Category Archives: Tech Trends

Heads up: Beware of text neck

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Don’t let text neck get you down. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Health Beat staff


The next time you’re in a public place, look around.


Notice how many people are hunched over using mobile devices.


Poor posture while constantly looking down at a cell phone places a lot of strain on the neck, or cervical spine. It’s called ‘text neck.’


And, according to a recent reports, it can result in permanent harm.


“When the head is upright, the upper part of the spine is correctly aligned for minimal stress on the muscles, bones and discs in the neck,” explained Nuala Crotty, MD, a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist with the Spectrum Health Medical Group. “But when you drop the chin to the chest for long periods, you increase stress on the cervical spine and strain the muscles at the back of your neck.”


Just how much wear and tear does this constant downward gaze put on the neck muscles?


The head weighs about 10 to 12 pounds. For every inch the head tilts forward, the weight or pressure on the cervical spine increases. Bending your head forward at a 60 degree angle, for example, results in almost 60 pounds of stress weight on a neck structure that’s designed to handle much less. That’s like carrying a small child around on your neck all day.


With smartphone users now spending an average of two to four hours a day with their heads dropped down, this results in 700 to 1,400 hours a year of excess wear and tear on the cervical spine, according to the research.


Over time, this much stress can do a lot of damage. Muscles and tissues become strained, sore and inflamed, causing headaches, neck, upper back, shoulder and arm pain.


According to Dr. Crotty, if left uncorrected, text neck can lead to chronic neck pain and an increased risk of disc herniation and neck arthritis. Poor posture also decreases lung volume, interfering with the ability to breathe deeply.


“The first step is to be aware of how you hold your body while using technology,” she said. “And then, take steps to prevent problems by practicing good posture and neck alignment.”


Dr. Crotty offers these tips to avoid feeling the crunch:

  • Hold devices up, at eye level, as much as possible.
  • Take regular breaks from phones and laptops throughout the day.
  • Draw your shoulder blades together gently. This will naturally pull your head back and align your spine.
  • Tuck in your chin and gently lengthen your neck. Imagine a string at the top or crown of your head, pulling it straight up to the ceiling.
  • Roll or shrug your shoulders a few times and move your neck in different directions to prevent muscles from becoming tight.

See a doctor if neck pain does not go away or if it’s associated with pain, numbness, tingling or weakness in your shoulder, arm or hands.


Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.


Calvin LifeWork unlocks soft skills

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, Local Faces, Tech Trends, , , ,
Photo credit: Andrew Quist

By Connor Bechler, Calvin College


In a haze of coding, caffeine, circuits, teamwork, snacks, and sleep deprivation, around 120 students from Calvin and other universities worked for 24 hours straight, developing a wide range of software and hardware computing projects. The students were competing in Calvin’s first “hackathon,” a marathon software and hardware development competition held from February 8-9 by the CalvinHacks student organization.


As the sun set on February 9, a team of Calvin students emerged victorious, their project—PlantBit—scoring first place. A combination of a smartphone application, an arduino board, a Google Home, and a moisture sensor, PlantBit allows its user to remotely turn on and off grow lights for their plants, while also providing data on the moisture of the plant’s soil.


“It was inspired by the massive amount of succulents I keep in my room,” said team member Lauren Ebels, a biology and computer science major. “I have a whole bunch of grow lights for them, but couldn’t set them to be on when they’d help the plants the most.”


Over the course of the 24 hours, the team divided and conquered: Junior Shion Fukuzawa programmed the remote control iPhone app, Seniors David Widjaja, Megan Koh, and Toussaint Cruise set up the hardware and control database, and Ebels connected the Google Home to the control database.


“There’s a sense of accomplishment,” said Fukuzawa, a math major and computer science minor. “At the end you have to submit something no matter what, and the fact that you worked as a team for 24 hours and actually made something is pretty satisfying.”


“CalvinHacks was a really fun event, and was unlike anything I had ever done before” said Caleb Schmurr, a Calvin junior electrical engineering student whose team worked on a project using an e-ink screen to display information from a Google Home.


“I liked getting the chance to spend time working in an environment that encouraged and supported creative uses of technology,” Schmurr added. “We were able to use our programming abilities gained from either coursework at Calvin or other experiences to create a really unique project.”


Among a multitude of other creative submissions, Calvin teams also designed a web-based video game, a sign language video detection user interface, and an app for tracking grocery purchases.


Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.


6 Apps Seniors Should Be Using

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Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living

 

The stereotype that all seniors are technophobes, or just less able to understand technology, is simply not true–at least, not for most people. In fact, many companies are designing technology with specifically for the needs and wants of aging adults in mind. One of the biggest industries catering to seniors is the app industry for smart devices. The market is chock-full of limitless applications and possibilities: there are apps for entertainment, health and well-being, and even apps that are just handy to have in your pocket. Though the rapid adoption of technology can be confusing, many seniors have found that with the right repertoire of apps, life can be easier and more interesting.

 

Right now, there are tens of thousands of apps on the market and more coming out daily. Trying to find the right app can feel like trying to find a needle in the haystack: overwhelming, near impossible, and tedious way to spend the day.

 

To make it a little easier, here are six apps that we think seniors should have on their phones and tablets.

1. Park ‘n’ Forget

We’ve all experienced the confusion of not being able to find our cars when we come out of a building at some point or other. Using this app allows you to avoid the hassle of walking around a vast parking lot or garage looking for your car. You’ll never forget where you parked. Plus, Park ‘n’ Forget does more than remembering the location of your vehicle; it also monitors the amount of time spent. Gone are the days of having parking tickets due to expired meters. Here’s how it works: when leaving your car in a parking deck, pick the color or number associated with the deck level to pinpoint your location.

2. Lumosity

As we age, we become more susceptible to diseases that affect memory, such as Alzheimer’s and other dementias. One way to keep your brain sharp is by exercising it regularly. Learning and brain training apps like Lumosity is a great tool available to stay mentally active. Designed by neuroscientists, Lumosity is proven to benefit memory recall and information retention. The app cleverly disguises its memory improvement objectives by using hundreds of well-designed games and puzzles.

 

Another app designed to function similarly is CogniFit Brain Fitness. This app works to improve cognitive abilities, such as memory and concentration. What makes CogniFit Brain Fitness different from Lumosity is that it is adaptive to your knowledge. The app adapts each game’s difficulty to your profile and gives you recommendations based on your results.

3. Lyft

Apps such as Lyft and Uber are valuable for seniors to have in their app arsenal. With ride share apps, both service and payment transactions are consolidated into one digital location. In addition, most transportation apps even offer customization options. For example, Uber allows you choose from different sized vehicles to accommodate the number of people in your party. For seniors looking for ways to stay independent, transportation that’s convenient and easy is a must.

4. Shipt

Grocery delivery services are growing in popularity. For seniors, they’re another way to reclaim independence. One of the most popular grocery delivery services right now is the Shipt app. Using Shipt is easy: after you’ve signed up for a membership, open the Shipt app on your phone or desktop. Then, select your items, choose a payment option, pick a delivery time, and place your order. What makes them unique is they’ll unpack your groceries and put them away, and the groceries are from the stores you love.

5. Netflix

If you’re a movie lover, you’ll love the Netflix app. For a reasonable price, you have access to hundreds of your television shows, movies, and documentaries from basically anywhere. Netflix is also producing a number of noteworthy original series. You might find using this app is more valuable than having cable. A bonus feature of the app is it can be used on multiple devices. Many seniors find the mobility of this app useful during workouts or travel.

6.  Blood Pressure Monitor

There are a variety of apps available for monitoring health. An app to consider adding to your phone is The Blood Pressure Monitor. You’ll have the ability to track your blood pressure and weight over time without having to call your doctor or rummage through old records. The Blood Pressure Monitor app also provides statistical information, periodic health reminders, and allows you to export data. This is an ideal function if you want to share it with your health care provider.

 

Harnessing technology for all of its capabilities isn’t just for the younger generations. Seniors are also capable of embracing all the possibilities that the digital age has to offer. With that in mind, apps are a great starting point for enhancing senior living. By equipping your phone with these helpful apps, people of all ages can benefit from a little extra independence and enjoyment in their lives.

 

Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.

Secretary of State upgrading computer system during Presidents Day weekend closure

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By State of Michigan


During a Presidents Day weekend closure, the Michigan Department of State will replace the outdated vehicle records system Secretary of State offices have used for decades with a modern computer system to better serve customers.


The Customer and Automotive Records System (CARS) will add new online options, improve existing online and kiosk services, and give staff a more efficient tool to process transactions.


New online options will include ordering license plates, renewing snowmobile registrations and ordering a Recreation Passport and replacement tab for a plate. Many transactions for auto dealers, repair facilities, mechanics and driver education instructors and providers also will be possible online.


During the upgrade, Secretary of State branch offices, online services and auto business transactions will be offline and unavailable from 5pm Friday, Feb. 15, until 9am Tuesday, Feb. 19. Self-service kiosks will be taken offline in phases beginning Friday, Feb. 8. The seven Super Centers usually open Saturday will be closed Saturday, Feb. 16. All branches will be closed on Presidents Day (Monday, Feb. 18).


For a few weeks, as staff gets accustomed to the new computer system, service in offices may take longer. Customers are encouraged to use CARS e-Services at ExpressSOS.com or to complete their transactions outside this timeframe.


Late fees will be waived for transactions with expiration dates between Feb. 11 and March 2.


“This is a vital project for our department and its millions of customers and the first step in implementing our 30-minute guarantee,” Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said. “When fully implemented, the new system will transform our technology, making our work more efficient and our service to customers better than before.”


After the vehicle records phase, the driver records system will be replaced over the next two years.


For more information, visit Michigan.gov/SOS.

18 Internet Safety Tips for Seniors

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Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living

 

Despite all the stereotypes about seniors who simply don’t understand technology, a majority of adults age 65 and over are now using the internet. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, over 67% of this group uses the internet regularly, and as many as 40% own a smartphone. However, while seniors and technology may be more compatible than people think, it doesn’t change the fact that this generation was raised without it, and may not be familiar with some of the risks. We’ve put together 18 important tips for safer internet surfing:

General Safety & Security

  1. Make sure your passwords are unique and secure. Use strong passwords that don’t include any personal information, and try to avoid dictionary words and common phrases. Many websites recommend a mix of lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols. In addition, never use the same password for more than one account.
  2. Use anti-malware software and other protective tools. Be sure that your computer has some sort of trusted security software installed, and set it to automatically update so that you’re protected against the latest risks. Ask an expert or trusted tech-savvy person if you’re unsure what to install.
  3. Don’t download unknown attachments and software. Never download documents, images, or software if you don’t know and trust the source. Scammers and hackers will often disguise viruses and other malware as “free” software tools or interesting content to download.
  4. Consider authorizing a trusted friend or family member to access your accounts. In case of emergency, it can be difficult or impossible for trusted friends and family to access online email, bank, and file storage accounts. Plan ahead and work with an attorney to authorize someone you trust to access your accounts.

Email and Social Media

  1. Understand “spam” filters. Spam refers to unwanted, unsolicited emails. Most email providers have spam filters that remove these emails from your main inbox.
  2. Use social media privacy settings. Be aware of what you’re posting on any social media sites, and use privacy settings to restrict access to your posts to people you trust with personal information.
  3. Report any and all instances of abuse. Cyberbullying may be associated with children and teens, but that doesn’t mean that adults don’t get abused online. Don’t respond. Instead, report abuse – both to the platform you’re on and to people who can help, and remember that abuse is not your fault.
  4. Know the signs of a scam. If it’s too good to be true, it usually is. Offers of low-priced or free big-ticket items such as vacations, electronics, and medicines are usually scam attempts. On the other hand, scammers will sometimes send you requests for money from friends’ personal accounts; never reply or send funds without first verifying the request with the person in some other way.

