Preventing School Shootings in Texas: App encourages youth to collaborate with officials

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In a world dominated by smartphone usage, a developer has created a solution for bridging the gap between an unlikely duo: law enforcement officials and students. How so? By way of an app, of course.

Developed by Microassist, a primary training vendor for the State of Texas, the DPS (Department of Public Safety) application, iWatch Texas, will allow teachers, students and parents to report anything deemed suspicious, which in return could save numerous lives.

“It’s the first statewide mobile app of its kind in the U.S. that helps citizens track, identify and report on potential criminal activity. With the rise of the mobile generation, organizations with mission critical content – like DPS – greatly benefit from expanding their reach to a wider and technologically oriented audience,” said Microassist’s CEO, Sanjay Nasta in an official press release on the company’s website.

“Making sure the information is forwarded to the correct agency is a big part of this. Before, the information might now go to the right people, might not go in a timely manner, might not be there when the information is needed,” said Lieutenant Nick Bristow of the Collin County Sheriff’s Office. “[The application] gives law enforcement and school administrators a chance to intervene before it’s too late.”

The app already encompasses useful features, such as information on most wanted fugitives, sex offenders and human trafficking. Reports are transmitted to the Austin Regional Intelligence Center (North Texas Fusion Center in McKinney for the Dallas/Fort Worth area) where the information is then vetted and passed along to analysts from local, state and federal agencies. The information is used to gather intelligence and vet security threats, and is then passed on to local law enforcement agencies and school districts, respectively.

The suspicious activity reporting feature mentioned in this article will have a separate application in the future, according to an article by NBCDFW. The iWatch Texas application, along with an official overview, can be found by clicking here.

Are you developing an application that can save lives? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Saving Lives—with Wallpaper?: Researchers design wallpaper that detects fire

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If you’re redecorating your home, consider wallpaper; it may save your life.

At the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Ying-Jie Zhu and a team of researchers have developed a wallpaper that is made from environmentally friendly, non-flammable materials. On top of this impressive feat, the wallpaper can also prevent the spread of a fire and set off an alarm when there is a fire present. This development is great news for those who wish to be a bit more conscious of their interior surroundings. Traditional wallpaper is highly flammable because it is made up of plant cellulose fibers–not exactly something you want to line your walls with should you wish to prevent a fire from spreading.

The flame retardant paper is thanks to the same component that is found in bones and teeth: hydroxyapatite. The nanowires that are within the paper are coated with the hydroxyapatite substance. In an interview with Phys.org, Zhu said “the fire-resistant wallpaper has a white color, mechanical robustness, and high flexibility, it can be processed into various shapes, dyed with different colors, and printed with a commercial printer. Therefore, the fire alarm fire-resistant wallpaper has promising applications in high-safety interior decoration to save human lives and reduce the loss of property in a fire disaster.”

The nanowires that connect to the alarm are dependent on the burn off of graphene oxide–the material that, when completely burned off, cannot complete the circuit and set off the alarm. The researchers found this substance burned off too quickly, thus only set the alarm off for three seconds–not long enough to awaken a sound sleeper. To overcome this problem, the researchers modified the graphene with polydopamine, a natural polymer, which reduces the thermal response of the compound, thus allowing the alarm to sound for over five minutes. Graphene oxide also acts as an insulating material for electricity at room temperature, and when exposed to heat, becomes highly conductive–perfect for a sensor to set off an alarm.

The researchers hope to expand and increase production of the wallpaper while remaining environmentally conscious.

For a more information on the wallpaper, please click here.

 

Are you developing a technology or material that can save lives? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:
Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes.
Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s. For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

“Gaming for Everyone”: Microsoft designs accessibility controller for Xbox One

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Playing the latest game on an Xbox is an easy, straightforward process for most–at least when using the controller. There’s the triggers, bumpers, face buttons, a directional pad, sticks and the iconic green guide button in the center. The question is, if you’re a gamer like Mike Luckett, how do you continue to play the latest games when the controller does not accommodate the needs of a person who has lost all finger control? After a motorcycle accident, Luckett severed his C6 spinal cord, and despite being able to move his hands, he lost the ability to control his fingers. After telling CNET he “nearly decided to quit gaming,” Luckett won’t have to.

