Nicole Leinbach Reyhle is the Founder and Publisher of Retail Minded, the Co-Founder of the Independent Retailer Conference and a regular contributor to various publications. Additionally, Reyhle is the Author of the book “Retail 101: The Guide to Managing and … Read More

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New Year’s resolutions can be a great tool for your personal and professional life. Being honest with yourself about areas where you can improve and jumping into 2017 with renewed focus and reinvigorated with energy is a good idea! However, … Read More

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(BPT) – Smartphones keep people constantly connected, smart cars can drive and park themselves, and smart buildings are designed to use less energy as they keep everyone occupying them comfy and productive. Of course you think you know how technology is revolutionizing everyday life. But do you really understand that tech now touches everything?

Technology’s influence on modern life may be even greater than you realize. Here are four ways technology could transform your life at home and at work:

1. Home life

Technology is making homes “smarter” and more connected. You may already have a smart thermostat in your home that adjusts the temperature automatically and learns your patterns and preferences to provide you with maximum comfort for minimum energy expenditure. But wouldn’t you like to be able to control that thermostat — or the lights, alarm and blinds — from your office using your smartphone? Wouldn’t it be great if you could ask your refrigerator whether you need milk so you can pick it up on your way home from work?

The technology to do all those things already exists and is becoming more commonplace. BI Intelligence predicts that by 2020, 193 million smart home devices will be shipped. The devices will range from smart clothes washers and dryers to alarm system components, energy equipment like thermostats, and smart lighting.

2. Safer roadways

The leading factors that lead to car crashes have one thing in common — they all involve a human being behind the wheel. Data compiled by the Auto Insurance Center found bad driving behaviors like failure to yield right of way, not staying in the proper lane and reckless or careless driving were leading causes of accidents.

Emerging technology aims to reduce the element of human error. Connected cars use wireless technology for a range of purposes, from navigation to remote monitoring and control and even managing vehicle systems. Expected to enhance the driver’s experience, all new passenger cars sold in 2025 will be connected, according to the 2015 study, “Connected vehicle—Succeeding with a disruptive technology,” from Accenture Strategy.

3. Less time in doctor’s offices

Every time you visit a doctor’s office or stay in a hospital, many costs are incurred. Co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles cost you cash, plus you could lose valuable work time. Insurance companies pay for covered services, while visits to the hospital or doctor’s office costs health care providers costly staff hours. Technologies such as remote health monitoring and diagnostics can help trim costs and deliver care.

Remote monitoring uses a variety of devices (monitors) to help patients and doctors keep tabs on important health indicators, such as blood pressure or blood sugar levels. It can help physicians provide health care while incurring fewer costs associated with missed appointments and hospital readmissions, notes the Deloitte University Press.

4. Safer senior years

As they grow older, many people find they need help at home in order to remain independent. Assisted living facilities aim to give seniors basic in-home care, such as help with taking medications. Technology is now available to help seniors who remain at home, including fall detection sensors and activity monitors to interactive food logs, and symptom tracking to machines that help automate wound care and physical therapy.

Devices ranging from sensors and environmental controls to vehicles that are connected through the internet are some aspects of the Internet of Things, and it’s a network that continues to grow, which could make tech skills more desirable.

DeVry University, which was founded in 1931 with an emphasis on technology, offers degree programs that focus on information technology and computer sciences. DeVry has put technology at the core of its business, tech and health care programs.

(BPT) – Smartphones keep people constantly connected, smart cars can drive and park themselves, and smart buildings are designed to use less energy as they keep everyone occupying them comfy and productive. Of course you think you know how technology is revolutionizing everyday life. But do you really understand that tech now touches everything?

