According to a recent study, more than 269 billion emails are sent every single day with over 2.6 billion people using email, creating 5.3 billion email accounts – so email ranks among the most widely used, yet most vulnerable formats for electronic communications.

Users demand privacy online and information security surrounding email communications is critical for most professions, yet email technology is still stuck in the 1970s and 1980s.  SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol), which handles the sending of mail from client to mail server and between mail servers was originally designed for use in the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network (ARPANET) by and between users who either had security clearance or otherwise worked for the government, so additional layers of security for the nascent messaging technology was an afterthought and deemed largely unnecessary.  Fast forward 40 years and we read daily of the inherent insecurity of email communications.

Between 2015 and 2017, there were 6,789 data breaches globally that amounted to 886.5 million compromised records.  In 2016, Yahoo disclosed one of the biggest data breaches in history with three billion user accounts affected.

Perhaps the most high profile example of an email security breach came in March 2016, when former White House Chief of Staff to President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton’s U.S. Presidential Campaign Chairman John Podesta received an email from a user falsely posing as Google (with a Google-related address), notifying Podesta that his password had been compromised by someone in the Ukraine and providing a link to change the address.

Podesta forwarded the email to his IT team who erroneously confirmed the authenticity of the email and provided separate instructions to change his email to include two-factor authentication.  Unfortunately, Podesta used the original “phishing” link, which hackers used to subsequently steal his login and password information and access his email records.

The result was a devastating breach and disclosure of 50,000 emails, many of which were private and confidential and may have contributed to Clinton’s decline in the polls, which coincided to the disclosures by WikiLeaks of emails related to the hack.

Legal, financial, and insurance companies rely on internal privacy control features to maintain corporate/client confidentiality (regulatory compliance, GDPR, MiFID II); health care companies must ensure HIPAA compliance with a full audit trail; government agencies require military-grade encryption and a secure, permission-based architecture.  To each market, there is a specific need for improved electronic communications security.

Because there is generally no encryption, no authentication and no data integrity built into the e-mail programming we use every day, it is weak and at risk.  Once an email is sent, users lose control over that message.  Confidential messages, attachments and files can be easily copied and forwarded without the knowledge of the original sender. How can a user prevent tampering and ensure the integrity of the original message?

There is a pressing need to send confidential information online in a simple yet familiar way that provides the sender complete control over a secure, blockchain-audited record of interactions.

A blockchain is a continuously growing list of records, called “blocks,” which are linked and secured using cryptography. By design, blockchains are resistant to modification of data. A blockchain can serve as an open, publicly-distributed ledger that records transactions between multiple parties efficiently and in a verifiable and permanent way.

We are seeing new blockchain-based technologies from innovative companies, such as Envilope, that are changing how people send, store and receive email.  Envilope’s system offers HIPAA-compliant forced TLS email delivery, object level 2 Factor Authentication (2FA), sharded and encrypted GDPR-compliant storage, decentralized peer-to-peer communications, a file distribution mechanism that encrypts files offline with asymmetric encryption, IP address lockdown, unusual activity monitoring, hardware authentication, and more.  “Envilope is a UK Government-Approved, fully working virtual envelope with military-grade encryption in which you can lock an email, digital media, secure message, or any other form of content that can be sent electronically,” says Mark Allardyce, Founder and Group Chairman of Envilope.

Transport Layer Security (TLS) helps solve for the issue of insecure plain text email transmissions by offering encryption technology for messages while it is “in transit” from one secure email server to another. TLS helps prevent eavesdropping on email as it is carried between email servers that have enabled TLS protections for email. TLS is required between all the servers that handle the message, including hops between internal and external servers.

Emerging technology makes it possible to only deliver messages to email servers that have this highest level of email security enabled.  Since not all email servers are configured or able to accept TLS connections, this feature is called Forced TLS.

When a message is sent using the Forced TLS connection, if the TLS handshake cannot be established, or if the target server is not configured to accept only Forced TLS connections, it is now possible to prevent delivery of the message and notify the sender that intervention is required regarding the recipient’s email server.  This is one of several ways to better protect electronic communications.

The world’s attention is increasingly focused on data privacy.  The European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), went into effect on May 25, 2018, setting out detailed requirements for companies and organizations on collecting, storing and managing personal data and establishing significant fines for non-compliance.  The main purpose of the new regulation is to protect citizens of the European Union from privacy violations that may occur during a data breach.

