Latest news with #IEEE
Forbes
2 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
How SDoH Platforms Are Driving Smarter Healthcare Decisions
Raghvendra Tripathi | Sr Director/Enterprise Architect Principal | Independent Researcher | IEEE Senior Member. If you've spent any time in healthcare leadership or management, you know that patient outcomes hinge on more than just clinical care. Social determinants of health (SDoH)—everything from housing stability to education and food access—play a huge role in shaping health outcomes. But integrating those complex, often siloed factors into healthcare strategies has always been a challenge. That's where innovative solutions like an SDoH enterprise platform come in, turning diverse social and economic data into actionable insights. When my team first looked at tackling SDoH integration, the biggest hurdle was the sheer breadth and complexity of data sources. You're dealing with data from electronic medical records, census reports like the American Community Survey, public health indices such as the CDC Social Vulnerability Index and even real-time assessments from local community organizations. Each source speaks a different format or "language," making it tough to connect the dots efficiently. The breakthrough came with a cloud-based platform that standardizes and consolidates this data—what we call the "SDoH Enterprise." Imagine a system where race, ethnicity, language preferences and even nuanced factors like sexual orientation and gender identity are harmonized across EMRs and community datasets. This platform uses rigorous standardization protocols, like OMB guidelines for demographics and ISO codes for language, ensuring consistency. At the heart of this is a cloud warehouse powered by Snowflake, which acts as a central hub for all this information. Whether it's batch uploads or real-time feeds, the platform makes data accessible and actionable. What I find truly exciting are the tools that can be built on top of this integrated data. For instance: • Geospatial Dashboards: These reduce complexity by visualizing how social factors vary across neighborhoods and populations. It's like having a map that highlights areas at risk for health disparities. • EMR Integration: Providers get real-time prompts about patients' social needs, allowing them to tailor care plans effectively. Plus, partnerships with community organizations mean referrals can be closed in a "loop," ensuring patients truly get the support they need. • APIs For Accessibility: Seamless API connections enable sharing insights across systems, empowering everyone from care coordinators to public health officials. • Smart Engagement: Analytics identify which members are at risk or would benefit most from particular interventions, allowing programs to focus resources wisely and improve member experiences. Implementing this type of platform changed the game for us. We saw a significant uptick in identifying future high-cost members before their health spiraled, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and emergency care. Care coordination improved as healthcare providers could see a fuller picture of each patient's context. Even better, enterprise-wide reporting standardization means leadership teams can evaluate the effectiveness of SDoH initiatives with hard data—creating accountability and guiding future investments. If you're navigating the complexities of value-based care and population health management, incorporating SDoH platforms has become increasingly important for comprehensive healthcare delivery and outcomes. The key includes: 1. Starting With Data Standards: Ensure your systems speak a common language. 2. Investing In Integration: Centralize your data for real-time, actionable insights. 3. Leveraging Analytics: Use predictive modeling to prioritize resource allocation. 4. Partnering Outside Healthcare: Community organizations are critical allies in addressing social needs. 5. Tracking and Iterating: Use impact reporting to refine and scale programs effectively. The potential here extends well beyond current programs. Long-term, the goal is healthier communities and more equitable care—with technology and data as the backbone. As I've seen firsthand, embedding social determinants into healthcare delivery transforms how care teams work and, ultimately, how patients live. Let's keep the conversation going—how is your organization tackling SDoH? What lessons have you learned? The way forward is collaborative, and sharing insights can help all of us lead smarter, more compassionate health systems. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
CNET
5 days ago
- CNET
Does Wi-Fi Really Pass Through Walls? Here's What Experts Reveal