Money and Purchasing

  1. Look for secure websites. Whenever you’re prompted to enter your payment information into a website, first check that the website is secure. In the URL bar at the top of your internet browser, look for “https://” for a secure site. (The “s” stands for secure.)
  2. Understand and avoid phishing attempts. Be wary of links to sites that ask you to make a purchase or enter your payment information. One common scam, “phishing,” makes a phony site look like a trusted site, then gives your information to the scammer. Look for grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and URLs that look different than you’re used to. When in doubt, enter the web address you know to be correct directly into the URL bar.
  3. Do not enter personal or payment information into an unknown site. On a similar note, be sure to verify the website if you’re going to enter personal or payment information. Look for reviews of online retailers, and in the case of banking or government portals, never respond to requests for information. Banks and government agencies will never solicit passwords, Social Security numbers, or payment information.
  4. Monitor your financial accounts. Even when you take every precaution, there is a chance that your payment information may be leaked or stolen from a trusted vendor. Watch your bank accounts and credit cards for unauthorized purchases.

Meeting New People

  1. Exercise caution. Unfortunately, not everyone on the internet is who they say they are. There are many online opportunities to meet new people, from dating sites to hobby groups and forums, but not everyone is trustworthy. Be cautious when interacting with new people, and don’t give out too much personal information where people can find it.
  2. Do not send money to new acquaintances. Similarly to personal information, some people will use the relative anonymity of the internet to get close to their targets, then request money and never be heard from again. Don’t be swayed by stories of personal tragedy or requests for money to visit unless you’re positive of the person’s good intentions.
  3. When meeting up in person, be safe. If you choose to meet someone from a dating website or a friend you met online, choose a public place and let a friend or family member know where you’re going and who you’re meeting. You can never be too safe, even if you feel you know the person well.

Well-being and Health

  1. Know fact from fiction. Websites such as news publishers and health advice blogs often make money by attracting visitors to view and click ads on their pages, and will publish sensational headlines to get those views. Not everything published on a website is true, no matter how official it may look.
  2. Avoid self-diagnosis and armchair healthcare advice. It’s incredibly easy to look up your symptoms on a search engine and find a list of possible diseases, or a forum discussing a diagnosis. Only a licensed healthcare professional who understands your health background should make diagnoses and prescribe treatments. Attempting to use the internet to do so could mean the condition goes untreated or becomes worse.
  3. Follow up with a professional. Of course, not every piece of health advice on the internet is life and death. There are many helpful resources online for nutrition advice, well-being, and fitness, but it’s always good to consult a professional before making any changes that could impact your health, such as a new diet or exercise plan.

The internet is a helpful tool for staying connected and getting informed, but there are some risks inherent to its use. By educating yourself, you can stay safe from the unpleasant aspects of technology while continuing to reap the benefits.

 

Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.

Threats to democracy, closed borders, free trade on World Affairs Council lecture schedule

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A Border Patrol agent drives past new vehicle barriers near Deming, N.M., built by U.S. Army soldiers. (U.S. Army historical photo)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

 
After President Donald Trump gives his State of the Union speech on Jan. 29, the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan’s 2019 Great Decisions global discussion series will debut with a discussion on the “State of the State Department” on Feb. 4-5.

Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of American Foreign Service Association (Supplied/World Affairs Council)

With Ambassador Barbara Stephenson, president of American Foreign Service Association, will be talking about the “State of the State Department” on both days, and will pose and then discuss the question: “Is the State Department currently equipped to do its diplomatic work?”

“Our organization’s perspective on this series is that to change the world — or to even begin to understand global issues — one first must know about the world, and that’s what we attempt to do with Great Decisions,” Michael Van Denend, executive director of the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan, said to WKTV.

 
The eight topics covered by the series were specifically chosen by the Foreign Policy Association in New York as the global issues every American community should know more about and currently be discussing. The World Affairs Council has been sponsoring the series since the mid-1950s.

 
“We’re particularly pleased with the expertise and diversity of the speakers coming to West Michigan this year,” Van Denend said. “There are two ambassadors, a cyber security FBI agent, two journalists reporting on Eastern Europe and Syria, and one of the country’s foremost China experts. Attending these presentations will open up many corners of the world for participants.”
 

The annual series, which bring leaders in international theory and action to Grand Rapids for lectures, will offer two options to attend: Mondays, 6-7:15 p.m., at Aquinas College Performing Arts Center; and Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m. at the Recital Hall in the Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College.

There is a $10 general-public admission fee per discussion, with no reservations needed and free parking.

The series will continue through March 25-26.

The Great Decisions format features a world-class expert leading each conversation, followed by an extensive question-answer session.

 
The reminder of the 201 series will feature:

 
Feb. 11 and 12: “Democracy on the Run: Dispatches from Eastern Europe”, a behind-the-scenes-look at rising anti-democratic efforts abroad, lead by Carol Schaeffer, a freelance journalist.

Feb. 18 and 19: “Immigration Policy beyond the Border”, a talk “shedding light on a complicated and contentious issue with thoughtful dialogue,” according to supplied material, with Ambassador Jim Nealon, former U.S. Ambassador to Honduras.

Feb. 25 and 26: “A New Nuclear Arms Race?”, with Kelsey Davenport, of the Arms Control Association, discussing “Russia. North Korea. Iran. What’s our nuclear future?”

Mar. 4 and 5: “China-U.S. Trade War”, with Amy Celico, Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG), discussing “How will we handle the most important bilateral relationship of the 21st century?”

Mar. 11 and 12: “Life After the Arab Uprisings and the Islamic State”, a ground-level report from a brave Lebanese journalist, Rania Abouzeid, author of “No Turning Back: Life, Loss, and Hope in Wartime Syria”, a New York Times 2018 Notable Book.

Mar. 18 and 19: “Global Cyber Threats” with FBI Special Agent Peter Jolliffe
discussing “Cyber risks are on the rise — can we thwart them?”

And finally, on Mar. 25 and 26: “Mexico and the U.S.: The Economic Ties that Bind”, Carlos Capistran, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New York City, discussing “What must we do to make certain both countries thrive?”

The Aquinas College Performing Arts Center is located at 1703 Robinson Road S.E., Grand Rapids. The Covenant Fine Arts Center at Calvin College is located at 1795 Knollcrest Cir SE, Grand Rapids.

 
The World Affairs Council of Western Michigan is located at 1700 Fulton Street E., Grand Rapids, For more information on sessions, dates and times, as well as detailed information on speakers, visit worldmichigan.org .

Snapshots: Wyoming, Kentwood weekend news you want to know — end-of-year edition

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By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Quote of the Day

"It doesn't matter where you came from. All that matters is where you are going.”

                                                     -- Brian Tracy                                          

It’s been an interesting year.
Let’s take a look back.

Grand Rapids Sweet Adelines Chorus rehearses its holiday music.

Managing editor Joanne Bailey-Boorsma has rounded up the most popular stories of 2018 and corralled them into one spot. Go here to see what readers read the most.

Everybody has a profile.
Even Kent County.

Cool, fun graphic

Counties have profiles? You bet! Thanks to the Kent County Administration and their most excellent bilingual survey, the secret is out: Kent County’s median age of 34.9 years old is more than five years younger than Michigan as a whole and 50 percent of the population of about 648,594 is 35-years-old or younger. Go here for the cool details.

Get ahead of the game.

Wouldn’t it be fun to pay your tax bill with Monopoly money?

You know that big tax cut we’ve all been hearing about? The one that has corporations so excited? Well, there’s a tiny bit of relief for single people and families, too. Standard deductions for single taxpayers nearly double from $6,350 for 2017 taxes to $12,000 for 2018 taxes (the ones you file in 2019). It might get confusing, but there’s free tax help here. Take advantage of it.


Fun fact:

April 11, 1954 

According to Cambridge computer scientist William Tunstall-Pedoe and his search engine project, ‘True Knowledge’, that’s the ‘Most Boring Day in History‘. After sifting through and analyzing 300 million facts, ‘True Knowledge’ divined that on April 11, 1954, a general election was held in Belgium, Turkish academic Professor Abdullah Atalar was born, and an Oldham Athletic footballer by the name of Jack Shufflebotham died. That’s it. Nothing else that matters happened.

Hey, kudos, dude.

‘Sharenting’: The downside to posting about your children on social media

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By Kylie Rymanowicz, Michigan State University Extension

 

Social media can help you connect to friends and family across the globe and it can help you feel connected when things get tough. ‘Sharenting’, or “parenting and sharing,” is a relatively new term used to describe parents using social media to share photographs, videos and information about their children.

 

Studies have shown that parents use social media for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways. A Pew study found that social media is being used as a parenting tool and resource. They found that 74 percent of parents reported receiving support on social media, including social emotional support. Parents are using multiple platforms like Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter. A poll conducted by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital found that parents commonly shared about getting kids to sleep, nutrition, discipline, child care/preschool and behavior problems. This survey also indicated that social media helps many parents feel like they aren’t alone.

 

“Oversharenting” refers to those parents who overshare on social media about their children. While a parent may not see any problem with what they are posting about their children, older children have expressed concern and frustration. In a 2016 study, Alexis Hiniker, Sarita Schoenebeck and Julie Kientz surveyed parents and children about family rules and perceptions regarding technology use. They found that many children were concerned about their parents oversharing content on social media and sharing without the child’s permission. They reported feeling embarrassed and frustrated that their parents made decisions about their online presence without consulting them.

 

Should you be consented about sharenting or oversharenting? The overall consensus is yes. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, there are risks associated with posting about your child online.

 

Your child doesn’t get a say. We give children choices about all sorts of things. To empower and protect children, we teach them to take ownership of their bodies by letting them choose if they want to kiss or hug relatives and teaching body safety. We teach them to respect privacy, like knocking before you enter a room. However, when we post about them without their consent, we are not respecting their self-ownership, privacy or opinions.

 

You do not have control. Once you post something on social media, it belongs to the world. You cannot control who has access to it or how someone might use it. Even when your profiles are kept private or locked down, you do not have control over what someone you gave access to it might do with it. Many parents have faced digital kidnapping, when someone on the internet “steals” a picture of your child and uses it on social media to claim that it’s their own child.

 

There are very real safety concerns. When you post specific information about your child online, like their full name, age, where they go to school or child care, you risk someone you don’t trust being able to gain access to your child. Innocent photos and videos have also made their way to explicit adult-oriented and other unsavory sites.

 

For more articles on child development, academic success, parenting and life skill development, please visit the Michigan State University Extension website.

 

To learn about the positive impact children and families experience due to MSU Extension programs, read our 2017 impact report. Additional impact reports, highlighting even more ways Michigan 4-H and MSU Extension positively impacted individuals and communities in 2017, can be downloaded from the Michigan 4-H website.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464). Reprinted with permission.

Being a tech-savvy senior: Don’t be tricked by malware

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By Regina Salmi, Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan

 

A couple of weeks ago, I received a text message and several phone calls from a friend frantically trying to reach me, “I got a strange notice on my computer saying I had to call or they would disable me!”

 

When I contacted her later, I was relieved to hear she refused to give them her credit card number and they hung up on her. Too often, people who receive these pop-up notices on their computers, tablets or phones fall prey to these scare tactics, losing hundreds of dollars and sometimes their identity as a result. Tossing your computer out the window or smashing your phone with a hammer are not the answer. You can take steps to avoid falling victim to malware.