Microsoft has developed an accessible controller for those who can’t use the traditional one, appropriately naming it the Xbox Adaptive Controller. The new controller, for $99.99, allows users of all abilities to plug switches, buttons, pressure-sensitive tubes and other attachments as desired. “We’re coming up on 2 billion people playing video games on this planet,” said Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft’s Xbox team. “As an industry, when you start to hit that kind of impact act in terms of the broad base of people that interact with your art form, I do think we have a social responsibility.”

Image: Microsoft

For specific details on how this innovative controller works, CNET observed Luckett and said that “the key feature of the Xbox Adaptive Controller is that it has ports in its back that represent each button on a standard controller. So if Luckett needs the right-trigger button to be placed just near his elbow, for example, he can put one there and then plug it into the back of the adaptive controller. Now all he has to do is tap the button, and it registers as if he’d pulled the trigger on a standard controller.”

The Xbox Adaptive Controller will be available sometime this year. A detailed development timeline and more information about the controller can be found by clicking here.

Are you developing a technology that improves the lives of those with accessibility needs? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

Garbage to Luxury Fashion: Parley creates sunglasses made from recycled ocean plastic

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Riddle time! What circles the Earth four times in the run of a year, uses eight percent of the world’s oil production and takes 500-1000 years to degrade? Answer: plastic.

Image: Dezeen

The world’s oceans are being smothered by plastic; billions of pounds are circling in the waters (called gyres), and currently 40 percent of the ocean’s surface is covered. That number is also modest. If these facts aren’t concerning, feel free to read a few more by clicking here.

Despite the alarming statistics, one company has taken advantage of the plastic mayhem. Parley for the Oceans, in partnership with Corona (yes, the beer company), is taking ocean plastic and turning it into limited-edition sunglasses—high-fashion ones, might we add.

The glasses come in White Flag, Coral Sand and Reef Camo. The textures are made from low-quality grades of plastic, such as polypropylene and upcycled marine debris, i.e., plastics that have been more difficult to recycle in the past. “The sunglasses are the first produced with a new technology, which transforms low-quality types of plastic waste into high-performance materials, providing a unique look,” said Parley for the Oceans in a statement.

For every 100 pairs that are sold, the project will add a new island to the existing island network that Parley has committed to protect. The project is called Clean Waves, and you can find more information on the glasses, as well as the product waitlist, by clicking here.

“Parley for the Oceans addresses major threats towards our oceans, the most important ecosystem of our planet. We believe the power for change lies in the hands of the consumer – given he has a choice – and the power to shape this new consumer mindset lies in the hands of the creative industries.”

Are you developing a production method that turns trash into treasure? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

 

“Be seen. Be safe.”: Smart helmet pairs with Apple Watch, signals via hand gestures

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The days of pushing signal lights on a bike’s handle bars are over—say hello to the Lumos helmet. The helmet (compatible with iOS) allows riders to signal which way they will turn with nothing more than a hand gesture.

To do so, riders simply pair the helmet with their iPhone via Bluetooth, which is then calibrated with the appropriate hand signals via the Apple watch. When in use, the hand motions that were calibrated are then displayed via 11 LED lights, almost like the blinker on a vehicle.

This innovative Lumos helmet not only protects cyclists that choose to go on a midnight ride, but it also offers various impressive tracking qualities, such as distance traveled, speed, and time. The helmet can even sense when a rider is applying the brakes to slow down, which again, looks similar to when a vehicle puts on the brakes; except it’s on the back of the rider’s head.

The Lumos website describes its product as “the world’s first smart bike helmet that beautifully integrates lights, hard brake, turn signals, and helmet into a single cohesive whole.” The helmet is weatherproof and safety certified. It also boasts a rechargeable battery and integrated lights. Check it out for yourself by clicking here.

“Lumos started with a pair of engineers asking themselves how they could improve their own cycling experience and safety on the road. We loved commuting to work by bike, but all too often it’d feel so dangerous. So we decided to make a solution. A helmet that can make us and our intentions more visible. We announced the idea out to the public and fellow cyclists seemed to love it. The rest is history.”

Are you developing a technology that helps with the well-being and safety of cyclists? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is the largest specialist R&D tax credit consulting firm in the United states.  We solely provide services related to the R&D credit and are the only firm in the United States to offer free live webinars on a daily basis. Click here for more information.

