or other common 3D printing applications. However, in the near future, we may see printers small enough to carry in a briefcase, and cheap enough for almost anyone to afford. Alternatively, we may see the rise of more 3D printing "stations" that allow consumers to print individual objects for a small fee. In any case, 3D printing will be more available and affordable. Medical Applications Let's not forget one of the biggest awe-inspiring, futuristic potential applications of 3D printing—the medical industry. Imagine being able to 3D print a replacement organ or a lost limb, which functions exactly the way the original did. You may even be able to print objects and bodily creations that enhance what human beings are capable of, turning us into kinds of cyborgs or otherwise "enhanced" human beings. The key here is being able to print in materials that the human body would be able to accept, and on scales that would allow for tremendous precision. Though cheaper, more available 3D printing is right around the corner, this development is still likely decades away. Integration Right now, 3D printing exists as a separate entity entirely. When a machine goes down and we need a replacement piece, we can head to the printer, create that piece, and replace it ourselves. But what if the machines of our future came equipped with their own, automated 3D printing mechanisms, so the machine could 3D print its own replacement part and keep itself working? That's one future imagined by 3D printing technologists. Integrated 3D printers would allow our technologies to keep working indefinitely, constantly refined and updated with better parts and corrected pieces so we never have to worry about repair—and maybe never worry about replacement, with physical updates subbing in for software updates in other modes of technology. So how long until we're living in an era where 3D printing is inexpensive and, for lack of a better term, normalized? Well, through 2020 we'll probably see steady growth here, with more affordable, usable forms of the technology and a collection of new materials to use. But for more forward-thinking applications, like medical technology or nanobots, we're still many years, and probably decades away. It will be an interesting journey, but eventually, 3D printing may be everywhere, printing literally anything you can imagine for barely more than the cost of raw materials.

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  Social Media

  Social Media By Anna Johansson

  From Followers to Dollars: Top Social Influencers Strike It Rich

  Social media has had profound and wide-reaching effects on many parts of society. And while we can forever marvel at the strange meaning behind Kanye West's tweets or the reasons why some people see social media as a free pass for cyberbullying, one of the more positive effects has been the increased level of entrepreneurship it's produced in some unlikely places. The Rise of the Social Influencer Have you heard of social media influencers? While the term may not be familiar, you most certainly have interacted with a couple of them online at one point or another. Social influencers tend to be average people who have a knack for accumulating large amounts of followers and moving them to action around a particular topic or niche. They are especially popular on Twitter and Instagram, where there's a high level of interaction between users. What constitutes a social influencer isn't always crystal clear. Generally speaking, a social influencer has hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of followers and possesses a magnetic personality, innate marketing skills, and a knack for understanding the audience. Because these people have built large audiences that are highly engaged and responsive to the influencer's posts, they're in a unique position to work with big brands and get paid for occasionally delivering what are known as sponsored posts. But just how much are they making? What Are Influencers Getting Paid? Well, depending on who you ask, you'll get different answers. How much social media influencers get paid depends on a variety of factors, including the social media platform, the number of followers, the type of sponsored post, and their method of connecting with brands. According to The Economist, having between 100K-500K followers will land you an average of $12,500 per post on YouTube, $6,250 on Facebook, $5,000 on Instagram, $5,000 on Snapchat, and $2,000 on Twitter. Once an influencer gets over the 1 million-follower threshold, those numbers skyrocket. Users with 1-3 million followers command an average of $125,000 per post on YouTube, $62,500 on Facebook, $50,000 on Instagram, $50,000 on Snapchat, and $30,000 on Twitter. Exceed seven million followers and you're talking six figures per post on most platforms. "They're the new rock stars with a bigger audience than old Hollywood ever had a chance to access," Paul Cazers, a digital talent agent in Hollywood tells 60 Minutes. "If you take someone like [influencer] Logan [Paul], he's got over five billion video views across all his platforms. I mean, it's a staggering number." While we're finally learning more about how much influencers get paid, there's still a lot to be learned about the science behind becoming a social media influencer. There are billions of people on various social media platforms and only a very small fraction are ever able to build up large enough audiences to benefit from this growing online trend. The interesting thing about your average social media influencer is they'll often say they were just in the right place at the right time. While there's something that attracts people to them, a significant part of it has to do with being likable. And for brands who thrive on likability, this is all they need. What's Next for Social Influencers? What will be interesting to watch in the coming years is what social influencers will do for an encore act. As today's social media platforms naturally become replaced, will we see these influencers switch platforms or pursue other careers altogether? This is new territory for everyone, so only time will tell.

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  EVs and Transportation

  EVs and Transportation By Anna Johansson

  Drone Bans Becoming More Popular - But Are They Appropriate?

  The rise of drones as personal toys and recreational hobbies has been met with opposition from government agencies, businesses, organizations, and events. While the first few years of drone usage were relatively lax from a regulation perspective, it's becoming increasingly clear that those interested in flying drones outside of their own personal property will have to abide by a growing list of rules and bans. But are these bans appropriate – and how should users feel about them? How Drones are Being Handled The bans and regulations against drones make sense on paper, but many hobbyists are left wondering why everyone is being so strict. Before delving into the morality of these bans, let's take a look at some of the different ways drone usage is being restricted. 1. Republican National Convention: "No Drones Allowed" At the recent Republican National Convention (RNC) in Cleveland, drones were among the many restrictions in the days leading up to the event. A release stated that the entire city of Cleveland – all 82.47 square miles – is actually a "no drone zone." The RNC also has a FAA flight restriction policy in place, per the US Secret Service's request. "Any unmanned aircraft–including radio-controlled model aircraft / UAS (unmanned aerial system)–are prohibited in the designated restricted areas," officials explained. "Anyone flying a drone within the designated restricted areas may be subject to civil and criminal charges." 2. Restrictions on School Campuses Among the biggest opponents of drone usage are schools with large campuses. Drones are becoming increasingly popular over schools and athletic fields, which worries some administrators and officials. "First off, not all drones are bad, they're intended to be a very positive thing," says Dwayne Folkes, an assistant superintendent in Mississippi. "But we still have to deal with the fact that something could happen from well-meaning operators." School officials around the country are becoming more proactive, educating people, putting up signage, and clearly communicating what's permissible regarding drones on campuses. 3. Bans Near Wildfires After a couple of human-operated drones came into close contact with wildfires in Utah last year, state legislators successfully passed rules that prevent these unmanned crafts from going near sites. The danger is that firefighting aircrafts are very nimble and come in at low altitudes with little warning. Drones – should they intersect the flight path – can cause serious damage. Owners of drones flying in restricted wildfire areas now face penalties of three years in jail and a $275,000 fine. Are Bans the Solution? While it's clear that drones pose threats under certain circumstances, many wonder if people and organizations are overreacting. Are bans really the best solution – or should the public become more educated about the risks and rewards? "There should be means to control malicious use of the technology. A blanket ban is not the answer," says Joseph Antony, a cinematographer who uses drones in many of his projects. Many propose stricter regulations from organizations. They say that requiring people to get licenses – like any other vehicle – is an appropriate solution for monitoring usage. In fact, the FAA has already recommended licenses, but hasn't gone as far as requiring unique identification numbers for individual drones. Keep an Eye on the Sky Drones aren't going anywhere – this much is clear. Drone technology has the potential to offer many benefits to both individuals and organizations. However, something must be done to ensure safety. Drone opponents suggest banning them in heavily populated areas. Drone proponents believe bans should be the last resort. Regardless of where you stand, this is debate worth keeping an eye on.

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