Two-plus years ago, when Mountain Park Health Center in Phoenix wanted to find a way to inspire and recognize its 750 employees, executives decided on a gamification approach. This is one of many real-world applications in the expanding trend of using features of games to engage people and influence their behavior. For help with the project, Mountain Park Health Center … [More]
Technology for Networking
Pitching itself as a mobile partner to LinkedIn, Reach offers technology to take online networking offline. The app enables users to locate other professionals based on proximity, industry and job title. Users can customize their option to apply to specific industries or disciplines. The app works as a virtual business card, letting users first identify potential partners in … [More]
Calling All Nerds
Phoenix recently welcomed Minneapolis-based The Nerdery to its tech scene. It is the company’s fourth major market since its founding in 2003. The company with the tongue-in-cheek name has earned numerous recognitions in the ensuing years, including making Inc. Magazine’s list of fastest growing private companies for seven straight years. “We took a long look at several … [More]
Mobile App Ops in B2B Market
Mobile apps have become a hot trend, and while B2C has gotten more saturated, Jay Belfore, co-founder and co-owner as well as software director of Scottsdale-based Widely Interactive, sees a lot of room for growth in B2B. “Mostly, now, they address a specific function,” he says. “Projects are unique to the individual business.” The mobile app should serve at least two … [More]
ASBA Arizona Business News
ASBA’s news delivery medium, the ASBA News Video Update, uses email, Web, social media and community partners to deliver short news briefs, tips and alerts as well as organizational announcements. Launched last year to provide more timely information on the economy, its news-themed videos are usually less than 90 seconds each. The ASBA News Update is a quick and reliable way … [More]
Here’s A Tip. Bravo!
Arizona residents Hector and Maria Rodriguez-Luna have partnered with various gratuity-based Valley companies for the recent launch of BRAVO, a cashless tipping app created to “applaud” service professionals for their hard work when cash isn’t available. Fifteen locations of Desert Parking and Integrity Valet stands will be taking advantage of the newly launched app. It’s … [More]
Jopwell Done
Recently launched Jopwell is the first tech-enabled recruiting platform dedicated exclusively to connecting leading companies with talented minority candidates. The website is already being used by companies committed to diversity initiatives, including Abercrombie & Fitch, AppNexus, Facebook, MasterCard, McKesson, and McKinsey & Company, in addition to several large … [More]
Your Trusted Network
Those who are looking to add a key player to their team, make new connections in their industry, or meet a mentor or mentee are often best served by going to someone they know and trust. Life-changing introductions are often just one step away, and it’s one’s most trusted contacts who are the bridge. The new app Shapr lets users build their “inner circle” to get trusted advice, … [More]
The FBI’s 10 Internet Safety Tips
Use reliable anti-virus software, and set it to update. Ensure the system’s personal firewall is active. Update patches on operating systems. Use complex passwords, and make sure the system does not have default passwords. Think carefully about information shared on social networking sites. FBI Special Agent Paul Schaaf offers an example of a post not to make public: … [More]
Cyber Security or Digital Vulnerability?
The common advice — and practice — about passwords is wrong, says cyber security expert Hoyt Kesterson. The former chairman of the international committee involved in creating digital signature credential protocols, the current senior security architect for Scottsdale-based Terra Verde Services points out that oftentimes, being required to frequently change their password puts … [More]
Tech Project Team Includes Kids
Software designers and developers at the Chandler offices of Pearson, a global company that provides education products and services to institutions, governments and individuals, are working on an early literacy mobile app for preschoolers — and part of the multi-generational project team are kids in grades 3 through 7. “We brainstorm with them to uncover the needs for … [More]
LifeLock as Employee Benefit
Help employees stay protected, satisfied and productive at work, knowing they’re getting the industry-leading identity theft protection benefits. An entirely new form of value to bring to employees, this service offers the best-in-class detection of identity theft. With LifeLock, employees have a proactive partner that constantly monitors their identity, scanning for threats … [More]
Small Business Resource Network
The AZSBDC Network is an innovative partnership between the state’s community college districts, the Microbusiness Advancement Center in Tucson and the U.S. Small Business Administration. It is fully accredited by the Association of Small Business Development Centers, a national system that connects 63 SBDC networks across the country. The AZSBDC Network has 26 locations across … [More]
Taking the Headache Out of Hiring
Chandler-based HiringSolved is an online search directory that employers browse through pre-built searches across a wide range of candidate types. Search for a game developer, executive chef, registered nurse, data scientist, wellhead designer and many more with one click. The search directory is another time-saving feature that allows users to spend less time hunting for the … [More]
Tools for a Business Mind
Established in 1996, Mind Tools Ltd. presents videos on business management tools that help more than 21 million people each year, as well as providing cloud-based training solutions to companies and government agencies worldwide. Its teams are comprised of career experts, businesspeople, coaches, writers, editors and journalists. Each video is about a specific topic and is … [More]
Kitchen Command
Cooking app SideChef reads aloud recipe directions so that cooks can pay attention to the cooking technique and quality of the food at hand. While including automatic timers to ensure meals are cooked to perfection, its voice command technology allows users to say “next” or “back” to move through a recipe at their own pace. Founder and CEO Kevin Yu also built in gamification … [More]
Text Has Feelings, Too
The developing field of affective computing (AC), which includes recognizing emotion in text, has significant potential in such business applications as marketing and customer service. Researchers Changqin Quan and Fuji Ren, in their article “Textual emotion recognition for enhancing enterprise computing,” recently published by Taylor & Francis online in Enterprise … [More]
The Fabric of Our Lives
BeBop Sensors, Inc. is now marketing a wearable, smart-fabric sensor that measures and reports in real time all aspects of physicality, including bend, location, motion, rotation, angle and torque. For markets from clothing and protective wear to robotics to appliances, BeBop’s Monolithic Fabric Sensor Technology measures actual physicality to sense and display 3-D maps of … [More]