The Longevity of Batteries: From lithium-ion to lithium-sulfur, latter signals new age in battery life

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It’s 2018, and when your phone battery dies, it feels like you die along with it–at least temporarily. Not being able to check social media, keep up with work emails, or access a map with directions to the latest craft beer taps seems (almost) anxiety inducing; for me it does, anyway. By way of the brilliant minds at The University of Texas at Dallas, the post-mortem phone blues may occur less frequently, thanks to their research and development efforts to create an efficient lithium-sulfur battery.

According to Dr. Kyeongjae “K.J.” Cho, a professor with research interests in renewable energy at UT Dallas, lithium-sulfur batteries “are less expensive to make, weigh less, store almost twice the energy of lithium-ion batteries and are better for the environment.”

“A lithium-sulfur battery is what most of the research community thinks is the next generation of battery,” Cho said. “It has a capacity of about three to five times higher than lithium-ion batteries, meaning if you are used to a phone lasting for three hours, you can use it for nine to 15 hours with a lithium-sulfur battery.”

To make the lithium-sulfur battery more efficient than a traditional lithium-ion battery, Cho and other researchers discovered that molybdenum, a metal that easily forms compounds with other elements, improved stability and compensated for the poor conductivity of sulfur, which makes lithium-sulfur batteries more practical. There are downfalls, however.

In an article for Nature Nanotechnology, the researchers explain, “Despite many advantages, Li–S batteries are plagued with practical issues that limit their applications: (1) the poor electronic conductivity of sulfur that retards electron transfer during the charge/ discharge processes; (2) the formation of intermediate polysulfides generated during cycling, which leads to the shuttle effect and increases the impedance of both electrodes; (3) the intrinsic issues of Li-metal anodes, which are often associated with uncontrollable dendrite formation during repeated Li deposition and dissolution processes; and (4) the formation of an unstable solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) layer between the electrolyte and Li metal due to inhomogeneous deposition of Li. These issues lead to the reduction of Coulombic efficiency and the subsequent fast termination of battery life.”

Despite the downfalls, it’s arguably a matter of time before R&D initiatives, such as the one above, brings forth a commercially available lithium-sulfur battery.

Are you developing a rechargeable energy solution? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.

AI ‘Fortune-telling’: Texas-based firm creates AI algorithm to prevent costly machine downtimes

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Veros Systems, a Texas-based AI tech firm, helps machinery owners to “gain actionable insights on rotating equipment reliability, performance and process abnormalities using only electrical signal analytics.” In essence, Veros has created a technology that can predict system failures using electrical waveform analysis. What does that mean, exactly?

According to the Veros website, their technologies use “edge measurements and processing,” which combines “rich electrical waveform data with machine learning and AI-based algorithms – leveraging over a decade of historical and event data – to provide predictive insights into machine operation and health, making the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) a reality.” To put it simply, Veros has created a technology that predicts mechanical failures; before they happen.  

Knowing when a machine will break down can help companies to decrease downtimes, improve efficiency and optimize maintenance, thus helping to cut costs and boost profits. In a recent statement, Harry Brekelmans, Projects and Technology Director at Shell Global, said, “We estimate that Veros could deliver an additional $300 million a year of production that would otherwise have been lost by unplanned shutdowns.” Impressive, to say the least!

Are you developing a technology that uses AI-based algorithms to deter production delays? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative

Surviving Hurricanes and Hopelessness: App to ‘rescue’ those in need, post-natural disaster

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The frequency of natural disasters is on the rise in the United States. From Hurricane Katrina, to the more recent Hurricane Irma, the need for efficient, temporary resettlement for displaced persons will, arguably, also rise. The good news? There may be an app for that!

Adam Huminsky and Brian Hilinski, founders of the Charlotte-based startup, Harmany, were tired of watching evacuees struggle to find places for temporary shelter in the wake of catastrophic events, such as hurricanes. Huminsky said, “People have grown tired of watching disasters unfold, with no way to help until much later […] Harmany was created to give everyone the ability to make a difference in the moment.” The application connects the profile of an evacuee (person with needs) with a host (person with offerings). In an article featured on techstartups.com, “After completing a series of security measures, profiles are visible on an interactive map. Harmany believes secure matches can be made in as little as two hours.”

The app will offer other benefits, such as less crowding on roads, specifically evacuation routes, which translates to safer highway conditions. There is hope that the application will also reduce surge pricing for essential needs, such as hotel rooms.