Technology’s influence on modern life may be even greater than you realize. Here are four ways technology could transform your life at home and at work:

1. Home life

Technology is making homes “smarter” and more connected. You may already have a smart thermostat in your home that adjusts the temperature automatically and learns your patterns and preferences to provide you with maximum comfort for minimum energy expenditure. But wouldn’t you like to be able to control that thermostat — or the lights, alarm and blinds — from your office using your smartphone? Wouldn’t it be great if you could ask your refrigerator whether you need milk so you can pick it up on your way home from work?

The technology to do all those things already exists and is becoming more commonplace. BI Intelligence predicts that by 2020, 193 million smart home devices will be shipped. The devices will range from smart clothes washers and dryers to alarm system components, energy equipment like thermostats, and smart lighting.

2. Safer roadways

The leading factors that lead to car crashes have one thing in common — they all involve a human being behind the wheel. Data compiled by the Auto Insurance Center found bad driving behaviors like failure to yield right of way, not staying in the proper lane and reckless or careless driving were leading causes of accidents.

Emerging technology aims to reduce the element of human error. Connected cars use wireless technology for a range of purposes, from navigation to remote monitoring and control and even managing vehicle systems. Expected to enhance the driver’s experience, all new passenger cars sold in 2025 will be connected, according to the 2015 study, “Connected vehicle—Succeeding with a disruptive technology,” from Accenture Strategy.

3. Less time in doctor’s offices

Every time you visit a doctor’s office or stay in a hospital, many costs are incurred. Co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles cost you cash, plus you could lose valuable work time. Insurance companies pay for covered services, while visits to the hospital or doctor’s office costs health care providers costly staff hours. Technologies such as remote health monitoring and diagnostics can help trim costs and deliver care.

Remote monitoring uses a variety of devices (monitors) to help patients and doctors keep tabs on important health indicators, such as blood pressure or blood sugar levels. It can help physicians provide health care while incurring fewer costs associated with missed appointments and hospital readmissions, notes the Deloitte University Press.

4. Safer senior years

As they grow older, many people find they need help at home in order to remain independent. Assisted living facilities aim to give seniors basic in-home care, such as help with taking medications. Technology is now available to help seniors who remain at home, including fall detection sensors and activity monitors to interactive food logs, and symptom tracking to machines that help automate wound care and physical therapy.

Devices ranging from sensors and environmental controls to vehicles that are connected through the internet are some aspects of the Internet of Things, and it’s a network that continues to grow, which could make tech skills more desirable.

DeVry University, which was founded in 1931 with an emphasis on technology, offers degree programs that focus on information technology and computer sciences. DeVry has put technology at the core of its business, tech and health care programs.

(BPT) – Predicting the future can be a Herculean task in its own right, but when it comes to forecasting the growth of urban areas across the globe, research points strongly toward some new truths. One, urban areas will continue to grow. Two, with continued development of “smart’ technologies for homes, businesses and entire cities, there is expected to be a significant impact on the employment landscape.

The boom of urban areas

Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, according to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations’ estimates and projections data reported in the 2014 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects. And, that figure is only predicted to grow. In fact, experts estimate urban centers will be home to two-thirds or 66 percent of the world’s population by 2050.

These same predictions also see more people flocking to larger cities. By today’s estimates, there are 28 megacities — locales with populations of more than 10 million people — across the globe. However, that number is expected to jump to 41 megacities as early as 2030. And as these cities continue to grow, managing that growth effectively becomes even more important.

The growth of technology and the “Internet of Things”

As cities continue to grow, experts forecast they will face challenges. There will be the need for infrastructure improvements to meet the challenges in housing, transportation, energy and employment to continue functioning successfully. As well as the ability to anticipate and prepare for future job skills requirements. A key factor in addressing both of these dilemmas lies in the continued development of technology, including the Internet of Things (IoT), to help cities utilize resources more efficiently.

IoT can be integral in helping to maintain efficiency in these ever-growing cities by transforming the existing infrastructure into a giant interactive network to include everything from air quality, transportation and energy to communication systems.