 

What is malware? When most people call for help, they say “A virus got into my computer!”. The mess that malware creates can certainly make us feel sick, but it is not a computer virus in the traditional sense. Malware, also referred to as Adware or Spyware, is a type of software that is usually embedded in something else. Whether it is a ‘free’ app you downloaded to your tablet, a ‘free’ software you downloaded to your computer, or a ‘free’ game you play through your internet browser, most likely you clicked ‘OK’ and, buried in the fine print you agreed to having the malware files downloaded to your device. When it comes to apps and software, nothing is free.

 

When these files get downloaded to our devices, strange things begin to occur. Like my friend, a message window might randomly open up saying we have a virus or claim that our computer has been hacked and requires immediate attention. We open our internet browser and without touching a key, it will begin bringing us to websites we don’t want to go to or the screen suddenly fills with 100s of popup windows advertising everything under the sun. We could even find our inbox filling up with messages to buy things that normally require a prescription or even our phone begins to ring with telemarketers.

 

What can we do to protect our devices from these types of software?

  • First, don’t download anything unless it comes through an official app store like Google Play or Apple and even then, use caution if it says are there advertisements in the app.
  • When advertisements pop up in your browser, be careful where you click. Many of these are designed to fool you by including a ‘No Thanks’ button or even a fake X button usually on the opposite side of the window. Close the pop up using the X in the upper corner.
  • If you make a mistake and download some malware to your computer, stay calm and know that any threatening messages you receive are not real. Microsoft, Apple or Google will not send a warning message to your screen demanding you call them ‘or else…’. If you’re getting these messages, it’s most definitely fake.
  • Do not call the 800 numbers that appear on your screen, give out any personal information, or allow anyone remote access to your computer.
  • You can often get free assistance by going to the manufacturer of the device. For a Microsoft device you can get virtual assistance at support.microsoft.com, an Apple device support.apple.com or a Google/Android device go to support.google.com.
  • Sometimes we need more than help articles; there are services you can pay for help. Best Buy’s Geek Squad offers support in-home, in-store, 24/7 online and phone support at (800) 433-5778. HelloTech also offers in-home tech support, online support at hellotech.com and help over the phone (888) 485-9455. These companies are reputable, established companies unlike the 800 numbers offered in the popup windows. You may have local tech support companies in your community.
  • Stay in charge of your devices! While your son, daughter or grandchild may seem tech savvy and well meaning, unless they are a certified technology support specialist, they should not be trying to fix your computer, tablet or phone. People of every age fall victim to malware and internet scams and our well-intentioned relatives might make matters worse.

When we run into problems like these, our inclination may be to give up on technology all together, especially if we’re new to it. Technology is engrained in every part of our society though and can actually go a long way in helping us remain independent as we age. Today we can order our groceries and have them delivered to our home, call for a ride, see our doctor through a video call, pay all of our bills and connect with friends and family using a smartphone, tablet or computer.

 

It’s worth sticking with it and to learn more. Local libraries offer technology classes for adults, as well as many community and senior centers. If you’re a member of a group who would like a class on learning about how technology like tablets and smart phones can enhance your life, Area Agency on Aging of Western Michigan will bring a class to your organization. You can contact us at (616) 456-5664 or aaainfo@aaawm.org for more information.

Snapshots: Wyoming and Kentwood news you need to know

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Health, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Recreation, Senior Living, Tech Trends, ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

 

Quote of the Day

"The person who says something is impossible should not interrupt the person who is doing it."

                                                  ~Chinese Proverb

Good things come in threes

Three well-deserving organizations recently received grants from the GM Foundation: the Greater Wyoming Community Resource Alliance, West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC), and Feeding America West Michigan Food Bank. Read all about it here.

 

 

 

The dude abides (er, rides)

Kentwood resident and bicyclist-on-a-mission Ken Smith, after a brief stop at home for his anniversary and time with family, quietly headed off from downtown Grand Rapids this week as part of a 3,500-plus west coast-to-east coast trip to raise funds for his grandson, Jakob, and awareness of all persons with neurological damage. More here.

 

.

Beam me up, Scotty

Well, maybe healthcare technology isn’t quite that advanced, but still…

 

Not only are physicians and other healthcare professionals becoming more accessible, but personal health information, billing, and care instructions have also become easier to find thanks to electronic health records and healthcare portals. Before electronic health records, or EHRs, patients had to request physical copies from their healthcare providers’ offices, an inconvenient process that meant that most people only received their records when they were absolutely required. Read all about it here.

 

Fun Fact:

A sneeze travels about
100 miles per hour.

We're not sure who clocked it or why. Maybe some things are best left unknown.

How has technology transformed healthcare access?

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, Tech Trends, , ,

Courtesy Vista Springs Assisted Living

By Vista Springs Assisted Living

 

Advancements in medical technology have defined the practice of healthcare since a concept of healthcare has existed, from bandages to penicillin to MRIs. Today, we think of technology as digital, and it has permeated practically every aspect of our lives. It’s natural, therefore, that some of the biggest news in healthcare is related to technology and access. The tech that we use every day–our phones, the internet, computers–is transforming how people think about and receive healthcare, making it more convenient and accessible overall.

Telemedicine

One of the most talked-about trends in healthcare access today is telemedicine, which is the use of devices connected to the internet to provide clinical services. Originally, the goal of telemedicine was to make healthcare more accessible in rural regions of the United States, but after numerous studies showed these efforts to be hugely beneficial to both patients and healthcare professionals, healthcare technology companies began to develop more and more applications for telemedicine.

 

Telemedicine has vastly improved patient care capabilities for inpatient healthcare facilities such as small hospitals and for increasing access to specialists, who may not always be on-premises when they’re needed. A recent study from the CHEST Journal reported a reduction in patient transfers in intensive care units (ICUs) that had telemedicine systems in place, buying valuable time and providing specialized care that would have otherwise required a transfer.

 

The more highly discussed and visual aspect of telemedicine is the rise of applications and services that allow primary care physicians, psychologists, pediatricians, and more to examine patients without either person ever setting foot in an office. Doctor shortages around the country have made wait times for appointments longer, forcing sick people in highly-populated and rural areas alike to either pay high bills for urgent care or forgo a doctor visit altogether. Telemedicine has excelled at providing care for minor but time-sensitive health issues such as ear infections and stomach problems, meaning more convenience at a lower cost.

Healthcare portals

Not only are physicians and other healthcare professionals becoming more accessible, but personal health information, billing, and care instructions have also become easier to find thanks to electronic health records and healthcare portals. Before electronic health records, or EHRs, patients had to request physical copies from their healthcare providers’ offices, an inconvenient process that meant that most people only received their records when they were absolutely required.

 

Today, practices from primary care physicians to hospitals are making EHRs easily accessible through online patient portals. Visibility into personal healthcare records empowers people to be more active in their healthcare. In addition, some patient portals have other functions, such as a form of telemedicine where patients can ask their care providers questions on a secure platform, or billing statements that people can reference whenever they need to. This increased visibility into the process of healthcare offers people both convenience and insight, giving them the knowledge to make informed decisions about their health.

Personal and remote monitoring

About 45% of adults in the United States are living with at least one chronic disease; for seniors alone, that number rises to almost 80%. Managing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and dementia is a constant part of everyday life, and for many people, chronic conditions mean more frequent visits to doctors and specialists. Healthcare appointments can be stressful for anyone, but for people with limited mobility or debilitating pain, they can be close to impossible.

 

Today, connected devices such as blood pressure and glucose monitoring devices make it easy to track health conditions and determine when intervention is necessary. Devices for home use are usually designed to be easy-to-use and offer clear insights in order to be as useful as possible to patients and caregivers. Some, such as heart rate monitors built into smartwatches and fitness trackers, are even wearable.

 

The ability to connect to the internet also means that remote monitoring is possible. Remote monitoring allows healthcare professionals to track a patient’s biometrics, rather than the patient tracking their condition themselves. While this may seem somewhat invasive, it is a real boon for people with serious conditions, or those who live alone or in an isolated area. Early detection of problems can help patients get the attention they need, sometimes even before they realize they need it.

 

Technology has always been integral to healthcare, but now, convenient healthcare technology is accessible to everybody. Services such as telemedicine and remote monitoring are still relatively new, and studies are still being done on the long-term benefits and drawbacks, but improvements to healthcare accessibility are ensuring better health for people all over the country.

 

Reprinted with permission from Vista Springs Assisted Living.

 

Conducting a chemical orchestra

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, Local Faces, Tech Trends, , ,

Photo credit: Amanda Impens

By Connor Bechler, Calvin College

 

Professor Douglas Vander Griend of the chemistry and biochemistry department plans to conduct a symphony this summer, with the assistance of two student researchers and Calvin’s new supercomputer. Or at least, that’s how he invites those not well-versed in technical chemistry to understand his current work building a chemometric website for the modeling of complex chemical solutions.

 

The website software takes the spectrographic—or light—output of an experiment and tries to match it against a multitude of simulated experiments. When a similar simulated output is found, the software then shows the researcher what chemical interactions may have produced that output.

 

“Imagine that you’re in a concert hall, and you’re listening to instrumentalists play on a stage, but the curtain is drawn so you can’t see anything, and everybody’s playing instruments you’ve never heard before,” Vander Griend said. “So you can hear what they produce, and your job is with your ears to figure out how many instrumentalists are on stage and what type of instruments each one is playing.

 

“We do almost the exact same thing with molecules and light,” he added, “we make them play a song.”

Harmonizing distinct disciplines

Aiding him in conducting this obscure orchestra are student researchers Joyce Chew and Nathanael Kazmierczak. Chew is a junior majoring in math, and minoring in computer science and chemistry, while Kazmierczak is a senior majoring in music and chemistry, and minoring in ministry leadership.

 

Vander Griend points to both students’ backgrounds in multiple disciplines as a strength: “When someone can bring in a mindset and toolbox developed in a different area, they bring fresh insight into new problems.”

 

Both are thrilled with the interdisciplinary nature of the project. “I really like that this [research] integrates math, computer science, and chemistry, because those are my core three interests,” said Chew.

 

Kazmierczak views this kind of research as unique to Calvin: “as a liberal arts institution, Calvin has really open lines of communication between the disciplines;” he added, “there’s a lot of collaboration work going on in the sciences.”

 

In addition to being able to work within multiple fields, both also enjoy working with Vander Griend. Having done research with him for over two years, Kazmierczak identified his attitude as “a hands off one, which really helps you develop as an independent scientist.” Chew agreed; although this is her first time doing chemistry research, she said “he made it really easy for me to jump in, get into the literature, and get caught up with what was happening in his lab.”

Cutting-edge tools

Vander Griend’s ensemble is completed by Calvin’s new supercomputer. Access to the supercomputer, according to Vander Griend, is “expanding out the functionality” of the software, allowing for the automation of model construction, the building of a database for results, and extensive error analysis.

 

Vander Griend identified the error analysis specifically as one of the super computer’s key contributions to the project: “you’re talking hours and hours and hours [of computations]; the supercomputer can bring that down minutes.”

 

Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.

 

Multitasking: More myth than magic

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Health, How-To's, Senior Living, Tech Trends, , ,

In a tech-centric world, it’s tough on the brain to focus on any one thing as it’s bombarded with data. (Courtesy Spectrum Health Beat)

By Don Shell, Spectrum Health Beat

 

It was another typically busy day.

 

In between testing patients, Michael Lawrence, PhD, ABPP-CN, a clinical neuropsychologist with Spectrum Health Medical Group, found himself answering instant messages and emails, grabbing a quick lunch, calling AT&T about his cell phone bill, racing to Blodgett Hospital for a meeting, and reading an article a certain Health Beat reporter had sent him for an interview.

 

If that sounds all-too familiar to you, you’re not alone. But if you think you’re multitasking, what you’re really doing is kidding yourself, Dr. Lawrence said.

 

“We all have to do it to some extent,” he said. “But we know multitasking is a misnomer. We have to be aware that you’re not doing two things at work, you’re switching back and forth. If we have three or four or five things, our performance suffers.