It's a simple question, but one that gets asked quite a bit: Does Wi-Fi travel through walls? Yes, but not completely. I didn't understand fully myself, so I spoke with several experts, including a CNET lab technician, to find the answers. With the introduction of Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and the latest standard, Wi-Fi 7, Wi-Fi technology has steadily improved in recent years. Having an adequate Wi-Fi connection is a must, yet many people still struggle with their home internet. In a recent CNET broadband survey, 42% of respondents complained about having an unreliable connection. Many factors play into that, but when it comes to Wi-Fi, there are quick fixes to boost the Wi-Fi connection throughout your home. To optimize your Wi-Fi connection, though, we must return to the question: Does Wi-Fi travel through walls? To better answer this, it helps to start by looking at how Wi-Fi technology works. Wi-Fi technology 101 Wi-Fi, also known as Wireless Fidelity, is a wireless technology that allows your router to exchange data with multiple devices. This data is transmitted through radio waves. According to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, the first version of Wi-Fi was released in 1997 under the 802 family of standards for local area networks. The IEEE designates Wi-Fi as 802.11. You'll primarily see three Wi-Fi standards when shopping for routers: Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. Most smart home devices in your abode are compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E technology. However, Wi-Fi 7 will produce the fastest speeds and boast the lowest latency of the three. Wi-Fi 7 builds on features from the previous standards. If you have Wi-Fi 6, it'll have the 2.4 and 5GHz bands. Wi-Fi 6E added the 6GHz band, and Wi-Fi 7 doubled its channel size. Locating local internet providers According to Netgear, "Wi-Fi 7 helps to ensure your home is ready for 10 gigabit internet speeds as they become available." How does Wi-Fi pass through walls? Your router wirelessly exchanges data with other devices nearby through radio waves, which use electromagnetic radiation. As seen from the image below, Wi-Fi operates on these radio waves through the electromagnetic spectrum. VectorMine/Shutterstock According to ScienceABC, electromagnetic waves can pass through a surface; this process is called refraction. This is what allows Wi-Fi to pass through walls. It's worth mentioning that not all forms of electromagnetic radiation can permeate surfaces. Take Li-Fi technology, for instance. Li-Fi uses visible light, another form of electromagnetic radiation, to connect to the internet. Light signals can't pass through walls and other solid objects like Wi-Fi signals can. Wi-Fi can pass through walls, but... The thickness of your walls and the type of material used can obstruct or hinder Wi-Fi signals. According to Mistral Solutions, certain materials, like brick, plaster, cement, metal, stone and double-glazed glass, can obstruct Wi-Fi signals. Depending on the size and layout of your home, you might experience dead zones (areas where your internet signal is virtually nonexistent), laggy or extremely slow internet. When testing routers and their signal strengths at our CNET Labs in Louisville, Kentucky, Lab Technician Gianmarco Chumbe Escalante lists the materials that can impact your Wi-Fi signal. "As with any radio signal, attenuation occurs when waves pass through materials like brick, concrete or metal -- or simply over increasing distance," Escalante said. Fortunately, the CNET Labs team determined that wall thickness didn't significantly impact router signal strength after conducting tests. In fact, they noticed that the distance from the router was a bigger determining factor. That said, changing the floor plan of your home may not be an option, but there are simpler things you can do to boost your Wi-Fi connection at home. How to optimize your Wi-Fi Several factors can affect the signal of your internet connection, such as walls, large obstructions and even electronics near your router. Choosing the right router The first step to optimizing your connection is to determine whether you're using the right router. In most apartments and smaller homes (under 1,500 feet), a traditional router with a single wireless access point should be enough. CNET's top pick for the best wireless router is the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AX6000. After conducting tests on more than 30 routers, we determined that one will deliver the fastest speeds possible over Wi-Fi. It was the only router to receive a top 5 score from our throughput tests on 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. However, if you own a multistory home and want to prioritize internet coverage throughout it, consider upgrading to a mesh router. In some cases, you might need to toss out your old router and upgrade to a new one. Ideally, you should replace your router every five years. If you're in the market for new gear, consider upgrading to a new router or a router equipped with Wi-Fi 6 or the latest Wi-Fi 7. Almost any new device you've purchased in the past five years will be compatible with Wi-Fi 6, but only the latest phones, laptops and gaming consoles can take advantage of Wi-Fi 7. The Wi-Fi band you use matters If your priority is to ensure that your internet connection reaches all areas of your home, choose a router with a 2.4GHz band. Here's why. CNET broadband expert Joe Supan recently visited our CNET labs to help test routers. The tests provided metrics on speed, reliability and performance over distance. Our lab team also measured each router's signal strength and broadcast ability, showing how well data is transmitted through walls and around other electronics. The team marked off more than 61 locations