Developing an app that will improve the lives of others? Did you know your R&D experiments could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and you can receive up to 14% back on your expenses? To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Who We Are:

Swanson Reed is Texas’ largest Specialist R&D tax advisory firm, offering tax credibility assessments, claim preparation, and advisory services. We manage all facets of the R&D tax credit program in Texas, from claim prep & audit compliance to claim disputes. 

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE and CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative

 

Improving Safety for Autonomous Cars

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Tech companies are banding together to improve the safety of autonomous vehicles. The Autonomous Vehicle Coalition was announced this week and includes companies like Cisco, Esri and Econolite. The group will work with national government, industry and academic partners to responsibly integrate autonomous vehicles with roads and communities.

Last month’s fatal Uber crash became the first autonomous vehicle accident to kill a pedestrian. Also in the headlines was the Tesla crash that resulted in the death of the driver after hitting a highway barrier. Despite these incidents, which were heavily covered by the media, the proportion of crashes caused by driverless vehicles will likely be lower than those by human drivers once the technology is widely adopted. Most accidents are results of human error. Around 5.7 million car crashes occur in the US every year, with approximately 37,000 drivers and passengers and 6,000 pedestrians killed.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is conducting tests to find out how drivers use autonomous cars, for instance, whether they keep their hands over the wheel and whether they pay attention to the car’s audio and visual warnings. Professor of Philosophy, Nicholas Evans from the University of Massachusetts, will be studying risk-reward scenarios for driverless vehicles such as cars that decrease the number of deaths for drivers, but may increase the risk to pedestrians.

While car crashes will still happen of course, formulas such as the Safe Distance formula will improve safety by ensuring that cars do not follow too closely behind the car in front, which is a common cause of crashes by human drivers. In fact, in a US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report, Autopilot was found to reduce accidents by 40 percent.

Research and development towards improving driverless vehicles and infrastructure will help to save lives. Other benefits of this technology could include an increase in ride-sharing services, which will in turn reduce traffic, the need for as many car park spaces and pollution. Furthermore, many autonomous cars will likely run on renewable energy or electricity rather than gas. Companies working on developing driverless cars are eligible for the R&D tax credit. Read more about the credit here.

A solar powered stove and battery to rival Elon Musk? Mark Cuban is interested

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“Do you think you can put the fear of God in Elon Musk and put them out of business?” asked Mark Cuban on Shark Tank, a reality show about investors and entrepreneurs. His question was directed at Dr. Caitlin Powers, the CEO and founder of One Earth Designs. Elon Musk, the Tesla mastermind, had acquired SolarCity, a solar power business, in 2016. Powers, in contrast, had invented a solar powered stove that harnessed the energy of the sun to produce a powerful, fuel-free grill and her company was also in the process of developing a solar battery. Powers appeared on Shark Tank in hopes of securing an investor for One Earth Designs.

“Yes, I think we have the potential to do that,” she confidently responded. Powers received her doctorate from Harvard University and her solar energy research has been recognized by the US National Science Foundation, US Environmental Protection Agency, and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. From her travels in the Himalayas, Powers had witnessed firsthand the negative effects of fuel-based indoor cooking among nomads and farmers living in resource-strapped regions. Her solution: the SolSource stove. With its unique geometrical design, it can convert 92% of the sun’s energy directly into cooking power at up to 392 degrees Fahrenheit. It also heats up five times faster than a charcoal grill. “As long as you can see your shadow, you can cook with SolSource,” according to Powers.

Compact, clean, and safe to use, the SolSource stove is a sustainable alternative to fuel-based grills.  The original Solsource is priced at about $499 while the newer SolSource Sport is currently sold at $299. The Sport is a quarter of the weight of the original source, making it more lightweight for a variety of settings, from the beach, to the park, to the wilderness. From Powers’ pitch, especially her future plans to develop the solar powered battery, Cuban agreed to invest in One Earth Designs. Cuban would be pleased to know that Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk’s brother, is also fan of the SolSource grill and has tweeted pictures of himself using the product.

Developing solar powered products that could rival the likes of Elon Musk? You could be eligible for the R&D Tax Credit and can receive up to 14% on your expenses. To find out more, please contact a Swanson Reed R&D Specialist today or check out our free online eligibility test.

Swanson Reed regularly hosts free webinars and provides free IRS CE credits as well as CPE credits for CPA’s.  For more information please visit us at www.swansonreed.com/webinars or contact your usual Swanson Reed representative.