The coronavirus pandemic has brought times of uncertainty to every industry. Consequently, several companies are choosing to eschew long-term investments in favor of short-term gains. In technology, this has manifested in numerous organizations halting their 5G plans.

But businesses looking to secure themselves a place in the future shouldn’t just stand idly by. A myriad of operational efficiencies and new opportunities await early 5G innovators. The next generation of cellular technology will bring about numerous benefits for the Internet of Things (IoT): better maintenance, reduced downtime, and more robust data analysis name just a few advantages.

Want to kick your IoT development endeavors into high-gear? Then 5G is a necessity. Here’s how to get your IoT initiatives ready for 5G.

Design for Low-Power Wide-Area Networks

The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is a group of standards organizations that develop protocols for mobile telecommunications. To 3GPP, the future of mobile IoT lies in Low-Power Wide-Area (LPWA) networks. As their name implies, LPWA networks are intended to support applications and devices that are low cost, require low data rates, need long battery life, and can operate in remote locations.

LPWA networks play an integral role in connecting billions of devices to mobile IoT. Without them, only major metropolises with built-up infrastructures (e.g., Los Angeles, New York City, Beijing) could support the widespread use of this emerging technology. Besides this, LPWA networks also support a diverse array of operations across various sectors.

NB-IoT and LTE-M are the two most commonly deployed formats of mobile IoT networks. Their vast coverage range and low power consumption make both options impressive avenues to deploy your IoT product. Devices connected over either format can easily have a battery life of over 10 years.

Both NB-IoT and LTE-M have been accepted as 5G standards. The eventual objective is to have both supported by the 5G core network so they can facilitate the usage of new radio frequency bands.

Pick Which Tech Suits Your IoT Application Best

If you’re having trouble deciding between NB-IoT and LTE-M, don’t fret. Learning more about each one can elucidate the correct solution for your needs.

NB-IoT

NB-IoT stands for Narrowband-IoT. This technology minimizes connected device power consumption while optimizing system capacity and cell range. As the name implies, NB-IoT leverages only a narrow sliver of the total bandwidth projected from cell towers. It’s perfect for regions that don’t have great LTE coverage or applications that only need to transfer small amounts of data.

To extend coverage to regions with poor coverage while enabling low device complexity, NB-IoT employs much simpler technology than GSM/GPRS modules. It is also supported by all major mobile equipment manufacturers and already co-exists with 2G, 3G, and 4G mobile networks. The cost of comparable NB-IoT modules is actually expected to decrease as demand increases.

LTE-M

LTE-M stands for Long Term Evolution for Machines. Like NB-IoT, LTE-M can support IoT deployment with lower device complexity, less power consumption, and extended coverage range. It is also supported by all major mobile equipment manufacturers and co-exists with 2G, 3G, and 4G.

So, what’s the difference between LTE-M and NB-IoT? To answer that, we must examine your targeted application. Because it excels in applications that require only small amounts of data transfer, NB-IoT is great for static smart meter and sensor deployments.

On the other hand, if your deployment is literally mobile (e.g., you’re tracking moving vehicles), then LTE-M may be the way to go. It has far greater available bandwidth than NB-IoT. This means it can support more data-intensive applications, such as transferring large files. LTE-M also supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE).

Just in the first quarter of 2020, 107 NB-IoT and 45 LTE-M networks have been deployed commercially.

Don’t Forget to Account for Edge Computing

The choice of network technology is obviously an important factor for your IoT deployment. But it certainly isn’t the only aspect that determines the long-term viability of your project. It’s imperative that you also consider the types of devices you decide to deploy with.

In the future, everything regarding IoT technology will start at the edge. In edge computing, the devices themselves carry out the computation and analysis. By planning to utilize this paradigm now, you can get ahead of the competition. Unfortunately, many IoT platform providers undervalue the potential of edge computing.

But, in truth, edge computing brings as many benefits to the table as your network selection does. With optimized speed and performance and the ability to automate operations, it can dramatically simplify your design, deployment, and management of IoT initiatives. And this can make the difference between cost-effective scaling of massive deployments and endeavors that fall to the wayside.

Innovate IoT’s Future Today

We hope you’ve enjoyed this brief overview of how to simplify your IoT deployment on 5G. By making the right decisions for your IoT initiatives, you can minimize your investment risk, simplify the deployment, and set yourself up for seamless scaling.

It can be difficult to plan your IoT strategy during these uncertain times. But organizations that do will quickly reap the rewards and outpace the competition. So don’t wait. Plan for a brighter future today!

Cybersecurity affects every level of technology, from app developers and software architects to the end-user. That’s why we believe cybersecurity is one of the most important aspects of any project; without it, there is no peace of mind or guarantee to the user that their information is in safe hands.

When we joined the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, our Los Angeles-based innovation studio joined 99 other companies around the world. In case you don’t know about the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, it’s an organization focused on improving cybersecurity by bringing together a global group of committed companies like Microsoft, Oracle, Unisys, and Cisco to make cyberspace a safer place.