As companies look to shore up their privacy policies, procedures and information security practices; and individuals, still shaken by the data privacy scandals that beset Yahoo and Facebook, look to companies to better protect their personal data and confidential communications, we should continue to see new innovations toward greater information security and privacy.  Blockchain technology may hold the answer.

In business, it’s always important to cover all bases when it comes to contracts, so that there aren’t any problems down the line. In the past, managing these documents took a lot of time and energy but today, thanks to technology, there are many great software programs and apps on the market which make contract management quicker and simpler. Read on for some of the top ones you should know about today, and some tips for choosing which is right for you.

ContractSafe

ContractSafe is a good choice for businesses which have to manage high volumes of contracts and keep security tight. It is an easy product to use and includes many helpful features. For example, you will be sent an alert any time an important contractual deadline approaches; you can set permissions on each contract so only certain people have access to it; and you can conduct speed searching using keywords to find the document you’re after in no time at all.

You can also customize the dashboard for each user; sort, filter and export key data and documents; assign document folders and tags; and print custom reports. ContractSafe takes security very seriously, too. The system is cloud-based and encrypted. Prices for the product start from $99. This includes unlimited users and date reminders, and 100 contracts. In addition, there are various plans above this one, plus a free trial so you can test out the software to see if it’s for you.

Agiloft Agile Contract Management Suite

Business software firm Agiloft has the Agile Contract Management Suite on offer. Their products are designed to automate the complete contract lifecycle. Use the software to streamline the approval process and eliminate bottlenecks, with automatic notifications and one-click email approvals.  Using Agiloft you can access a secure, centralized contract repository and find any clause or document in seconds with full text search capabilities of both contracts and attached files.

The software enables customers to integrate contract information into other related business processes; automatically create a thorough audit trail for each contract; access configurable budget and forecast reports that include insights about contract renewals, costs, and revenues; receive automatic renewal alerts; and utilize automatic redlining functionality that ensures additional edits don’t slip in unnoticed. Agiloft’s system is free for up to five power users and five end users. Professional packages for bigger teams and with more functionality start from $65 per month.

Exari Contracts

When it comes to contract lifecycle management, it’s hard to go past Exari Contracts. This complete contract management platform boasts easy-to-use dashboards, and is perfect for empowering everyone to generate and manage self-service contracting. This means you can say goodbye to legal bottlenecks. The software was built by lawyers plus an experienced engineering team, and covers all aspects of organization and operations.

Use Exari Contracts to store and manage your entire contract portfolio within a single, global, secure repository, and take advantage of AI-driven data capture which makes it quick and easy to import legacy and third-party agreements accurately. Generate reports (standard, custom and ad-hoc ones) to gain insights, and make use of digital signatures, milestone and completion tracking, auto extraction, contract templates, full text search, and more. Contact Exari for a demo and custom pricing.

Tips for Choosing a Contract Management Tool

This is just a small sample of the many excellent tools on the market. (You can also check out options like Shake, LegalZoom, Contractually, SignNow and Docracy). To decide on the best choice of software for your firm’s needs, follow a few simple tips.

For example, make sure the vendor is likely to be around for the long-term. Select a company that has been in the market for some time, and is trusted with dozens of excellent reviews to its name. Companies that are brand new are unproven, and may have technology that is cutting-edge, but also containing more bugs that need to be worked out.

Also make sure you compare features carefully, as not all tools will give you access to certain functionality. Be clear on what you require, both now and as your business grows, and then look for a product to match. You want something scalable that will continue to fit your needs as time goes on.

It’s important to choose a contract management company that provides good customer support, too. You never know when you might have problems with a tool, and need to be able to communicate with company reps 24/7 so that contract deadlines aren’t held up because of a tech glitch or because you can’t work out how to use a particular feature.

Current and emerging technology has the potential to revolutionize the healthcare industry. While there are many incredibly exciting developments on the horizon, much of it is built on the framework of technology that is already in place and is starting to quietly—and not so quietly—change the way we interact with our health.

Communication and access to information is one of the biggest ways in which technology has already transformed the healthcare industry. Incremental change and the speed with which the internet, personal computing devices, and mobile technology has become embedded in our day-to-day lives cloaks just how powerful a shift has happened when it comes to our health. Information which once was only available by going through highly trained specialists or seeking out expensive medical libraries and combing through dense, inaccessible texts is now at your fingertips—much of it for free and provided in easy-to-access and to understand pieces.