around the lab to measure the performance of each router's 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency bands. Though the 5GHz might offer you faster speeds, test results show that the 2.4GHz band has a better range. "Most routers will automatically steer your traffic to the optimal band, but you can also set up separate Wi-Fi networks for each band if you want to prioritize devices like a gaming console or a work computer on the faster 5GHz band," Supan said. "The important thing to know is whether it has both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands," Supan said. "Most routers will automatically steer your device onto the best one." From left: The 2.4GHz band has better range but slower speeds, while the 5GHz band has faster speeds at close range. Samantha De Leon/CNET The team averaged all the data from the tests in a summary table. They then combined the scores to get one throughput metric for each frequency band. The data shows that routers with a 2.4GHz band outperformed those with a 5GHz band at long distances. Keep in mind that the typical indoor broadcast range of a router is 150 to 300 feet, according to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team. Read more: How we test Wi-Fi routers Router placement is key In some cases, you may not need to take a dramatic step like getting rid of your router. Chances are, you may just be putting it in the wrong spot. According to two technicians, here are five of the worst areas to place your router: On the floor Behind the couch In the basement Inside cabinets Near another Wi-Fi router The ideal spot for your router should always be centrally located in your home. Keep in mind that placing your router in an area with large metal objects, nearby electronics or many walls can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal. If you can, try mounting your router high on the wall or raising it on a bookshelf. Adjusting your Wi-Fi antennas If you own a router that has antennas, positioning these antennas properly can improve your signal. If there are two or more antennas on your router, don't position them all in the same direction. The antennas should be perpendicular to one another -- one should be horizontal and the other should be vertical. If that still doesn't make a difference, try experimenting with placing the antennas at several different angles. During this process, run several internet speed tests to note the differences with each antenna configuration. CNET's top pick for the best speed test overall is Ookla for its consistency and reliability. (Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) Invest in a Wi-Fi extender A Wi-Fi extender will typically be a cheaper alternative to a mesh router if you're still experiencing laggy internet and dead zones after repositioning your router. Similar to a mesh router system, a Wi-Fi extender will help boost your speeds throughout your home. CNET's top pick for the best Wi-Fi extender is the Linksys RE7310. When tested, it delivered plenty of speeds, and it supports Wi-Fi 6 technology. If there are one or more rooms in your home that are dead zones, then a Wi-Fi extender could help improve the signal in these areas. You can either plug your extender into your router or into an outlet on your wall. If you live in a larger home and are facing issues with your connection, then a mesh router would be a better option. Yes, Wi-Fi can travel through walls, but it's not magic Yes, Wi-Fi technology allows your home internet connection to pass through walls, but you still need to take steps to optimize your Wi-Fi connectivity. The thickness of a wall can interfere with your internet signal, leaving you with dead zones in your home. Other factors, such as large objects and nearby electronics, can also cause your broadband connection to suffer. As far as walls are concerned, of course, changing the layout of your home may not be an option. And before you make a hasty decision such as canceling your internet service or switching internet service providers, you can first try optimizing your Wi-Fi connection through the tips outlined on this page. If you're still running into trouble, then maybe it's time to consider whether you're facing a larger issue, such as throttled speeds from your ISP. FAQ: Wi-Fi versus your walls Can Wi-Fi travel through walls? Yes, Wi-Fi can pass through walls. Wi-Fi technology operates on the electromagnetic spectrum and transmits data via radio waves. Data from your router is wirelessly transmitted to other devices nearby. Through a process called refraction, Wi-Fi signals are able to permeate walls, allowing your internet to travel throughout your home. However, this doesn't mean that you won't experience interference. The thickness of a wall can obstruct the signal from your router, leaving you with dead zones in your home. Other factors, such as large objects and nearby electronics, can also affect your Wi-Fi connection. Where is the best place to put your router? You should always aim to locate your router at a central spot in your home, away from many walls and large objects. Two technicians shared with CNET the five worst areas to place your router: on the floor, behind the couch, in the basement, inside cabinets and near another Wi-Fi router.