These companies must support their developers, users, and customers with transparency and education surrounding security protocols. They must also prioritize security in their products and services. Thirdly, by sharing information between companies about best practices, warning signs, and potential threats, we ultimately place the customer’s safety as the most important value.

Becoming a part of the Cybersecurity Tech Accord requires every company’s alignment with the accord’s objectives and goals. By giving everyone the same values to work towards, we believe that we will accelerate cybersecurity advancement, resiliency, stability, and quality over the years.

The Cybersecurity Tech Accord recently released an update about how they’re continuing their commitment. Here are some ways in which our partners in the Cybersecurity Tech Accord are doing so in their daily operations:

Tom Pendergast is the Chief Learning Officer at MediaPRO. He says, “We provide security and privacy awareness training for large employers, and our goal is to help employers reduce human risk in their employees’ lives, both at work and at home.”

Tenable’s VP of Global Government Affairs, James Hayes, says, “Tenable is a cyber exposure company. Our solutions help customers around the world manage, measure, and reduce their overall cybersecurity risk.”

And AnchorFree’s Strategy Operations Manager, Besart Copa, says his company is fighting for better cybersecurity globally. He says, “We are pro-security, pro-privacy, and pro-open Internet.”

To see more about what the Cybersecurity Tech Accord is doing to make cyberspace a safer place, check out the full video here.

We’re excited and honored to announce that Dogtown Media is one of 14 new members to join the Cybersecurity Tech Accord!

The Cybersecurity Tech Accord’s Objectives

Along with 90 other tech leaders like Microsoft, Oracle, and Cisco, each member is committed to improving the security, stability, and resilience of cyberspace through the following rules:

1. Each signatory must give their customers, users, and developers the necessary information and tools to help them understand current and future cybersecurity threats as well as how to protect themselves.
2. Secondly, each signatory must prioritize cybersecurity by designing and building products that put privacy, security, integrity, and reliability above everything else. This will help reduce cybersecurity attack likelihood, frequency, severity, and exploitability for customers and users everywhere.
3. Signatories will work with each other to improve best practices. By collaborating closely, we should be able to reduce the number of overall threats by increasing our technical partnerships, coordinated reports, and threat sharing.
4. Lastly, every signatory shall oppose any efforts to attack citizens and enterprises by building in exploitation protections from concept to distribution.

In our bustling Los Angeles-based design and development studio, we’ve always taken a prioritized approach to cybersecurity. We’re incredibly lucky to have Rob Pope as our Chief Technology Officer; he’s an ethical hacker turned mobile developer, and we’ve used his expertise since the beginning of Dogtown Media to inform our mobile app development process from start to finish.

With all of this being said, joining the Cybersecurity Tech Accord was a logical next step. We can’t wait to collaborate with the other 103 signatories in making cyberspace a safer place! Besides its objectives, the Cybersecurity Tech Accord’s values will also be instrumental in helping with this endeavor.

The Cybersecurity Tech Accord’s Values

All companies in the Cybersecurity Tech Accord must hold the following values closely:

1. Strong defense: Every consumer deserves equal protection online. It doesn’t matter whether they’re technically-inclined, where in the world they’re located, or what they believe.
2. No offense: We can not purposefully undermine the security of the Internet, and we should protect against cybersecurity attack efforts on our own products and services.
3. Capacity building: Cybersecurity isn’t a one-company job; it’s everyone’s responsibility. And we must improve consumers’ ability to securely and safely browse online as well as improve the diversity of cybersecurity experts.
4. Collective response: We will achieve better results if we work with others in the group.

Whether or not cybersecurity is important to you, it’s a growing issue that impacts every Internet user and consumer in the world. With these values in place, we can do a lot to decrease the risk of the most common and newest attacks known.

Moving Forward Together With You

The Cybersecurity Tech Accord has many initiatives planned for 2019, and we’ve joined at the perfect time to jump into collaboration and knowledge sharing with the other 103 companies.

We’re looking forward to participating in these endeavors, as well as delivering the latest news to you about cybersecurity updates in mobile app development as we hear about them.

We’re extremely excited for what the future holds. And we’re even more elated to play a part in making it safer for everybody around the world!

This guest-post is courtesy of our partners at Gummicube.

While preparing for an app’s launch, it’s key to consider how it’s going to be marketed.

Pre-optimization is one way to do just that. Pre-optimization is an App Store Optimization practice where you research and build out the app’s metadata and creative sets in an effort to maximize indexation, impressions and conversion upon launch. With 70% of app discovery happening in search, pre-optimization can help lay the foundation to your app’s marketing as you start to scale. 

Pre-Optimization Research

Pre-optimization research helps you discover what features are popular in an app’s space, what terms users are searching for, and what creative elements best convert those users. Basically, it means you do your market research homework before launching an app.