 

“The problem is, we don’t know how to deal with technology. We’re bombarded by things.”

 

Our cell phone addictions are doing more than stifling our real-world social lives: they’re stifling our creativity, too, Dr. Lawrence said.

 

“We used to think that different parts of the brain were responsible for controlling different abilities, but what we’ve learned with recent advances in neuroscience is that actually your brain is networked together,” he said. “The Default Mode Network, the DMN, actually encompasses the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system. That’s the part of the brain that turns on when you’re at a resting state. And studies have shown that creativity is increased when you do nothing at all first.

 

There’s an app for that

 

New app helps track your cell phone addiction.

 

Are you addicted to your cell phone? If you’re like a growing number of Americans, the answer is probably yes – and it’s likely worse than you thought.

 

Enter the new app called Moment, which can track just how often you check your messages, emails, Facebook or anything else.

 

You can even set daily limits on yourself and force yourself off your device when you’re over your limit.

 

“It’s the last thing you look at before you go to bed, and the first thing you wake up to,” Dr. Lawrence said. “That’s why this Moment app is so interesting. I don’t think people realize how addicted they are to their phones.”

“When you’re doing too much at once, this area of the brain is burning too much energy, and your capacity to do any one thing suffers.”

 

This flies in the face of the common belief that things such as music can help increase focus and productivity, Dr. Lawrence said, but that doesn’t mean people can’t juggle tasks at all.

 

“I think you can do two things at once, but the problem is, you don’t do any one thing as well,” he explained. “The research says the quieter the environment, the more sterile, the better you do. People say they focus better with music, but your brain has to turn on to process music, and if it’s expending energy to process music, that’s energy it’s not using on whatever else you’re doing.”

 

The multitasking myth isn’t age-specific, either.

 

“They talk about kids with video games, but I think adults are even worse,” he said. “I went to a meeting the other day and everyone was on their cell phone. They say technology is making everybody ADD. It makes our lives better in some way, but at what cost? There has to be some moderation.”

 

Dr. Lawrence said he has a simple way to fight the anxiety of overstimulation.

 

“We all have that feeling, when we’re being pulled in a million different directions,” he said. “When I do it, I realize it and get anxious. What’s the first thing I do? I turn off everything–my cell phone and email–and create a checklist of the things I need to do. That helps me focus and prioritize what I need to do.”

 

The bottom line, says Dr. Lawrence, “We have to learn to adapt, because technology isn’t going away.”

 

Reprinted with permission from Spectrum Health Beat.

 

Employment Expertise: How to find a registered apprenticeship opportunity

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, How-To's, Local Business, Tech Trends, , , , , ,

 

By West Michigan Works!

 

Apprenticeships have long played a major role in training America’s skilled workers, combining classroom learning, on-the-job training and wages that increase as skills are learned. Apprentices not only get paid while learning the skills for a high-demand job, they earn a nationally recognized industry certification.

 

With all these benefits, it’s easy to see why many job seekers are looking for apprenticeship opportunities.

 

What do employers look for in an apprentice?

 

Apprentices go to school for 2-4 years while working full time; they need to balance work, school and life. Employers are looking for individuals who are willing to commit to the process, are dependable, have a positive work ethic and a willingness to learn.

 

How can I find an apprenticeship opportunity?

 

Most often, employers with apprenticeship programs enter existing workers into their programs instead of hiring someone to enter directly into the program.

 

Custom Profile, a manufacturer in Grand Rapids, is one of many West Michigan employers who use apprenticeships to train their workforce.

 

“Our apprenticeship programs allow us to give our employees something really valuable: a chance to learn new skills,” said Jenny Redes, human resources manager at Custom Profile.

 

You can find employers in your area with apprenticeship programs by searching Career One Stop. Once you’ve identified employers with programs, check job search websites like indeed.com or mitalent.org to see if they have any openings. Apply for an entry-level position, express your interest in an apprenticeship and then show them that you’re worth investing in!

 

“One of our employees has been with us for twenty years. Through apprenticeship, he was able to get the skills needed to move up within the company,” Redes said. “We were so excited to see him take advantage of this opportunity!”

 

Occasionally, West Michigan Works! will have a cohort-style apprenticeship program, such as the Medical Assistant Registered Apprenticeship program. Check jobs.westmiworks.org for current opportunities and application periods.

 

Or visit a West Michigan Works! service center and ask to meet with a talent development specialist. They can help you with job search, resume writing, interviewing skills and connections with potential employers.

 

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

Employment Expertise: Health care career pathways

3-bottom, Education, How-To's, Local Business, Non-Profits, Tech Trends, , , , , ,

 

By West Michigan Works!

 

Health care is one of the fastest growing industries in West Michigan. There are more jobs than people to fill them. In fact, 32 of the 100 jobs on the HOT JOBS list are in health care! This is a great time for you to begin a new career.

 

The health care industry has many different kinds of jobs. Some need short-term training such as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Sterile Processing Technician, where others need additional training or certification like Dental Hygienist and Licensed Practical Nurse.

 

There is opportunity for advancement in the health care industry too. You’ll need additional training to move to the next position, but don’t let that stop you from pursuing advancement. Health care employers want their employees to learn and grow so they will support you every step of the way.

 

Sample health care career pathways are:

  • Sterile Processing Tech > Surgical Tech > Clinical Lab Tech > Radiologic Tech
  • Nurse Aide >Patient Care Tech > Licensed Practical Nurse > Registered Nurse
  • Medical Secretary > Medical Records > Medical Transcriptionist > Billing and Coding
  • Environmental or Dietary Aide > Patient Transport > Tech Position > Supervisor

Not interested in working in a hospital or health care facility? There are health care jobs for you too! Consider working in a school, university, government organization or health care research facility.

 

Your next steps

 

Are you ready to begin a successful career in health care? Check out PathFinder which helps you create your own career path, or visit a service center to talk with our staff about your future health care career path.

 

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

With election season — and security review — looming, state confident of cybersecurity readiness

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Crime Prevention, Election, Hard News, Politics, Tech Trends, ,

Michigan Secretary of State Ruth Johnson, left, with new voting equipment.(Supplied/SOS office)

 

By. K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

While the Michigan Department of State has recently been touting the state’s election security readiness, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson and the state’s Bureau of Elections which she oversees recently announced that it would be hiring an outside firm to conduct the state’s first “extensive security-related review” of cybersecurity readiness.

 

The news of the planned cybersecurity review was first announced in late June when the state included in its 2018-19 budget $535,000 in state money to match a federal grant and making available a total of $11.2 million for enhanced election security.

 

“Regarding the $11.2 million in new state and federal money for election security,” Fred Woodhams, Michigan Secretary of State’s Office spokesperson, said in an email to WKTV. “The Bureau of Elections is seeking to hire an experienced firm with election administration and cybersecurity expertise to perform the security review with at least initial findings expected to be reported before the November general election.”

 

The outside firm will “conduct a security review of state, county and local election-related systems to identify potential vulnerabilities and methods to mitigate them,” he said. “The work will be the first time such an extensive security-related review will be performed but that is just the start of our plans to use the new money for election upgrades over the next few years.”

 

Currently, the state’s Chief Security Officer, housed in the Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget, oversees the state’s IT systems and has an office devoted to cybersecurity, according to Woodhams.

 

The Chief Security Officer “office works closely with our elections and IT staff,” Woodhams said. “The state has long-standing efforts to protect systems from malicious activity. In addition to those efforts, the new money will be allow us to hire an outside firm to search for vulnerabilities to the systems of the state and also local communities. It will be the first time that part has been done.”

 

The cybersecurity threat to local elections is an on-going debate in Washington, D.C., but the overall threat was made clear in February of this year when a Congressional Task Force on Election Security reported “Russia’s unprecedented assault on the country’s elections in 2016 – including targeting 21 states’ voting systems – exposed serious national security vulnerabilities to our election infrastructure – which includes voting machines and voter registration databases.”

 

There is no evidence that Michigan’s voting system was compromised by any entity in 2016.

 

“We are very confident in the state’s elections systems,” Woodhams said, “due to, among other reasons, the extensive and redundant accuracy and integrity practices that include a weeks-long, thorough canvassing process that verifies each precinct’s results, and ballot and voter numbers to make sure everything adds up.”

 

Voting machines in the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood were upgraded last year. (Supplied)

Woodhams also pointed out the many election upgrades Secretary Johnson and the Bureau of Elections have put in place for the 2018 election cycle, including all new next-generation election equipment used in all 1,520 cities and townships, expanded cybersecurity training for local election administrators and post-election audits that include ballot validation.

 

(For more information on local use of the new machines, see a WKTV Journal story here and also another story here.)

 

Woodhams’ remarks echo a statement by Secretary Johnson, in previous Department of State press release, regarding why the state’s voters should be confident in election security.

 

“Most importantly, every voter across Michigan still will use a good, old-fashioned paper ballot to mark their choices,” Secretary Johnson said. “Then they’ll feed the ballot into a new next-generation voting machine designed with security in mind. But buying all new election equipment isn’t all we’ve done to safeguard our election system.

 

“We carefully reviewed and improved our systems, and we’ll be putting $11 million of federal security grants toward further strengthening them against attack. Plus, we’re adding required cybersecurity training to our local clerk education programs.”

 

After Kent County installed new voting machines in time for last year’s fall election, the Aug. 7 primary will be the first statewide election in which every city and township will use all new voting equipment that includes optical-scan ballot tabulators, accessible voting devices for voters with disabilities, and new election-management and reporting software.

 

Note: WKTV first heard discussion on the plan July 9 at the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s Government Matters meeting when the Secretary’s west Michigan representative spoke of the grant and its intended election cybersecurity use.

 

Consumers Energy’s business energy saving program visits, reviews WKTV

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Going Local, Tech Trends, WKTV Projects,

WKTV, already a pretty energy efficient small business, learned it could save some with a Consumers Energy energy assessment program. (Consumers Energy/WKTV)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

Consumers Energy’s EmPOWERing Kent County package of programs includes efforts to assist businesses big and small to save money on their energy bills. WKTV community media — a small business in some ways — invited Consumers Energy into our studios to see how the program worked.

 

“Part of this program has been designed with you (small businesses) in mind,” Garrick Rochow, senior vice president of operations at Consumers Energy, recently told a group of business leaders. “The small business programs are driven by our contractors … those contractors will come out to your business, provide an assessment, make some recommendations, break down the costs to you, if any.”

 

After setting up an appointment through Consumers Energy, an energy advisor paid a visit in early June and took a tour of WKTV’s facility. The end result was an Energy Assessment Report specifically for our business.

 

The report included recommendations for energy-saving opportunities, a summary of estimated energy and cost savings along with available incentives, and a link to program brochures and rebate applications.

 

At WKTV, most of the interior lights are already energy efficient LED bulbs, but it was pointed out that every bulb replaced could save about $11.77 annually. (It was also pointed out that rates/savings vary.)

 

As far as some of the other energy savings opportunities pointed out, the report stated that changing two 250 watt exterior light fixtures with LED could qualify for a $59 rebate and could save $74 a year; and changing out the restroom lights to be motion-sensing (to turn off when not in use) could qualify for $100 rebate and could save $33.61 a year.

 

The bottom line, with WKTV already being pretty energy efficient, was that we could save about $155 in energy use and qualify for as much as $200 in rebates.

 

WKTV is probably the best example of savings, however, as we previously reported on one local company, Rishi’s International Beverage, located just across 28th Avenue from Kentwood, which faired much better from the review.

 

Paul Makkar, Richi’s owner, told WKTV that: “We had many light bulbs and the electric bill was outrageous because we have, like, 600 bulbs — the bill was very high, I was concerned about that.”

