PreScouter

Internet of Things or IoT has been a buzzword for many years, with IoT adoption growing rapidly in recent years. According to Futurum, 13.8% of surveyed organizations adopted IoT in their organizations, 54% had somewhat started this endeavor and 32% had not yet taken any steps with this technology. IHS survey estimates that there will be 20 billion connected devices globally this year. And Business Insider predicts business spending on IoT solutions will hit $6 trillion by 2021. Vodafone found that 66% of responding executives believed no digital transformation is possible without the Internet of Things. Forrester Research has predicted that IoT will become “the backbone” of customer value in the retail industry as IoT helps to connect with customers, grow brands, and improve the customer journey in deeply personal ways. But industries like healthcare and logistics are not far behind. They use IoT to connect with patients via wearable devices, and track their health on a constant...

In the wake of growing concerns about the theft and misuse of big data and personal information, the European Union (EU) has passed the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) enforcing the right to personal data protection of the individuals throughout the Union with effect from May 25, 2018. What is GDPR? The EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is new legislation aimed at protecting the data privacy of all EU citizens and residents. It aims to simplify the regulatory environment for international business by harmonizing the data protection acts among its member states. A very important component of the act is the control of the transborder flow of private data outside the EU and prevention of personal information abuse by entities outside the Union. Enforcement of GDPR has several implications for businesses , academia and non-profit organizations working on data collected or derived from EU nationals and residents. GDPR Timeline of Events: GDPR started as European D...

Have you ever wondered why two people can eat the same amount of food, but weigh differently? This may be due to the gut microbiome, the taxa of microorganisms residing in the gut and their genes. Many people have tried to find correlations (and remedies) to obesity, a health problem that affects 13 percent of the global population. Studies from chili peppers to the amount of sleep, to vitamin C, have all tried to find probable cause and prevention of obesity. But there is another factor. Research of microbiomes might reveal a new mechanism for weight gain, beyond diet, lifestyle and genetics.  How the Gut Microbiome Shapes Obesity The gut microbiome is the taxa of microorganisms residing in the gut (the microbiota) and their genes. The gut microbiota consists of trillions of microbes, including bacteria, archaea, viruses and single-celled eukaryotes. Current estimates reveal around 1,000 distinct bacterial species in the gut, with the most common phyla being Bacteroidetes an...

The spiral pump (also known as water wheel pump) is a hydraulic machine that pumps water without electricity. With the global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, the increased focus on renewable energy is making the spiral pump a viable option for pumping water, especially in rural areas and developing countries. Simple installation and low maintenance costs make the spiral pump a favorable, environmentally-friendly alternative.  What Is a Spiral Pump and How Does It Work? A spiral pump is constituted of a pipe wrapped around a horizontal axle, generating a spiral tube that is fastened to a water wheel. The water wheel is in flowing water, so that the water in the river provides the energy necessary for the rotation of the wheel. Hence, the spiral tube also rotates. When the inlet surface of the tube (the tube’s external extremity) passes into the river, water enters into the tube. This water volume moves toward the outlet of the tube (the internal extremity), at the center of...

The 3D printing industry has expanded rapidly over the last few years, with one of its most notable areas of application being the health and medical industry . Innovations include printing everything from medications to human organs , but perhaps the most commercially successful so far has been prosthetics. While 3D printing prosthetics allows amputees to get a hold of products for thousands of dollars less than traditional prosthetics, the methods and materials used are raising concerns. Successes of 3D Printed Prosthetics 3D printed prosthetics can greatly benefit children. The average lifespan of a prosthetic is five years, but in that time a child grows so rapidly that they will need a new prosthetic much more frequently. According to a statement made by the American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association, the average prosthetic costs between $1,500 to $8,000. This expense is often paid out of pocket rather than covered by insurance. By contrast, a 3D printed prosthetic cost...

Synthetic polymers have long been the foundation of packaging materials. However, because synthetic polymers are non-biodegradable, our reliance on them in the packaging industry has led to serious ecological problems. Here are some examples on how long it takes for some packaging to degrade: A Plastic Bag…………………….. 10-20 years A Plastic Film Container…….. 20-30 years Foamed Plastic Cups……… 50 years Plastic Beverage Bottles…… 450 years Biodegradable polymers are intended to reduce waste. Biodegradable is a type of material that can decompose into natural elements under the action of microorganisms within a short period of time after disposal – typically a year or less. It is believed that biodegradable polymers will replace synthetic polymers at a low cost, thereby producing a positive effect both environmentally and economically. Types of Materials Used The property of polymers to biodegrade is defined by their structure and does not depend on the raw material from wh...

Technology scouting is an art and a science. Based on my experiences working with numerous corporate clients on their technology scouting needs, here are some tips to help you become a technology scout. 1- Clear up ambiguity with the customer, at the very start. Whether you are a technology scout as just part of your job, or all of your job, you have a customer. Based on your circumstances, the customer could be: The end customer, who uses your company’s products A marketing team, that comes to you with end customer needs they want solutions for A strategy team, that has determined it would be in the best interests for your company to acquire certain technologies or competencies A product development or R&D team, that would prefer for a solution to be found externally – perhaps because the solution is not core to your company’s competency Whoever your customer is, clearing up any and all ambiguity at the start will ensure the technologies your find are best targeted to thei...