More patients are empowered than ever before to quickly and easily search symptoms and suggested treatments—including at-home emergency response instructions and recommendations on when and how to seek professional intervention. The world-renowned Mayo Clinic is a go-to source of first-response research by many. The ability to share experiences and advice helps patients feel less alone and better informed as to the options available for their own situation from others who have suffered like them, and qualified professionals who have open-sourced their knowledge online.

And it’s not just anecdotal, layman-oriented medical knowledge that’s available, either. Medical research and studies are shared, reported on, and available remotely. Oncotarget, controversially, openly offers access to peer-reviewed online bio-medical journals and shares the latest research developments on social media to help people stay up to date. And, of course, technology is also helping scientists and medical professionals accelerate research, model outcomes faster and more accurately, and synthesize ever more advanced solutions like 3D printed prosthetics and organs, augmented reality and VR treatments, laser and robotic microsurgeries, and cyborg-like implants for everything from vision loss to hands-off medication microdosing.

From major diseases, injuries, and life-preserving efforts to the day-to-day improvement of people’s health and well being, technology is transforming the possible. Wearables are a well-established trend that is becoming more powerful as the engineering and programming catches up to and spurs onwards our dreams of what could be. While early generations of fitness trackers and smart-watches tracked steps taken and measured heartbeats, current and emerging technology is tackling big data collection and number crunching to provide insights into advanced wellness measures and is even stepping into the realm of diagnosing and treating conditions.

Under development are wearables and implants that could monitor your condition, inform your primary care provider of any concerns, and even issue a dose of a necessary treatment. There are already attachments for mobile phones that allow medical professionals—and perhaps, someday, everyone—to take detailed measurements in the field. Measurements that are currently only available with the use of large, cumbersome, and expensive medical equipment.

These small, accessible gadgets, along with wireless internet and mobile technology are helping provide medical care to almost every corner of the world, not just in large, developed cities. Some new and emerging medical technology developers are even open-sourcing their designs and encouraging practitioners on the ground to 3D print their own tools.

Not all parties are supportive of the trend toward empowering patients and reducing the gatekeepers, exclusivity, and expense of access to professional information and technology. Companies worry about the commercial impact of these developments, while others wring their hands over the danger to the public of too much access to information they’re not qualified to process and respond to. On the other side of the fence are those who believe that the public has a right to information and solutions that have a bearing on their health.

More traditional patterns of medical practice are also undergoing quiet shifts. Appointments are getting easier to book and medical information is easier to retain and access with integrated online systems. You can already book appointments with some medical services providers and access your own health and medical testing records online at your convenience. Increasingly, online consultations are being explored and implemented for patients in remote areas. Eventually, this could open up the possibility for more regular care and even some types of testing to be done from wherever and whenever works for you, using nothing more than your smartphone.

Technology has already transformed the healthcare sector in ways that we take for granted, and that trend is going to accelerate. The possibilities are enormously exciting, and show a positive trend toward empowerment, open-source, and patient-first approaches.

Lasers are ubiquitous in science fiction, functioning as security measures, weapons, data collectors, and analyzers. It’s easy to point to laser usage in dated shows like “Star Trek” and snicker — but it seems sci-fi has enjoyed the last laugh. Lasers have advanced dramatically in recent years, using new techniques and technologies to solve problems across industries. It seems that lasers will be common in the future — seeing as though they are already common today.

The most practical function of lasers is in materials processing. Originally, lasers were hardly powerful enough to be seen by the naked eye; today, we can produce large and reliable lasers capable of processing a variety of materials in all sorts of ways.

A Brief History of Laser Innovation

While the existence of lasers was first proposed in 1900 by physicist Max Planck — and Einstein first described the process that makes lasers in 1917 — the first real laser (then called a maser) didn’t appear until 1954. Even then, lasers weren’t adapted for use in industry for another decade or so. Laser material processing developed in the late 1960s, when pulsed solid-state lasers were first used for drilling and spot welding and when continuous wave carbon-dioxide lasers were used for cutting and continuous welding.