 

The company then applied for an energy assessment and energy savings program through Consumers Energy and “we were given a significant amount of money to change to LED lights. So, the very first month after installing all those lights, we got like a $400 difference every month. … which is like $5,000 per year.”

 

The final report to WKTV on its recent assessment came in an email with the following:

 

“Thank you for allowing Consumers Energy to perform an energy assessment at your facility. … (name of contractor) who performed your assessment, has enclosed the findings in the attached report. The values contained in the report provides usage history, savings analysis of items installed during the assessment, and estimated savings and potential rebates for several recommendations. The savings estimates are based on typical usage for your type of facility and average utility rates. Actual savings in your facility will vary based on your hours of operation, business type and actual utility rates. If you choose to move forward with our recommendations, please visit www.ConsumersEnergy.com/StartSaving. On the website you will learn how to find a participating small business contractor, download a rebate application and learn many more ways to save energy. Thank you again for allowing the Consumers Energy Business Energy Efficiency Programs to help you save energy and lower your monthly bills.”

 

Other services available to small businesses through the EmPOWERing Kent County package of programs were a rate review, to make sure as businesses grow, other more competitive rate options may be available; how to become a supplier to Consumers Energy — which has made a commitment to Michigan-based small businesses as potential suppliers; as well as renewable energy options for businesses.

 

For more information on the Consumers Energy small business programs, visit comsumersenergy.com or call 800-805-0490.

 

Employment Expertise: Building their future, one piece at a time

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Education, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Tech Trends, , , ,

 

By West Michigan Works!

 

Five women put on red caps and gowns, sharing smiles and stories about the past 18 weeks they experienced together. They are the first students to complete and graduate the Sterile Processing Registered Apprenticeship program: Lelah Christiansen, Samantha Gonzales, Gina Mancha, Shanitra Reed and Melonie Rodriguez.

 

Week-by-week they learned the skills needed for a successful career in the health care industry. And, piece-by-piece they refined the art (and science) of cleaning, sterilizing and assembling surgical parts.

 

“I’ve always wanted to get back into health care, and this job was the perfect fit for me,” said Samantha Gonzales.

 

Gonzales was a housekeeper at Holland Hospital when she learned about the program. She applied, knowing the program could give her the ability to advance her career but little else about the job. After starting the apprenticeship, she realized quickly the job matches her skills and abilities well.

 

“I love interacting with co-workers throughout the hospital and working under pressure. I plan on building a career out of this job,” Gonzales said.

A new future

Gina Mancha was laid off from her career and was too young to retire. This program gave her a new set of skills to start a second career.

 

“We all took this class for the better, no matter what that is- better job, better schedule, better life,” Mancha said. “We were determined and ambitious.”

 

Students received instruction from Grand Rapids Community College, as well as hands-on experience at a local hospital: Spectrum Health, Holland Hospital or Mercy Health.

 

“You just changed the narrative of your life, your childrens’ lives and grandchildrens’ lives,” said Amy Mansfield, dean of GRCC.

 

Mancha left quickly after the ceremony ended. She had a job to start.

 

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

Employment Expertise: Get started on a career in IT without a degree. Here’s how!

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, How-To's, Local Business, Tech Trends, , , , , , , , , ,

 

By West Michigan Works!

 

Technology is used in nearly every industry today; it’s no longer just tech companies that need IT employees. The demand for skilled IT workers is greater than the number of individuals with four-year, computer science degrees. Employers are looking to other providers of training and certification to find qualified talent to fill their IT job openings.

 

If you have the desire to work in the IT field, there is probably a short-term, affordable program that can help you get your foot in the door. The following five training programs can prepare someone with no IT experience for an entry-level position in the field.

 

Grand Circus: Offering rigorous coding classes and career assistance coaching, Grand Circus’ 12-week coding boot camps prepare participants for entry-level, computer programming jobs. You can also try out a free Coding 101 workshop to see if a career in coding is right for you!

 

The Factory: This multi-purpose space in downtown Grand Rapids offers CoLearning, a 12-week program that combine courses and mentoring for small groups to learn key skills in technology, design and entrepreneurship. The coLearning program is ideal for people looking to learn a new skill to switch careers and/or prepare for a new job.

 

New Horizons: The world’s largest IT training company provides courses and certification in a variety of computer technologies, from Microsoft Office proficiency to cybersecurity certification. You can learn basic word processing on a computer, as well as more technical skills in areas like database management.

 

Goodwill: The organization known for its retail outlets also provides training and career services. Their Technology Certification Program offers courses for several certifications to prepare participants for an entry-level, IT position. Individuals with significant disabilities or who face other barriers to employment may be eligible for financial assistance.

 

Google: You can receive IT Support Professional Certification through a free, online program developed by Google. The curriculum will prepare participants for an entry-level role in IT support. The certificate can be completed in about 8 months with 8-10 hours of coursework per week. Enrollment is now open for the five-course program that starts July 2, 2018.

 

If you’d like to explore careers in IT and find out about available scholarships for technology training, visit a West Michigan Works! Service Center near you to get started.

 

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

 

Cyberbullying extends beyond the school year for many kids

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, Education, Health, How-To's, Kids Activities, Our Cities, Tech Trends, , , ,

Courtesy MSU Extension

By Janet Olsen, Michigan State University Extension 

 

In the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance survey findings released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 20 percent of students in grades nine to 12 said that they had been bullied on school property during the previous year.

 

While the end of the school year may provide a respite for some young people who are the targets of these bullying behaviors, others continue to be targeted year-round through electronic forms of bullying. According to the CDC report, 16 percent of students indicated they had been electronically bullied during the 12 months before the survey through venues including e-mail, chat rooms, instant messaging, websites or texting. Cyberbullying also is an issue in online, cooperative game platforms, according to a Pew Research Center study. 16 percent of respondents stated that they have experienced being bullied in such games.

 

While the CDC report focuses on young people in grades nine to 12, electronic bullying, also referred to as cyberbullying, is an issue that affects a significant number of younger kids as well. Results of a 2016 study conducted by the Cyberbullying Research Center showed that nearly 17 percent of students ages 12 to 17 said they had been targets of cyberbullying. Conversely, 26 percent of those students admitted to participating in cyberbullying behaviors, including posting mean or hurtful comments, spreading rumors, posting inappropriate comments with sexual meaning, threatening harm, posting hurtful pictures or videos or impersonating someone else online.

 

As kids have increased access to mobile technology at younger ages (73 percent of teens have or have access to a smartphone), there are also more opportunities for kids to stay connected in positive and negative ways after the school year ends.

 

While many schools have incorporated programs designed to prevent bullying behaviors, it is important for parents and other adults to keep these conversations going with kids throughout the summer months. These discussions are enhanced when adults have a good understanding of what cyberbullying is and how children are using technology, followed up with discussions with young people about responsible use of technology and guidelines for positive online behaviors. See the article, “Cyberbullying: What it is and how parents can respond,” to learn more.

 

It is also helpful for adults and young people to recognize that, while online bullying and other forms of electronic aggression might be common, a lot can be learned from those young people who report using their voices to interrupt these negative behaviors. See the article, “Kids, kindness and cruelty – and lots of time online,” to learn more.

 

Experts also stress the importance of providing young people with a menu of strategies they can use for responding to cyberbullying situations. When adults share these strategies with kids, as well as help them use their voices to practice what these strategies might sound like in various scenarios, kids will be better prepared for real-life situations in whatever season or setting in which they occur.

 

See the article, “Responding to cyberbullying in safe and constructive ways,” to learn more.

 

If you are looking for more information or community support on improving your social-emotional health and well-being, Michigan State University Extension offers numerous programs that can assist in this process.

 

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit http://www.msue.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit http://expert.msue.msu.edu, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Calvin engineers take second place at Disaster Shelter Design Competition

3-bottom, architecture, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Community Health, design, Education, Local Faces, Our Cities, Tech Trends, Volunteers, , , ,

Courtesy Calvin College

By Matt Kucinski, Calvin College

 

Calvin College placed second at the 7th Annual Disaster Shelter Design Competition, sponsored by Samaritan’s Purse International, April 19-21, and hosted on John Brown University’s (JBU) Siloam Springs campus. Nine teams from eight universities designed and constructed a rapidly-deployable emergency and disaster shelter, which a panel of judges with expertise in emergency management, engineering, logistics, and manufacturing, evaluated for possible implementation in relief efforts worldwide.

 

“It was a lot of fun. We got to test our prototype against other schools and other designs, simulate a lot of scenarios, and ultimately we got to see how well our process and ideas came to light in physical form,” said Kyle Sutton, a senior civil-environmental engineering major at Calvin.

 

Sutton, along with fellow senior civil-environmental engineering majors, Kyra Black, Cameron Carley, and Nate Veldboom, made the 13-hour drive south for the competition. The group, known as Team Dwell, brought with them their handiwork–a project they’ve been working on for their senior design project this year.

 

The competition scenario they participated in was based on the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in 2015 that affected more than a million people in Nepal. The shelters were required to address the local climate in Nepal, as well as their mountainous terrain, by retaining heat and transporting easily as well as by being water resistant, cost effective and culturally appropriate. The shelters were also required to be able to house a family of four.

 

“This competition gives Samaritan’s Purse access to some of the region’s most innovative engineers, construction management and architects, as students provide practical solutions to real-world problems,” said Mark Terrill, associate professor of construction management at John Brown University, and competition coordinator. “Not only does the competition combine classroom learning and real-world application, but it’s also really fun to watch.”

 

Team Dwell (Courtesy Calvin College)

Each team’s disaster shelter prototypes endured durability testing – including earthquake sustainability, heat retention, overnight habitability, wind turbulence, and water resistance. In addition, teams competed in an emergency shelter construction test, where they were evaluated on their ability to quickly design and construct emergency shelters from given materials.

 

Teams were scored based on their shelter’s performance in individual events and on their presentations detailing their shelter’s schematics, design, and materials. In addition to Team Dwell’s second place overall finish, they also took top honors in the Best Camp Plan, Best Report/Presentation, and Lightest Shelter categories.

 

A team from LeTourneau University took first place overall and John Brown University took third place. Other universities who participated this year include: Dordt College, Pittsburg State University, Gyeongsang National University, Murray State University, and University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

 

Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.

5 Local Things You Need to Know: Headlines for the week

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Community Health, Education, Health, Local Business, Local Faces, Non-Profits, Our Cities, Senior Living, Tech Trends, Upcoming Events, , , , , ,

By WKTV Staff

victoria@wktv.org

Kentwood Fire Department annual report highlights funding, manpower, emergency calls

Kentwood Fire Department Chief Brent J. Looman presented, and the City Commission accepted, the department’s 2017 annual report at the commission’s April 9 regular meeting, with highlights including funding, manpower and last year’s emergency calls.

 

For the complete story, click here.

 

School News Network: Wyoming Public Schools selects one of its own for top spot

“Dream big, work hard and make it happen”: That’s the mantra of Craig Hoekstra, a familiar face in the district, who this week was selected as the new superintendent.

 

For the complete story, click here.

 

Kentwood to hold Community Clean-Up Day this week

Kentwood Public Works Department oversees the city’s recycling center.

The City of Kentwood is sponsoring a Community Clean-Up Day for residents wanting to spring clean their homes and yards. The Community Clean-Up Day, scheduled for Saturday, May 5, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., will allow residents to bring general debris, gently used items for donation, household hazardous materials and electronic devices to be recycled.

 

For the complete story, click here.

Good mental health habits for kids

May is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Children can have mental health challenges just as adults can. As a matter of fact, over 2 million children in Michigan experience mental health challenges such as ADHD, anxiety and depression.

 

For the complete story, click here.