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Newsweek
Most Jobs for Gen Alpha Don't Exist Yet—Here's What They'll Be
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Amid fast technological and societal transformation, the careers awaiting Generation Alpha—those born between 2010 and 2025—are largely still conceptual. Around two in three Gen Alphas will work in jobs that do not currently exist, and from AI co-designers to neuro-lens developers, the job market they are projected to enter will be unlike any the world has ever seen. Shaila Rana, an IEEE senior member and professor of cybersecurity at Purdue University Global, framed this incoming socioeconomic reset bluntly. "The future is coming at us at an unprecedented speed and it's redefining and changing the jobs and roles that we have," Rana told Newsweek. Her words capture a generational shift. For Gen Alpha, many traditional professions may give way to emerging roles created in response to evolving digital, ecological, and social challenges and attitude changes. Several experts and futurists consulted by Newsweek believe that Gen Alpha's working lives will be shaped by the digital environments they grew up in, their "AI fluency," and a world grappling with rapid innovation and existential threats. This matters not only for Gen Alpha as they come of age, but for policymakers, educators, and parents too. As the World Economic Forum's The Future of Jobs and Skills report estimated back in 2016, 65 percent of children entering primary school that year were expected to work in job types that did not yet exist—and the experts consulted believe that many of them still do not. Algorithmic Ethics Architects Rana predicts that as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in society, ethical design will become a frontline concern, and a gateway to new job opportunities. "We may see algorithmic ethics architects emerging as an important job role," she said. From left: A robotics engineer stands in front of an augmented reality hologram at work; and a child sits in front of a small robot with protective glasses on. From left: A robotics engineer stands in front of an augmented reality hologram at work; and a child sits in front of a small robot with protective glasses on. Getty Images These professionals would be tasked with auditing AI for bias and translating moral values into technical protocols—a critical need as algorithmic systems begin to influence hiring, healthcare, law enforcement, and public policy. Unlike today's ethics consultants, these roles would carry engineering-level authority, enabling them to actively intervene in system design. Synthetic Data Designers Privacy regulations are tightening globally. Rana foresees the rise of synthetic data designers, who will use statistical modeling to create artificial datasets that train AI without violating privacy. These professionals will blend technical expertise with ethical foresight to ensure AI systems learn from safe, simulated realities rather than real human data. Digital Ecosystem Mediators In a world where multiple AI platforms interact simultaneously, digital ecosystem mediators will ensure interoperability. Creative AI design professionals might use OpenAI Sora type model to build movies in hours rather than months or years. "Professionals have to navigate the increasingly complex intersection of multiple AI systems," Rana added. These individuals will act as translators, facilitators, and harmonizers of competing algorithms. AI-Creative Hybrids Reza Rooholamini, chief science, AI, and innovation officer at CCC Intelligent Solutions, Inc., also envisions a future of immersive technologies. "Gen Alpha will be AI-native," Rooholamini told Newsweek. "They would be able to program systems via voice or AR/VR glasses. "I suspect the Gen Alpha would more attuned to AI, similar to how Gen Z was more attuned to mobile devices, and we should expect to see more creative-tech hybrid roles, sustainability-focused jobs, and digital health or extended reality (XR) related careers." He expects the growth of jobs like robotics AI engineer and robotics swarm engineer, as well as roles involving AI system sustainability, such as energy-efficient AI system designers and quantum-AI infrastructure planners. Advances in biotechnology and AI-driven health tools will create a new breed of wellness coach Creativity will not be sidelined. Rooholamini highlighted roles like immersive experience creators using models like OpenAI's Sora to produce full-length movies in as long as it takes to edit a TikTok video. Other jobs may focus on crafting personalized health solutions through AR/VR and building blockchain-based financial systems. "Creative AI design professionals might use OpenAI Sora type model to build movies in hours rather than months or years," he added. Longevity Lifestyle Coaches Matt Britton, CEO of Suzy and a leading AI and consumer trend expert advising Fortune 500 brands, sees health as a frontier for job creation. "Advances in biotechnology and AI-driven health tools will create a new breed of wellness coach—someone who uses personalized data and predictive models to extend both healthspan and lifespan," Britton told Newsweek. These longevity lifestyle