Finding professionals to meet the challenges of change

To prepare for the new economy, students can learn through coding bootcamps like those offered by DeVry University. Over a 10-week course period, these bootcamps offer attendees coding skills education that can be applied in the growing IoT economy. They also prepare students for the marketplace by helping them create a portfolio, develop an interviewing strategy and fine tune their social media presence. Students can feel more empowered to face the challenges that are ahead.

“Innovative education is critical. To meet the needs and wants of today’s students, and of employers looking for professionals with targeted skill sets, we continuously explore new ways to deliver relevant educational offerings,” said Shantanu Bose, Ph.D., provost of DeVry University. “Bootcamps are accelerated learning opportunities to augment current knowledge or immerse oneself into new disciplines in a matter of weeks or months. And like degree and certificate programs, bootcamps can be impressive additions to resumes when aligned with the chosen field.”

(BPT) – Predicting the future can be a Herculean task in its own right, but when it comes to forecasting the growth of urban areas across the globe, research points strongly toward some new truths. One, urban areas will continue to grow. Two, with continued development of “smart’ technologies for homes, businesses and entire cities, there is expected to be a significant impact on the employment landscape.

The boom of urban areas

Today, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas, according to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs of the United Nations’ estimates and projections data reported in the 2014 Revision of World Urbanization Prospects. And, that figure is only predicted to grow. In fact, experts estimate urban centers will be home to two-thirds or 66 percent of the world’s population by 2050.

These same predictions also see more people flocking to larger cities. By today’s estimates, there are 28 megacities — locales with populations of more than 10 million people — across the globe. However, that number is expected to jump to 41 megacities as early as 2030. And as these cities continue to grow, managing that growth effectively becomes even more important.

The growth of technology and the “Internet of Things”

As cities continue to grow, experts forecast they will face challenges. There will be the need for infrastructure improvements to meet the challenges in housing, transportation, energy and employment to continue functioning successfully. As well as the ability to anticipate and prepare for future job skills requirements. A key factor in addressing both of these dilemmas lies in the continued development of technology, including the Internet of Things (IoT), to help cities utilize resources more efficiently.

IoT can be integral in helping to maintain efficiency in these ever-growing cities by transforming the existing infrastructure into a giant interactive network to include everything from air quality, transportation and energy to communication systems.

Finding professionals to meet the challenges of change

To prepare for the new economy, students can learn through coding bootcamps like those offered by DeVry University. Over a 10-week course period, these bootcamps offer attendees coding skills education that can be applied in the growing IoT economy. They also prepare students for the marketplace by helping them create a portfolio, develop an interviewing strategy and fine tune their social media presence. Students can feel more empowered to face the challenges that are ahead.

“Innovative education is critical. To meet the needs and wants of today’s students, and of employers looking for professionals with targeted skill sets, we continuously explore new ways to deliver relevant educational offerings,” said Shantanu Bose, Ph.D., provost of DeVry University. “Bootcamps are accelerated learning opportunities to augment current knowledge or immerse oneself into new disciplines in a matter of weeks or months. And like degree and certificate programs, bootcamps can be impressive additions to resumes when aligned with the chosen field.”

(BPT) – The face of education in the United States is changing. Many of today’s universities are embracing digital technology to deliver instruction in ways not available to previous generations. We have seen the digital instruction methods evolve from the use of learning aides such as computers, digital projectors and DVD players to online learning, which allows students the flexibility to tackle their coursework at a time and pace that works best for them.

Some advanced technologies can seamlessly link two or more classrooms for simultaneous instruction, ultimately expanding student access to courses and professors to participate together in one synchronous learning experience. An innovative classroom format can instill important virtual collaboration skills and encourage interaction with tools like remote wireless content sharing and two-way whiteboard displays, as are found in DeVry University’s extended classrooms.