Employment in the Digital Age — free computer literacy workshops available

West Michigan Works! is now offering a free workshop to help individuals gain basic computer skills. Computer Literacy helps attendees become comfortable using a computer, accessing the internet and using email — all of which can help you find, apply and qualify for a new job.

 

For the complete story, click here.

Employment in the Digital Age — free computer literacy workshops available

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Education, Local Business, Non-Profits, Tech Trends, Upcoming Events, , , , ,

By West Michigan Works!

 

Are you uncomfortable using a computer?

 

Are you intimidated by the thought of learning how to use a computer?

 

Has it kept you from advancing in your current job or applying for a job with better pay?

 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone!  A recent study found that 26% of adults in the United States aren’t able to use a computer at all and two-thirds are unable to access and use information through computers and computer networks.

 

Employers in every industry have a growing need for workers who can use computers to successfully do their jobs. However, the number of workers with the necessary skills is not growing at the same rate. This means that increasing your computer skills could make it easier to find a job and earn a higher wage! But where do you start?

 

West Michigan Works! is now offering a free workshop to help individuals gain basic computer skills. Computer Literacy helps attendees become comfortable using a computer, accessing the internet and using email — all of which can help you find, apply and qualify for a new job.

Computer Literacy at West Michigan Works! in Kent County*
  •  121 Franklin St SE, Grand Rapids – Monday, May 7 and 21, 10 am to noon
  • 215 Straight Ave NW, Grand Rapids – Friday, May 11 and 25, 2 to 4 pm

*available at other locations — find workshops near you at jobs.westmiworks.org/calendar/

 

With the basic skills learned in Computer Literacy, you can take advantage of a variety of other free workshops to help you explore careers, search for jobs and create a resume using a computer.

 

Employment Expertise is provided by West Michigan Works! Learn more about how they can help: visit westmiworks.org or your local Service Center.

New software enhances the study of animal ecology

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, Pets/Animals, Tech Trends, , , , ,

DeRuiter’s team, which included two students, delivered a workshop at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and allowed the students to develop meaningful connections with influential researchers. (Photo courtesy Calvin College)

By Hannah Ebeling, Calvin College

 

“The underlying motivation of our work and research is always inquisitiveness and wonder at animal ecology,” said Stacy DeRuiter, professor of mathematics and statistics at Calvin College. “We can learn so much about creation by exploring.”

 

DeRuiter has for years studied marine animals, using bio-logging technology.

 

Recognizing a need

 

“Bio-logging studies, where data on animal movements are collected using small, animal-borne devices that either store or transmit sensor data, are growing rapidly in numbers and in scope,” said DeRuiter.

 

As the technology advances, there are more opportunities to track longer and more frequent data sets of animal behavior. Instead of tracking the animal once every few seconds, researchers are now receiving feedback multiple times a second. However, this means there is much more data to account for and sort through, explained DeRuiter.

 

“While these tags offer exciting opportunities to observe animal behavior in unprecedented detail, there is a desperate need for freely available, easy-to-use, flexible tools to facilitate proper analysis and interpretation of the resulting data,” DeRuiter said.

 

Developing accessible and efficient software

 

“We thought it would be worthwhile to spend a year making better software that would be more accessible, as well as creating documentation and a workshop to make it easier for people to use in general,” she said.

 

Throughout summer 2017, DeRuiter led a collaborative project developing software tools for analysis of data from animal-borne movement-sensors. Her team included two students, who developed tools and delivered a workshop at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, introducing researchers to the tools and providing hands-on practice.

 

Before DeRuiter made the proposal for the project she received more than 30 letters from other researchers, who would benefit from her work, in support of the idea.

 

“It was amazing having the support of the community that really wanted this to happen but either did not have the time or funding to make it possible,” she said.

 

Gaining meaningful experience and connections

 

This project allowed students to develop some meaningful connections with influential researchers, explained DeRuiter.

 

“That is part of the reason I wanted them to come to Scotland and the University of St. Andrews,” she said. “They had done such great work and software development, and I wanted them to see the workshop play out.”

 

“The thing I enjoyed most was participating in the international workshop at the end of the summer,” said David Sweeny, a student researcher. “It was amazing to see how many different kinds of research topics from around the world are using the software functions that we have developed and translated.”

 

Sweeny said he is interested in this research because it gives him an insight into the lives of magnificent marine creatures during the times and in places that he otherwise would not be able to observe were it not for tags.

 

“This research provides so many ways to learn how we can best protect these animals,” he said. “Given that I care a lot about protecting the environment, this work is really important to me.”

 

Opening the door to future research

 

“One of the most important things that the Reformed tradition tells us about being Christian is that we don’t do it alone; we do it in community. Science, for example, proceeds by the careful work of many, many hands,” said DeRuiter. “The goals of the project were to democratize this kind of research and level the playing field for those who don’t have the same mentorship, training, or funding to buy software.”

 

This software will help DeRuiter track whale and dolphin behavior as well as open the door for other researchers to non-intrusively explore other animal habits.

 

“The availability of this software will only enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of current and future work being done around the world,” said Sweeny. “It will allow for increased collaboration between scientists which will have many different kinds of benefits in the future.”

 

Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.

Calvin classroom pilots cutting-edge Google technology

3-bottom, Area Education, Citizen Journalism, Education, Tech Trends, , , , ,

Image courtesy of Calvin College

By Matt Kucinski, Calvin College

 

A 90-minute drive … replaced by a single click. Thanks to Google, the course catalog is expanding, and students at three colleges, separated by 100 miles, are learning together.

 

“This isn’t happening anywhere else on this scale,” said Roman Williams, assistant professor of sociology at Calvin College.

 

Leading the way

In collaboration with Google, the Michigan Colleges Alliance is piloting the Google Course Share Collaboration, a new approach that aims to expand course options at smaller private colleges, while still retaining the faculty-driven teaching model.

 

Calvin, Alma, and Albion are participating in the pilot in spring 2018, each offering one course available to all three campuses.

 

“The whole idea is to offer courses that might not otherwise be offered because they are so specialized that student interest on one campus might not be enough to achieve the desired level of enrollment,” said Williams, who is teaching his Visual Toolkit course on Monday nights to six Alma, seven Albion, and six Calvin students. “Adding compelling technology to the mix amplifies students’ experiences.”

 

Powered by Google

How it works? Each campus is making a Google Extended Classroom available, complete with Hangouts Meet—Google’s video meeting software—and Jamboard—Google’s 55-inch, 4K interactive display, which is spurring collaboration through linking up digital whiteboards across the colleges. And each student has been given a Chromebook from their respective institution.

 

“The Jamboard is an interactive whiteboard that you can all share,” said Emma Chung, a junior digital communications major at Calvin who is taking “Media Theory and Culture” via Google Course Share through Albion College. “So, if Albion students are writing on it, we can see what they are writing, kind of like a Google Doc in a portable whiteboard form, but it’s still treated like a whiteboard. It’s pretty neat.”

 

The classrooms have two large monitors, each showing students from the other two participating colleges. Steelcase, the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world, has also joined the effort, and will be outfitting each classroom with comfortable seating and in helping create collaborative spaces for students to thrive.

 

Collaborating across colleges

Learning how best to collaborate from a distance takes a little time, says Williams. But, he says that students having the unique experience of helping pioneer a new way of learning, combined with the novelty of working with “cool technology,” are already going a long way in producing higher levels of student participation, engagement, and enthusiasm about these courses.

 

Students agree.

 

“I think it’s a really enriching experience. You get a chance to interact with students from another campus that isn’t yours, who you haven’t spent four years with,” said Taylor Hartson, a junior sociology major at Calvin. “It’s also a good experience for people considering going to grad school. ‘How do I interact with strangers for the first time? How do I adjust to a class that isn’t taught in a way that’s the way I’ve been taking the last several years?’”

 

Hartson, who is taking Williams’ class, is looking forward to more opportunities to hear from classmates representing various disciplines and multiple institutions. “It’s interesting to hear the perspectives of those not in this field on an up-and-coming methodology, to kind of explore that together, to see what it looks like to use this methodology in communications or in biology. It’s cool to hear all these perspectives.”

 

Opening more options

The pilot program is testing the viability of an academic-resource-sharing model between colleges, giving students and faculty more access to resources. The Michigan Colleges Alliance represents an ideal platform for launching a new course delivery system like this one. The MCA consists of 14 smaller private institutions. But, collectively, the alliance comprises the third largest student body in the state of Michigan.

 

What Google Course Share allows is for private institutions to keep their student-centered learning and close faculty interaction—hallmarks of the experiences they currently offer—all while expanding their course options for students.

 

One Calvin student wrote in her reflection after the first class, ‘I LOVE THIS TECHNOLOGY! That’s all I have to say for now. I feel like I’m living in the future.’

 

“On many levels she is correct,” said Williams, “she is living into the future. Increasingly a company’s workforce is spread across multiple locations and using meeting/collaboration technology like Google’s Jamboard and Hangouts Meet are the norm. A student who experiences a course like the ones we’re offering gains aptitudes and skills for thriving in the global economy.”

 

Calvin College’s Center for Social Research (CSR) has been tasked by MCA with evaluating the pilot program. Through surveys, focus groups, and research, CSR will provide an evaluation by the end of April 2018. The plan is to publish these results after the final evaluation.

 

Reprinted with permission from Calvin College.

Kentwood approves tax abatement for new industrial robotics facility

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, Hard News, Local Business, Tech Trends,

Axis Company LLC has a current facility in Walker, but will be starting a facility in Kentwood. (WKTV/K.D. Norris)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

 

The City of Kentwood, after city commission action at its Feb. 6 meeting, approved an Industrial Development District and a tax abatement request that will bring an expanding industrial robotics company to the city.

 

Axis Company LLC, which has a current facility in Walker, intends to built a new 67,000 square foot facility at 4195 44th Street SE, with a total cost of the new facility of about $4 million and with the intent to hire 50 new local jobs, according to the city.

 

Axis Company is a robotic automation systems programmer, according to information supplied by the city. The company uses advanced technologies to conceptualize, design, integrate, deploy, and service custom factory automation systems.

 

“We look forward to working with Axis Company in the coming months as it expands into Kentwood,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said to WKTV. “We’re excited that another advanced manufacturing company is moving into our community. The skilled workforce and our diverse community make Kentwood a great place for any business to call home. Axis Company’s decision is another testament to Kentwood being open for business.”

 

The action by the city commission followed a public hearing on the proposed city actions. Other than city staff, Boyd Vor Broker, CEO of Axis Company, was the only person to speak at the public hearing.

 

An Industrial Development District allows local governments to allow exemption of certain taxes as an incentive to industries to build new facilities in the city. The $4 million project will have about $3,750,00 eligible for property tax abatement.

 

According to the city, the city will forgo approximately $9,005 in the first year of the abatement as a result of the project.

 

Complete information on the Axis Company action, and all actions planned and taken by the Kentwood Commission, can be read as part of the city Commission’s informational package for the Feb. 6, 2018 meeting. The Commission’s agendas, meeting information packages and meeting minutes are available on the city’s website .

 

Government Report: Sen. Peters blasts, Rep. Huizenga backs FCC ‘net neutrality’ vote

3-bottom, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Hard News, Politics, Tech Trends, ,

By K.D. Norris

kdn@wktv.org

 

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich. District 2) often disagree on topics, sometimes through intermediaries such as occurs at the monthly local Government Matters meetings. So it is no surprise that the two local federal government leaders take very different views on the Federal Communications Commission’s vote last week to abolish so-called “net neutrality” rule.

 

The Federal Communications Commission voted Dec. 14, to repeal rules it had established in 2015 under President Barrack Obama’s tenure which regulated broadband businesses, including cable television providers, that connect consumers to the internet.