coaches will be part health expert, part data scientist, and part life strategist, and they will likely use social media to their advantage in building lucrative online communities, following in the footsteps of many adults today. They will interpret biometric data, guide nutrition, meditative practices and sleep optimization, and help individuals achieve longer, more productive lives in line with society's growing interest in biohacking, subconscious mind reprogramming and general healthy living. The Rise of Reputation Capital For Dimple Thakkar, founder of SYNHERGY, Gen Alpha's future is not merely about new jobs—it's about entirely new career philosophies. "The system has cracked. The elevator is broken. So Gen Alpha? They'll trade diplomas for reputation capital," Thakkar told Newsweek. Thakkar predicts that a digital portfolio—comprising YouTube tutorials, Discord bots, and community apps—will come to carry much more weight than a traditional CV. "They'll use AI like we use calculators," the award-winning CEO said. "Work isn't what you do—it'll be who you impact." She outlined several roles likely to emerge: Prompt Architect Synthetic Personality Stylist AI Bias Auditor Virtual Companion Developer Digital/Archive Resurrection Specialist Civic Trust Engineer Urban Sentience Designer NeuroLens Interface Specialist Training the Machines Kathleen deLaski, author of Who Needs College, Anymore? and founder of the Education Design Lab, highlighted a suite of AI management roles tailored for Gen Alpha's skills. Among them were information architects, bot curators and fake news scouts. She said that each of these roles will require high levels of digital literacy and critical thinking—skills not just taught in schools, but earned through early and deep engagement with intelligent systems. Designing the New Human-Tech Interface Dr. Ja-Naé Duane, a behavioral scientist and faculty member at Brown University, emphasized that the real asset Gen Alpha will bring to the job market is their adaptability. "What will matter most are the skills they develop: complex problem-solving, collaboration with intelligent systems, and ethical reasoning," she told Newsweek. Her vision includes roles such as: AI Behavior Designer Synthetic Biology Programmer Metaverse Experience Curator AI Influencer Architect Decentralized Governance Facilitator Climate Adaptation Analyst Robot Rights Advocate Neuro-Interface Technician Personal Data Broker Digital Legacy Designer Each role reflects not just technological sophistication but also a fundamental shift in values—towards sustainability, identity, and resilience. The Educational Edge Gen Alpha's preparation for this future will not just depend on adaptability—it will also rest on education. McCrindle Research found that this cohort will have unprecedented access to information and formal education, with an estimated one in two predicted to obtain a university degree, compared with the rising trend among Gen Z that college is a waste of time. Their digital fluency and exposure to AI from a young age may place them in a unique position to design, not just participate in, the future of work—but things might just be even simpler than that. With changing attitudes around flexible work, digital nomad careers and alternating career paths now popularized among Gen Z, Gen Alpha might not want to work—at least in the traditional concept of the term—at all. "Want a bolder prediction? In 20 years, 'job' might be a dated concept," Thakkar said. "Instead, people may talk in terms of missions, reputations, or ecosystems. No job security? Good. That's freedom."
LeMonde
7 days ago
- Politics
- LeMonde
Richard Garwin, designer of the first hydrogen bomb, dies aged 97
What would American physicist Richard Garwin, who died on May 13 in Scarsdale, New York, at the age of 97, have thought of the "Golden Dome," the missile defense shield project announced by President Donald Trump a week later, on Tuesday, May 20? In 1968, alongside Nobel laureate Hans Bethe (1906–2005), he spoke out against the development of such a system, which they both considered unnecessary and costly, and later vigorously criticized Ronald Reagan's "Star Wars" program. At just 23 years old, Garwin designed the first hydrogen bomb, tested on November 1, 1952, in the Marshall Islands. He later became a leading figure in nuclear arms control and a vocal proponent of disarmament, notably alongside the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, which bring together scientists worldwide to reduce the risks of armed conflict. Described by his biographer, Joel Shurkin, as "the most influential scientist you've never heard of," Garwin long remained discreet – even with those closest to him – about his role as adviser to US presidents, from Dwight Eisenhower to Barack Obama, and his involvement in developing the hydrogen bomb. His role was only revealed in 2001, following testamentary statements by Edward Teller (1908–2003), who had been tasked by President Harry Truman with building such a weapon. In a 2024 interview with Spectrum, the magazine of the IEEE, the world's largest engineering professional society, Garwin said the mission he was given felt more like a challenge than a sign of trust.