Addressing the evolving needs of today’s student

Video-connected classrooms are generally equipped with voice-activated motion cameras, facial-recognition software, high-definition wide-screen monitors — complete with picture-in-picture views, desktop cameras and interactive two-way touch-screen whiteboards. This technology is designed to help students learn and interact with their fellow classmates no matter where they are taking the class.

DeVry also recently launched its new video connected classroom technology that seamlessly links 23 DeVry campus locations for simultaneous instruction – depending on the program, course and extended classroom availability. “Our students tell us they appreciate having a variety of courses available, and taught in ways that fit their schedules and preferences,” said Robert Paul, president of DeVry University. “The connected classroom technology allows students to have real-time visual interaction with faculty and fellow classmates. These high-tech classrooms exemplify our investment in academic experiences that are collaborative yet personalized, with student engagement at the core.”

Preparing for a digital future

DeVry’s extended classrooms are just one example of technological innovations taking place in the classroom setting. Over the next year, the university plans to invest heavily in technology to enhance the student experience by offering these additional on-campus capabilities:

* Tech playgrounds at select campus locations throughout the country, putting students in touch with innovative technology in imaginative settings.

* Hardware and software upgrades, including adding thousands of new computers in campuses nationwide, to revitalize existing desktop stations and network labs.

* Internet bandwidth increases to improve wireless capabilities and provide a faster, more seamless learning experience.

(BPT) – The face of education in the United States is changing. Many of today’s universities are embracing digital technology to deliver instruction in ways not available to previous generations. We have seen the digital instruction methods evolve from the use of learning aides such as computers, digital projectors and DVD players to online learning, which allows students the flexibility to tackle their coursework at a time and pace that works best for them.

Some advanced technologies can seamlessly link two or more classrooms for simultaneous instruction, ultimately expanding student access to courses and professors to participate together in one synchronous learning experience. An innovative classroom format can instill important virtual collaboration skills and encourage interaction with tools like remote wireless content sharing and two-way whiteboard displays, as are found in DeVry University’s extended classrooms.

Addressing the evolving needs of today’s student

Video-connected classrooms are generally equipped with voice-activated motion cameras, facial-recognition software, high-definition wide-screen monitors — complete with picture-in-picture views, desktop cameras and interactive two-way touch-screen whiteboards. This technology is designed to help students learn and interact with their fellow classmates no matter where they are taking the class.

DeVry also recently launched its new video connected classroom technology that seamlessly links 23 DeVry campus locations for simultaneous instruction – depending on the program, course and extended classroom availability. “Our students tell us they appreciate having a variety of courses available, and taught in ways that fit their schedules and preferences,” said Robert Paul, president of DeVry University. “The connected classroom technology allows students to have real-time visual interaction with faculty and fellow classmates. These high-tech classrooms exemplify our investment in academic experiences that are collaborative yet personalized, with student engagement at the core.”

Preparing for a digital future

DeVry’s extended classrooms are just one example of technological innovations taking place in the classroom setting. Over the next year, the university plans to invest heavily in technology to enhance the student experience by offering these additional on-campus capabilities:

* Tech playgrounds at select campus locations throughout the country, putting students in touch with innovative technology in imaginative settings.

* Hardware and software upgrades, including adding thousands of new computers in campuses nationwide, to revitalize existing desktop stations and network labs.

* Internet bandwidth increases to improve wireless capabilities and provide a faster, more seamless learning experience.

(BPT) – Many companies recognize that attracting and retaining top employee talent can result in a significant cost savings because employee turnover can result in productivity loss and involve additional expenses associated with hiring and training new employees. An employee parting ways may leave with a strong knowledge base of company projects, clients and procedures, and depending on the job level, it can take several months before a new hire becomes fully productive.

While there are various ways of addressing staffing challenges, there are steps companies can take to help with employee retention.

Identify top talent.

A company’s future growth is often dependent on hiring new employees or retaining the most important ones. Having the right employees in place to meet the ongoing demands of business objectives is a process. Job descriptions and employee evaluation forms can be useful to identify new and existing top talent, but assessing all aspects of employee performance can help employers identify their true all-stars.