 

The agency scrapped net neutrality regulations that prohibited broadband providers from blocking websites or charging for higher-quality service or certain content. The federal government will also no longer regulate high-speed internet delivery as if it were a utility, like phone services.

 

Peters, in supplied material, blasted the decision; Huizenga supported the FCC action. Couriousily, however, both seem to say the final decision should rest with federally elected officials.

 

“Today’s FCC vote to scrap net neutrality protections is an anti-consumer decision that disadvantages small businesses and everyday internet users,” Peters said in a statement issued Dec. 14. “This action could usher in a two-tiered internet, where large corporations that can pay for a fast lane have the power to slow down or block content, and consumers and small businesses are relegated to the slow lane.”

 

But Huizenga, during an interview on West Michigan’s WHTC radio just prior to the FCC action, said “The Obama Administration literally went back to 1930s utility law that was set up to regulate Ma Bell, which doesn’t even exist, and then layer that onto the internet.

 

“That is not how we got a dynamic internet, how we got a free and open internet. So this is completely the wrong direction to go. … (with) the FCC is regulating it, it is the wrong place to be doing this. It previously had been under the Federal Trade Commission, and the Obama Administration wanted to put the government in control of the internet. That, to me, seems to be a mistake.”

 

Both Peters and Huizenga say they believe their opposing point-of-view is based on what is best for a “free and open internet”.

 

A Dec. 15 statement to WKTV from the Brian Patrick, Huizenga’s communication director, said: “It was President Bill Clinton working with a Republican congress that created a light touch regulatory structure for the internet which led to the greatest engine of innovation and commerce the world has ever seen. Congressman Huizenga believes the entire internet ecosystem, including tech companies, edge providers, and ISPs, should be held to the same standards when it comes to ensuring a free and open internet for consumers.”

 

Peters sees a free and open internet differently.

 

“We live in an increasingly interconnected world where a free and open internet has never been more important to Michigan’s economic success. Michigan families and small businesses rely on net neutrality protections to ensure they can achieve their goals — whether it’s reaching customers in new markets, accessing educational opportunities or connecting with loved ones around the globe. Net neutrality levels the playing field, and without these protections, consumers and entrepreneurs will face unnecessary hurdles to the economic opportunities the internet provides.”

 

However, both Peters and Huizenga also say the issue should be decided by federal action if not new legislation.

 

“In response to today’s decision, Senator Peters joined his colleagues in announcing a plan to introduce a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would reverse today’s FCC action and restore the agency’s 2015 net neutrality rules,” the statement from Peters’ office stated. “CRA resolutions allow Congress to overturn regulatory actions at federal agencies with a simple majority vote in both chambers.”

 

While Huizenga said, also from the WHTC interview, “I believe Congress does need to be involved in this. I have been and will continue to be so, as an advocate for making sure we have a free and open internet.”

 

New technology simplifies Kent County’s FOIA request process

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Tech Trends, , , ,

Kent County’s FOIA web page

By Victoria Mullen, WKTV

 

Have you ever filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to get information from a governmental body? If so, you are likely familiar with how slow and cumbersome the process can be.

 

For those not familiar with FOIA, it’s a law that gives the public the right to request information from the federal government, often described as the law that “keeps citizens in the know about their government.” Enacted in 1967, it requires federal agencies to disclose any information requested unless it falls under one of nine exemptions which protect interests such as personal privacy, national security and law enforcement.

 

Michigan enacted its own FOIA (Act 442) in 1976.

 

Kent County currently processes more than 4,300 FOI requests each year. To streamline the process, the county’s Corporate Counsel’s Office has updated the website to allow the public to submit requests for public records online, through the County’s web page. The new electronic system automates the FOIA processing from submission of the request until final disposition.

 

Sangeeta Ghosh, Kent County Assistant Corporate Counsel

On June 15, Assistant Corporate Counsel Sangeeta Ghosh, along with AccessKent vendor Webtecs, rolled out the upgraded system for FOIA coordinators who serve at the Sheriff Department, Prosecutor’s Office, Purchasing Division, Health Department, and Animal Shelter. The new system will help process timely FOIA responses, as requestors have the right to file appeals or lawsuits that can result in increased civil fines, punitive damages, and legal fees and costs to a public body.

 

The upgrade lets users track the status of a FOIA request from start to finish. Upgrades to the system provide a faster turnaround in releasing records, uploading records online for a user to download from his or her preferred device, encryption of confidential records, retention of records, generation of reports, payment by credit or debit card, internal communication between the Corporate Counsel staff and coordinators on formal responses, and monitoring for legal exposure.

 

 

 

 

 

GVSU to host cyber security groups real-time hacking contest

3-bottom, Crime Prevention, Non-Profits, Tech Trends, Upcoming Events,

Cyber security will be at the heart of a program at Grand Valley State University’s downtown campus next week.

By West Michigan Cyber Security Consortium

 

Much of today’s news seems to include a cybersecurity twist, but how do companies prepare for cyber incidents? They exercise or practice, as the West Michigan Cyber Security Consortium will at Grand Valley State University’s Pew Campus’s DeVos Center in Grand Rapids.

 

The 5th annual WMCSC Cybersecurity Exercise will take place Friday, July 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (followed by a Networking reception from 5:30-8 p.m.), at the DeVos Center, 401 Fulton St. W.

 

The cybersecurity event is free and open to the public, but space is limited and interested attendees should reserve their space by Friday, July 14, by visiting wmcybersecurity@kentcountymi.gov

 

The day-long exercise will include Purple Teams — typically, cybersecurity teams are Red (offense) or Blue (defense); working together, they are Purple teams. The exercise will use the Michigan Cyber Range’s “Alphaville” virtual devices.

 

Alphaville, developed by Merit Network in Ann Arbor, is a collection of virtual machines simulating information systems that are networked together and assigned varying security levels modeled on how real towns across the country are configured.  It exists as part of the Michigan Cyber Range, a secure test bed designed to enable cybersecurity attacks and defense methods in a realistic environment without impacting production network traffic.

 

At the July 14 exercise, nine Purple teams will be challenged to capture, secure and defend email servers, web servers, and file systems, using security and hacking tools comparable to the systems found in most businesses today. They will compete against each other hoping to be crowned the winners for “owning” the most systems for the longest time.

 

The West Michigan Cyber Security Consortium is a multi-jurisdictional, public/private partnership whose purpose is to enhance the prevention, protection, response, and recovery to cybersecurity threats, disruptions and degradation to critical information technology functions. Its membership includes individuals from government, healthcare, law enforcement and private businesses. The group meets quarterly to share information around cybersecurity issues.

 

The Michigan Cyber Range prepares cybersecurity professionals to detect, prevent and mitigate cyberattacks in a real-world setting. Like a test track or a firing range, the Michigan Cyber Range enables individuals and organizations to conduct “live fire” exercises: simulations that test the detection and reaction skills of participants in a variety of situations. The Michigan Cyber Range also offers certification courses for a number of cybersecurity disciplines, with instruction available on-site and live online. A full training schedule may be found at the Merit Michigan Cyber Range web site at merit.edu/cyberrange/
The Michigan Cyber Range is hosted and facilitated by Merit Network in partnership with the State of Michigan and with the sponsorship of Consumers Energy and DTE Energy.

 

Merit Network, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation owned and governed by Michigan’s public universities. Merit owns and operates America’s longest-running regional research and education network. In 1966, Michigan’s public universities created Merit as a shared resource to help meet their common need for networking assistance.

 

Since its formation, Merit Network has remained on the forefront of research and education networking expertise and services. Merit provides high-performance networking and IT solutions and professional development to Michigan’s public universities, colleges, K-12 organizations, libraries, state government, healthcare, and other non-profit organizations. For more information visit merit.edu/

 

Business Matters: Steelcase and Microsoft design technology-enabled spaces to enhance creativity

3-bottom, Local Business, Tech Trends, , ,

Photo provided by Steelcase Inc.

Steelcase and Microsoft Corp. have joined forces to explore the future of work, developing a range of technology-enabled spaces designed to help organizations foster creative thinking and better collaboration. These spaces seamlessly integrate the best of Microsoft Surface devices with Steelcase architecture and furniture. Today the companies unveiled five new “Creative Spaces” showcasing how Steelcase and Microsoft can help organizations unlock creativity for every employee.

 

Additionally, Steelcase and Microsoft announced:

  • That Microsoft is expanding its partner network into the world of design by bringing in select Steelcase dealers as authorized Surface Hub resellers.
  • Steelcase and Microsoft are working together to develop technology-enabled workplace solutions built on Microsoft Azure IoT technology.

“The problems people face at work today are much more complex than they used to be. They require a new creative way of thinking and a very different work process,” says Sara Armbruster, vice president of strategy, research and new business innovation for Steelcase.

 

“We believe that everyone has the capacity for creative thinking, and people are happier doing creative, productive work. Together, Microsoft and Steelcase will help organizations thoughtfully integrate place and technology to encourage creative behaviors at work.”

 

The companies’ exploration of creative work found that creativity is a process in which anyone can engage and requires diverse work modes as well as different types of technology. People need to work alone, in pairs and in different size groups throughout a creative process, and they need a range of devices that are mobile and integrated into the physical workplace. Additionally, spaces should inspire people without compromising performance.

 

For more information on Creative Spaces and the partnership between Microsoft and Steelcase, go here or here.

 

Chamber names Valorous Circle ‘2016 Service Business of the Year’

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, Local Business, Our Cities, Tech Trends, , ,

Jonathan and Beth Mast, founders of Valorous Circle

By Victoria Mullen

 

WKTV

 

In this lightning-paced, online world, one of a business’s greatest challenges is to get noticed and set itself apart from a plethora of similar businesses. No mean feat — the Internet is a bottomless sea of noise, images and information.

 

But Valorous Circle — the Wyoming-Kentwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2016 Service Business of the Year — helps all kinds of businesses do just that. Since 2010, the website design company has focused on marketing instead of just a website’s functionality.

 

One only need look at co-founders Jonathan and Beth Mast’s foundational values to understand what sets Valorous Circle apart from its competitors.

‘We don’t really look for a lot of accolades other than from our clients’

“Obviously, a website has to work — no one is going to use a website that doesn’t work,” said Beth Mast, Owner and Chief Operating Office of Valorous Circle. “But beyond that, it has to be able to engage with the actual client’s audience. That was the primary focus that we began from.

 

“From there one thing that makes us very unique is that we give our clients full access to their website where that’s not typical. And we’re here to support them, to empower our clients to know that this is their asset, this is their website.”

 

The Masts work very closely in the community with nonprofits, ministries and primarily with businesses throughout the area, helping them create an online presence that “creates credibility for their business and then drives traffic to their website and more importantly, the right traffic,” said Jonathan Mast, Founder and Chief Internet Strategist. “We don’t just want to provide the client with a pretty website. We want to provide them with a website that’s going to appeal to their target audience.”

 

It is against this backdrop that the Masts received word that Valorous Circle was being honored as the Chamber’s 2016 Service Business of the Year.

 

“We don’t really look for a lot of accolades other than from our clients, obviously,” said Jonathan. “We just feel real honored that the Chamber is recognizing the work we’re doing in the community and showing some appreciation. We’re thrilled, very honored.”

 

The folks at Valorous Circle are big believers that a company should be involved in the communities where it does business.

 

“And although we are based in Grand Rapids, we do work throughout West Michigan and as a result of that, we’re members of the Wyoming/Kentwood Chamber, among other chambers, because we want to be part of that community,” Jonathan said. “We want to give back.”

 

Valorous Circle has come a long way since its humble beginnings, in a chilly basement.