Channel Post MEA
7 days ago
- Business
- Channel Post MEA
Huawei Celebrates Wi-Fi 7 Innovations At Network Summit 2025
Huawei celebrated breakthrough innovations in Wi-Fi 7 technology at the Huawei Network Summit 2025 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, presenting awards to nine winners of the 'Imagine Wi-Fi 7 to Reality' Program (Season 3) for the Middle East and Central Asia region. The ceremony marked the culmination of a highly successful program that has driven widespread adoption of Wi-Fi 7 across multiple industries. Since its January 2025 launch, Season 3 of the program has attracted technology leaders and innovators from across the region, showcasing transformative Wi-Fi 7 applications in education, finance, healthcare, manufacturing, and beyond. The winning projects demonstrated practical, replicable deployment models accelerating Wi-Fi 7 adoption across diverse industry verticals. Shawn Zhao, President of the Campus Network Domain, Huawei's Data Communication Product Line, said, 'The 'Imagine Wi-Fi 7 to Reality' Program has emerged as a catalyst for digital transformation across industries. These award-winning innovations showcase the tremendous potential of Wi-Fi 7 to revolutionize how businesses operate and deliver services.' At the summit, Huawei announced the launch of Season 4 of the program in partnership with IEEE and other industry leaders. The new season will expand the program's global reach, focusing on exploring innovative Wi-Fi 7 use cases across industries worldwide, accelerating large-scale adoption in enterprise environments, developing a new generation of Wi-Fi 7 experts, and creating an open collaboration platform for partners and customers. Huawei's commitment to Wi-Fi innovation has earned significant industry recognition. In 2024, Huawei was, once again, named a leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Wired & Wireless LAN Infrastructure, and also received Gartner Peer Insights Customers' Choice for Enterprise Wired and Wireless LAN Infrastructure for the fifth year in a row. Additionally, Huawei received the 'Best Enterprise Wi-Fi Network' award at the 2024 Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) Industry Awards for its Intelligent AP Energy-Saving Solution. As the industry's first provider of all-scenario Wi-Fi 7 solutions, Huawei continues to drive innovation with groundbreaking technologies. The company's award-winning Wi-Fi APs extend from connectivity to sensing through their CSI (channel state information) sensing technology. With this technology, Huawei APs can work with Huawei's intelligent network analysis platform and campus digital platform and third-party application systems to intelligently turn on or off electrical appliances for energy saving in smart office scenarios in smart manufacturing scenarios, and enable other innovative use cases. Their AI-powered iCSSR (intelligent coordinated scheduling and spatial reuse) technology greatly reduces interference while doubling single-user speeds in high-density environments. And Huawei's proprietary Wi-Fi Shield employs AI signal scrambling technology to ensure robust air interface security. Huawei maintains its position as the top contributor to WLAN standards globally, with particular leadership in Wi-Fi 7 standardization. The company's extensive R&D investments continue to shape the future of wireless networking technology. Shawn Zhao added, 'Our vision is to make high-quality Wi-Fi 7 accessible to organizations worldwide. Through programs like 'Imagine Wi-Fi 7 to Reality' and our ongoing innovation, we're turning that vision into reality.' Huawei's Xinghe Intelligent High-Quality Wi-Fi 7 Campus Network Solution represents the next generation of enterprise wireless connectivity, offering unprecedented performance, security, and intelligence. For more information about Huawei's Wi-Fi 7 solutions, visit: 0 0