Employers should look to identify successors for key positions and provide career development opportunities that align with organizational needs and foster a more engaged workforce that puts top talent in line for future leadership roles.

Return to the basics.

Recent data from Towers Watson’s, “2014 Global Talent Management and Rewards Study-At a Glance,” found that key drivers of attraction and retention continue to point to base pay, career advancement and job security.

Their research, “Under pressure to remain relevant, employers look to modernize the employee value proposition,” also found that top employees often consider the physical work environment important, another driver of employee retention sometimes overlooked by employers. Additionally, office arrangements such as open space plans, collaborative work spaces and hoteling may elevate the importance of the work environment and optimize work spaces to offer a compelling experience for employees that could potentially address talent retention challenges.

Work with the proper partner.

Companies can find talent development initiatives through working with outside partners like DeVryWORKS, the workforce solutions team from DeVry University. DeVryWORKS helps employers understand their critical business issues and workforce needs. The team also designs tailored education solutions with programs offered by DeVry Education Group’s institutions, as well as talent sourcing through DeVry University’s students and alumni.

DeVry has a history of working with leading employers to help companies attract and retain top talent while also supporting professional development and career advancement.

Not every employee retention concern can be addressed or promptly corrected, but those problems that can be solved may help companies hold onto what could be viewed as its most valuable resources while successfully competing in today’s global economy.

To learn more about ways that DeVryWORKS branded communications, recruitment campaigns and preferred partner tuition initiatives are designed to help companies improve their employee development and retention, visit DeVryWORKS.com.

(BPT) – Many companies recognize that attracting and retaining top employee talent can result in a significant cost savings because employee turnover can result in productivity loss and involve additional expenses associated with hiring and training new employees. An employee parting ways may leave with a strong knowledge base of company projects, clients and procedures, and depending on the job level, it can take several months before a new hire becomes fully productive.

While there are various ways of addressing staffing challenges, there are steps companies can take to help with employee retention.

Identify top talent.

A company’s future growth is often dependent on hiring new employees or retaining the most important ones. Having the right employees in place to meet the ongoing demands of business objectives is a process. Job descriptions and employee evaluation forms can be useful to identify new and existing top talent, but assessing all aspects of employee performance can help employers identify their true all-stars.

Employers should look to identify successors for key positions and provide career development opportunities that align with organizational needs and foster a more engaged workforce that puts top talent in line for future leadership roles.

Return to the basics.

Recent data from Towers Watson’s, “2014 Global Talent Management and Rewards Study-At a Glance,” found that key drivers of attraction and retention continue to point to base pay, career advancement and job security.

Their research, “Under pressure to remain relevant, employers look to modernize the employee value proposition,” also found that top employees often consider the physical work environment important, another driver of employee retention sometimes overlooked by employers. Additionally, office arrangements such as open space plans, collaborative work spaces and hoteling may elevate the importance of the work environment and optimize work spaces to offer a compelling experience for employees that could potentially address talent retention challenges.

Work with the proper partner.

Companies can find talent development initiatives through working with outside partners like DeVryWORKS, the workforce solutions team from DeVry University. DeVryWORKS helps employers understand their critical business issues and workforce needs. The team also designs tailored education solutions with programs offered by DeVry Education Group’s institutions, as well as talent sourcing through DeVry University’s students and alumni.

DeVry has a history of working with leading employers to help companies attract and retain top talent while also supporting professional development and career advancement.

Not every employee retention concern can be addressed or promptly corrected, but those problems that can be solved may help companies hold onto what could be viewed as its most valuable resources while successfully competing in today’s global economy.

To learn more about ways that DeVryWORKS branded communications, recruitment campaigns and preferred partner tuition initiatives are designed to help companies improve their employee development and retention, visit DeVryWORKS.com.