Swiftly, lasers became indispensable tools for material processing. Laser flame cutting, laser fusion cutting, laser welding, hardening, and cladding evolved in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. However, in those early days, techniques were rudimentary, and not all components were available for use. Initially, lasers lacked beam delivery optics, focusing elements, and gas supply systems, which were not yet optimized for industrial use. For this reason — as well as a dearth of international standards for beam quality and definition — lasers lacked the power and precision we have become accustomed to today. Perhaps more importantly, there existed no or few standardized safety regulations, meaning laser operators undertook serious risks to use these advanced tools.

Still, demand for industrial laser processing systems increased. Slowly, lasers gained diamond-turned copper optics, zinc-selenide transmissive components, and molybdenum-coated focusing mirrors, all of which improved resonator optics, bean delivery, and focusing. Cutting heads also gained automated nozzle distance control and optimized gas flow, both of which made cuts more consistent.

Yet, widespread use of lasers in materials processing was inhibited by one serious factor: Cost. Consumption of gas, electrical power, optics, and spare parts are significant expenses that inhibited the diffusion of lasers into all organizations and fields. Thus, in the 1990s, most laser processor manufacturers began improving solid-state lasers, which require dramatically less maintenance. Using a CO2 slab essentially eliminates the need for gas ventilation and reduces standby electricity needs, but replacing the CO2 entirely with a solid-state fiber decreases loss and further reduces energy consumption. Solid-state lasers have a short longevity — just about 2,000 hours — meaning further innovation was necessary to see wider adoption.

After a shift from rod-shaped to disk-shaped laser activation material and experiments with thermal lenses, laser manufacturers finally transitioned to rare-earth element-doped fiber lasers in the late 2000s. Offering even greater power and control while being virtually maintenance free, fiber lasers are more adaptable to various applications than previous lasers, so one machine can perform dozens of processing techniques. Fiber lasers are simple, robust, and efficient — the perfect combination of qualities for a material processing tool.

How Lasers Will Process the World

Today, laser engraving machines, laser cutters, laser welders, hardeners, and cladders are common equipment in small and largescale material processing, and it only took 40 years of development to make it so. Laser techniques are well-established and, given the power and efficiency of modern laser machines, unlikely to disappear or become obsolete in the coming years.

Experts believe that lasers will continue to evolve, becoming even more accurate and applicable in the realm of materials processing. A laser processing revolution could be on the horizon with diode lasers, which seem to be faster than fiber lasers — but manufacturers must prove that diode lasers are as efficient, reliable, and affordable as fiber lasers, which have set a high bar for laser processing performance. The laser processing tools of the near future should be even more relevant, acquiring applications in new fields, such as additive manufacturing, and expanding applications in vast fields, like welding. Soon enough, lasers could even be integral tools in your home.

The idea of driverless cars once seemed implausible and something that we only saw in sci-fi films, but we could be seeing this in the near future. Artificial intelligence (AI) has come on leaps and bounds and the auto industry is fully embracing it. This will completely revolutionise the way in which we drive down the line.

Current Technology 

We are already seeing how artificial intelligence and modern technology is being incorporated into the motor industry. This is through the range of impressive safety technology that comes with new cars. Examples include systems which detect when a collision is imminent and applies braking, technology that senses when you are drifting out of lane and corrects your line and technology that determines when an operator is drowsy behind the wheel. This technology has already saved lives and stopped countless collisions from occurring. 

There are many other impressive systems in place that assist with driving. This includes driverless parking, cruise control and blind spot monitoring. Much of this technology is now available as standard and available from many manufacturers. 

Autonomous Driving

The big question on everybody’s mind is “when will we see driverless cars?”. Whilst many are excited about the prospect (especially car manufacturers pioneering the AI), there are still those that have their reservations. These reservations stem from the concern over safety and making moral decisions, but also those that enjoy driving. Regardless of where you stand, technologies are being constantly tested and developed and there are even autonomous car insurance laws in place in the UK.

Race Between Manufacturers

There is very much a race between the major manufacturers to achieve the first fully autonomous automobile, with companies like Mercedes, Tesla, Lexus and BMW all developing their own systems. Additionally, the owner of Vauxhall (General Motors) has bought leading startup Cruise Automation and invested millions in ride-sharing services with a goal of introducing fully autonomous fleets. 

GM has also started to develop their own AI, so it is plausible to think that Vauxhall could too be a big player in the driverless car race. Many of their current range already use advanced technology and can be bought at affordable prices from places like Motorpoint Limited.