 

“We currently have 10 employees, 11 if you count our dog, Yoshi, who is our Barketing Director and Happiness Hero,” said Beth. “We have employees that are in sales and marketing, we have developers and support and doing website design, project managers and marketers.”

 

Jonathan said the Wyoming Chamber does a fantastic job of understanding that a company’s first and primarily goal is to serve and at the same time make a fair profit.

 

“The Chamber is very focused on helping us become better businesses, become more involved in the community and do a better job of reaching that community, Jonathan said. They help promote each of the businesses that are members and encourage networking and collaboration among the members.

‘Our involvement with the Chamber is mutually beneficial’

“My grandfather taught me many years ago that a rising tide raises all boats. And it’s part of how we do business, it’s part of what we really respect about the chamber, that they understand that concept. That the better the area is doing, whether that’s the individual community, whether that’s the businesses in the community, or whether that’s other aspects related to that, it helps everybody out.

 

“And so by creating a stronger community, whether that’s a jobs area, whether that’s a business community, whether that’s better networking, whether it’s better collaboration between nonprofits and business, that rising tide benefits every single individual, and organization within the area and I think that that’s one of the things I’m so thankful that I learned early on and we’re really thankful for that the chamber seems to embody.”

 

Registration for Science Night at Grand Rapids Public Museum now open

Area Education, Education, Entertainment, Kids Activities, Local History, Tech Trends, Upcoming Events

The Grand Rapids Public Museum. (Supplied)

WKTV Staff

 

The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM), recently announced that registration is open to host a science booth at this year’s Science Night at the Museum, taking place on Tuesday, April 18.

 

GRPM is inviting local and regional researchers, students and faculty to host a hands-on table display related to their research or field of study, according to supplied material  the event will be  from 5 to 8 p.m. The vision is to have lab groups or individuals putting together innovative ways to engage the public and communicate their research to the community.

 

A cash award will be given for the most innovative and hands-on interpretation of their research. One winner will be chosen by public vote and a second chosen by the Museum’s education staff.

 

Applications are open through Feb. 10 and can be found at grpm.org/ScienceNight

 

Government Matters: Sen. Peters meets Trump’s transportation nominee Chao

Citizen Journalism, City of Kentwood, City of Wyoming, Election, Hard News, Politics, Tech Trends, ,

WKTV Staff

 

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), a member of the Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, on Jan. 9 met with Elaine Chao, President elect Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Secretary of Transportation.

 

U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI)

“I appreciated the opportunity to meet with Elaine Chao and discuss a number of transportation issues critical to Michigan and the nation,” Sen. Peters said in a supplied statement. “During our meeting, I was able to raise the importance of connected and automated vehicle technologies as an issue the federal government should continue to focus on in the coming years.

 

“Under the Obama Administration, the Department of Transportation has made significant progress to help support the development and deployment of these life-savings technologies, and I will be urging the Trump Administration to continue building on the progress that has already been made through efforts like the recent Federal Automated Vehicle Policy and proposed rule for vehicle-to-vehicle communications.”

 

Sen. Peters also stressed Michigan’s leadership role in the future of transportation technology innovation.

 

“I also shared information about Michigan’s role as a leader in the future of mobility and discussed the good work already underway in Michigan at test facilities like the University of Michigan’s Mcity and the American Center for Mobility,” he said. “I urged Ms. Chao to follow through on DOT’s current competition to designate national proving grounds to help connected and automated vehicle technologies reach their full potential. I look forward to continuing this discussion and hearing more about her plans for DOT during her confirmation hearing.”

 

President Obama signs innovation and competitiveness co-sponsored by Sen. Peters

 

President Barak Obama on Jan 6 signed into law the American Innovation and Competitiveness Act, a bipartisan legislative compromise originally introduced by U.S. senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Cory Gardner (R-CO), along with John Thune (R-SD), and Bill Nelson (D-FL).

 

The first major update to federal research and technology policy to originate in the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in more than a decade, this legislation maximizes basic research opportunities, reduces administrative burdens for researchers, encourages scientific entrepreneurship, and promotes oversight of taxpayer-funded research.

 

“Scientific research and innovation are the foundation of a strong economy,” Sen. Peters said. “The American Innovation and Competitiveness Act will help leverage federal investments in basic research, strengthen STEM education to train a skilled workforce and support small and medium sized manufacturers to keep our country internationally competitive.”

 

The legislation also promotes diversity in STEM fields, incentivizes private-sector innovation, and aims to improve advanced manufacturing and the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP), a public-private partnership to support small and medium-sized manufacturers.

 

Plugging back into real life

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, How-To's, Tech Trends, , , ,

nature-laptop-outside-macbook By: Deidre Doezema-Burkholder

 

Have you ever stopped to think about how ‘plugged in’ we are as a society that everyday life events are missed right in front of us? I’ve passed countless people looking at their phones instead of paying attention to their surroundings. I’ve seen the videos of people too immersed in their phones to notice they’re about to walk into traffic or take an unplanned dip into a pool; things that are blatantly obvious if only their eyes were watching life instead of watching their phone.

 

One time while sitting at a restaurant, I overheard a father telling his teenage son that if he continued to stare at his phone instead of being a part of the dinner conversations, than he would be left at home during the next night out. We are now so plugged in that my 5-year-old niece recently noticed a landline phone for the first time and asked what it was. She lives in a world where there are only cell phones!

 

social-networks-time-spentTechnology is a great tool that can oftentimes be misused or abused. Facebook, like the internet as a whole, is a great way to stay in touch with friends and family but it can quickly turn into a time suck. On average most people send about 50 minutes a day on Facebook alone. Add in other social media outlets and that number quickly climbs to over 2 to 3 hours, depending on age.

 

Have you seen the video on YouTube where a young girl goes through her day without a cell phone only to notice the abundance of phones around her? The video currently has over 49 million views and gives a perfect example of what we actually notice when we look up from our mobile devices. The simple act of enjoying life has been pushed aside with distractions of the virtual world.

 

So, what are we to do?

 

Well, we could organize burn parties and destroy all the technology! Okay… maybe that is a bit extreme, and bad for the environment, but we can add minor changes in our days. Type in a quick google search and there are many articles out there that discuss just this idea. However, I’ve already done the homework and condensed them down. Below are some of my favorites:

 

1.) Digital Diet: Specifically a social media diet. FOMO – The Fear Of Missing Out – is real thanks to a constant influx of social media. Turn off alerts on your phone to help limit the amount of time you’re online or delete the App entirely. On top of quieting your alters, try limiting the amount of posts you make. If you usually post multiple times per day, maybe tone it down to one or two. Facebook started as a way to stay in contact with family and friends, not to be a digital diary to spew your innermost thoughts. Well, at least in my opinion is isn’t.

 

2.) Chose a day to limit technology: Tech free Sunday? Mellow Monday? I’ve done this in the past and found Sunday works best for me. I enjoy morning coffee while reading an actual, physical newspaper. Afternoons are filled with family games or maybe a hike at a local park. Chose a day that works best for you even if you can set aside only part of the day. I have found my productivity to expand exponentially on my technological days off.

 

3.) Device hub: New house rule, no phone in the bedroom. It sounds harsh, doesn’t it? Try it and you might just thank me. Studies have found that consuming technology up to, or in, bed is bad. You sleep better when you back away from the tech world. Try and give the digital world up at least 30 minutes before bed. It’s a great way to reconnect with a loved one at the end of the day. I’ve tried it myself with my husband and we found it mutually beneficial and enjoyable as we both clearly have each other’s attention and focus. Your loved ones deserve your attention at the end of the day, not your phone.

 

no cell phone4.) Eat without electronics: It sounds like such a simple concept, to eat a meal without a phone check, but people struggle with it all the time. No email, no social media, and no taking a picture of your meal and posting it online. Just eating and being mindful of what you’re eating. Same goes when you’re with friends. We all have that one friend who can’t make it 10 minutes without looking at their phone for some reason or another. Heck, unfortunately it seems this behavior is becoming the norm instead of the exception.

 

I have one friends that is really good about being in the moment. If we are out grabbing a coffee or getting a meal, she often shuts her phone off. Yes, she turns her phone completely off! It was shocking the first time I saw her do it but quickly realized how important it was that she was giving me all of her attention. When’s the last time you’ve had that with someone?

 

5.) Make it simple: So, you can’t make it through a stop light without checking the phone? Take the necessary steps to make it more difficult to reach the phone during the car ride. For me, my phone goes in my purse which goes in the backseat of the car. The gentlemen reading this probably don’t have a purse, but a briefcase works the same was as does putting the phone in the center console. Out of reach, out of mind.

 

With the phone out of reach, I’m more mindful of my surroundings, like the soccer mom in the van coming across the lane because she’s busy texting and driving.

 

6.) Inform others: Let others in your life know you are cutting back. Don’t send me a message on Facebook if you need my immediate attention, call or text me. If you don’t have my number, maybe we should work on becoming better friends first. Are you planning on not answering your phone during certain hours? Make it known! I do this with my best friend who happens to love the idea. When my friends is working third shift, she can can keep me updated about her day while knowing that I’m not being disturbed by alerts. Thank goodness for the ‘Do Not Disturb’ feature on my phone. I keep it on daily from 11pm to 9am.

 

gertrude stein quoteGive a few of these ideas a try over the next week or two and see how it goes. You might discover how much you’re truly plugged in without realizing it. Disconnecting will give you something real back into your life. Disengaging from technology might take the stress down a little bit as you’re able to better concentrate on the task at hand. Whatever it is that you find, I hope you find a little bit of ‘real’ that you may have been missing in the digital world.

 

Deidre owns and operates Organisum: Technology Services, a business serving the West Michigan area. In her free time she likes to hike & bike local trails with friends and family when she isn’t pinning, instagram’ing or Netflix’ing.

Metro Health to partner with U-M Health System

3-bottom, Citizen Journalism, City of Wyoming, Health, Our Cities, Tech Trends, , , ,

generic-metro-health

By: Mike DeWitt

Mike.DeWitt@wktv.org

 

Amongst all the medical facilities and providers in the greater Grand Rapids area, Metro Health Corporation can now be considered one of the ‘Leaders and Best’ after recently announcing their intent to join the University of Michigan Health System.

 

Both organizations signed a letter of intent to bring Metro Health’s hospital and network of doctors, nurses and other providers together with U-M (health system), expanding this academic medical center’s care in western Michigan.

 

“The U-M Health System is a top-ranked academic medical center with a world-class medical school, extraordinary hospitals and clinics, and groundbreaking research facilities focused on moving cutting edge discovery to patients’ bedsides in order to improve lives,” said Marschall Runge, M.D., Ph.D., executive vice president of medical affairs and Dean of the U-M Medical School. “We are excited about the opportunity to collaborate with Metro Health’s expert physicians and health care professionals in stepped up ways.”

 

While Metro Health already partners with U-M for clinical services like radiation oncology, this affiliation agreement gives U-M its first hospital near Grand Rapids.

 

Michael Faas, President of Metro Health, added that joining with the U-M clinical enterprise will bring additional options for complex care to Metro Health patients and to the greater Grand Rapids community.

 

“It is no secret that U-M has some of the best providers in the state and country,” said Faas. “By joining the ‘leaders and best’ we can build on our existing expertise and provide our patients and community with enhanced access to specialized health care services, scientific discovery and advanced technology.”

 

The letter of intent signed by both organizations is not a sale and no layoffs are expected at either health system. Also not expected, a U-M satellite medical campus like Michigan State University has with Spectrum Health.

 

“There are currently no plans for a medical school to come as a result of the partnership,” said Metro Health spokeswoman Ellen Bristol.

 

The partnership with U-M comes a year after a proposed partnership with a for-profit Tennessee-based hospital chain dissolved. The Tennessee organization was to contribute between $100 to $125 million in capital to Metro Health.