Driverless Experience

It is not just the ability to drive with AI too, as many of the leading companies are also looking to make the experience much easier and more enjoyable. This could include vehicles that can communicate with the driver and passenger, seats that move back to create a lounge-like environment with many gadgets and automobiles that can communicate with each other and even other devices (such as your fridge at home!).

Obstacles

Whilst it seems the technology is almost in place for autonomous driving, the logistics are a major obstacle to overcome. Human drivers (and errors), emergency vehicles, insurance, pedestrians, hacking, ethical decisions and road infrastructure are all factors that need careful consideration.

The future certainly looks bright for AI and autonomous driving and it is fascinating to read the latest developments. One day in the not too distant future we will see driverless cars on the roads, but there are still many hurdles to overcome first.

Technology plays a significant role within the auto industry today. It’s incorporated into practically every aspect of a vehicle, including its safety, comfort and entertainment systems. It also controls satellite navigation systems; something which the majority of drivers have come to rely upon.

As technology is so deeply integrated in today’s modern vehicles, there’s been a particular increase in the utilisation of app technology. Here, we’ll look at why app technology is important within the auto industry.

Why is app technology important?

When you think of app technology, you typically associate it with the apps you download from either the Android Play or Apple iStore. However, in terms of the auto industry, it can consist of so much more.

Vehicles are starting to become a lot more dependent upon mobile technology. As cars become increasingly connected to the internet, apps are now used to gather vital driving information such as real-time traffic updates and directions. They’re used to download entertainment for passengers, and some will even be able to tell you where your nearest charging station is for your electronic powered vehicle.

Perhaps one of the most useful apps available within the auto industry today, is the HPI checker app. There’s one available on the iTunes store from HPI Ltd for example, and it can prove extremely useful in the decision to buy a vehicle.

Why HPI checks are growing in popularity

HPI checks are becoming extremely popular as part of the vehicle buying process. Giving buyers vital information about a car’s history, it enables much wiser purchasing decisions. A vehicle check can help:

Buying a used car has always been risky, but thanks to technological advancements such as the HPI check, it has become a lot easier in recent years. The best HPI checkers use the very latest technology to ensure the results presented are 100% accurate and up-to-date.

Overall, app technology has become an integral part of the auto industry. As time goes on, it’s only likely to become even more important to both buyers and manufacturers. It’s even estimated that future apps could help to reduce the risk of accidents by enabling vehicles to communicate with one another on the road.

Power tools have enabled both DIY enthusiasts and industry professionals to carry out more precise and effective tasks. Over the years they have changed dramatically, now benefitting from a lighter, faster and more powerful design. Here, we’ll look at the technology behind our power tools and how it continues to shape the gadgets we use.

The evolution of cordless power tools

One of the major breakthrough technologies within the power tools sector has been the introduction of cordless tools. Manufacturers have managed to develop cordless power tools with the same power as corded tools. Offering greater convenience and proving safer to use, cordless technology has come a long way in recent years.

The motors of cordless tools started with canned technology, before moving on to frameless and finally brushless motor technology. In order to keep up with the advanced motor technology, transmissions have also been improved. Initially, power tools worked with a fairly low transmission of around 250-300 rpm rate. Now, it’s not uncommon to find tools with a 1700-2000 rpm rate. This basically means today’s power tools are faster than they used to be.

Of course, the largest technological advancement in the power tools sector has been the switch from manual to electronic tools. Not too long ago, power tools worked in a very mechanical way. These days however, technology has helped to optimise performance and create a more streamlined, electronic design. 

Lithium-ion technology

Battery powered tools have been significantly improved by the introduction of Lithium-ion technology. Used by top brands such as Milwaukee power tools, this technology has helped to make heavy duty tools more compact, lighter and more powerful. 

The rechargeable batteries aren’t just common in power tools; they’re also widely used across many sectors today. For example, many manufacturers are starting to use Lithium-ion batteries as a replacement for lead-acid batteries in utility vehicles and golf carts. 

In terms of power tools, this technology is also beneficial thanks to its slow loss of charge. When not in use, the tools won’t run down in power like they used to. When it comes to charging them up, Lithium-ion batteries also generally charge much faster than previous batteries.

As you can see, there’s been a few major developments within the power tools sector thanks to technology. As time goes on, it’s likely we’ll see even more improvements and technology innovations introduced.