For instance, a receipt scanning app might want to know if users are searching more for “receipt scanning,” “tax calculation” or “expense tracker” apps. Determining this can help them plan out the product roadmap and identify terms they can target to help it rank better in the stores.

This is not a quick process; ASO takes time. Mobile App Developers should start using ASO software to research metadata and creative trends at least a month before launching. In this time, you can start to really understand what themes and features are popular in your app’s space. Note what keywords appear relevant to your app, so you can include them in the metadata and listings on the App Store and Play Store.

Along with keywords, you’ll want to look at the top-ranking apps in your category. This can help you see what creative elements they’re using in their icons, screenshots and videos to identify what appeals to users. What visual designs catch the eye the best? Competitor analysis can help determine what they’re doing that works, so you can utilize what works.

App store algorithms rank apps based on their click-through-rates, which creatives play a large role in. Creative elements that engage and appeal to users draw in clicks, thus helping the app’s rankings. It logically follows that apps in the top spots across multiple keywords may be using creative elements that help. Researching this can help you understand what elements they’re using that you can utilize too.

Building Metadata and Creative Sets

Once you understand the trending keywords and creative elements in your app’s space, you’ll want to start preparing your metadata and creatives for launch. The metadata includes the title, subtitle (on iOS), short description (on Google Play) and long description, while the creatives include screenshots, icon and preview video.

Your metadata will be structured differently depending on the platform your app is on. For iOS, Apple uses the keywords declared in the title, subtitle and keyword bank to determine what terms to rank you for. Google Play, on the other hand, has no keyword bank; instead, keywords need to be included throughout the app’s metadata and description to be considered.

For screenshots, you’ll want to include the elements you found users responded well to during your research. Some apps may work better with splash screens, while others might use stock imagery or iconography related to its theme. Utilizing best practices, such as screenshot callout text and an emphasis on popular features, can also help conversion.

A/B Testing & Soft Launching

Along with preparing your metadata and creatives, you can use A/B testing and soft launches for the app to acquire early learnings.

A/B testing helps you see how the metadata and creatives you’ve prepared convert users, adjusting for future iterations where necessary. Using an A/B platform like Splitcube can help you run tests without the app being live, so you can learn what converts prior to launch.

Soft launching can provide early insights into your app’s performance before its main launch. By launching in a smaller territory first, you can let users try the app out and smoke out any bugs, while gaining information on its performance that you can integrate into the full launch. During this time, your app will be indexed for keywords, helping you see which ones you’re relevant for and whether or not your creatives are converting well. 

Post Launch Iteration

The app’s launch day is a big deal, not just for you, but for the app’s indexation. Once the metadata goes live, the App Store algorithms will begin indexing it as they determine where it will rank in search results.

While no two apps index the same, it can take Apple an average of 3-4 weeks to fully index one. Google Play takes 4-6 weeks as it continuously crawls the description for keywords. Even then, indexation as a whole is an ongoing process.

It is highly recommended that app development companies constantly update and iterate their app to improve discoverability. Each time new metadata is deployed, the app has another chance at getting re-crawled and indexed. If done properly, this can help your app rank better for terms and for more terms overall. Once your app has finished indexing, you’ll want to look into releasing regular metadata updates.

Conclusion

Developing an app is only half the battle. The next challenge is getting users to discover and install it. To put yourself in a good launch position, you’ll want to start researching metadata and creatives at least a month before launch. With those findings, you can build metadata and creative sets that give your app a strong ASO foundation from its launch.

Once your app is live, you’ll want to give it time to index. When rankings stabilize, evaluate what worked and build on it from there. With continual updates, you can help your app perform better in the stores and improve discoverability.

When a design is good, you barely notice it. But when the design is bad, lacking, or unfriendly to users, it’s impossible not to.

So are there certain rules all good designers know? Can you design a beautiful app without a graphic design background? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Just learning the basic principles of good design and applying them throughout your app development process should yield substantial improvements.

#1: The Integral Roles of UI & UX

App design relies on UI and UX design; UI design involves aesthetics, colors, graphics, and animations. A strong UI design attracts new users and can help retain existing ones.

UX design is geared more toward the overall app experience. What is the app trying to accomplish or solve for the user? Who is primarily using this app, and why? Does the current flow ensure the user’s needs are met seamlessly and efficiently? What can we do to enhance their experience with our app?

Because UX design involves big-picture thinking, it requires research, testing, mockup creation, prototyping, and above all else, time.

A lot of design involves how you make your users feel. It’s the reason why most fast food restaurants use yellow, red, and orange in their branding. When colors, a basic component of every design, can invoke psychological responses in users, you must heed the necessity of choosing the right color palette.

At the end of the day, all of the effort and budget that goes into app design is all for the user and their experience with your app. Make it count.

#2: Sustainable Designs

Designing a gradient-filled, shadow-littered app could be a bad decision if you’re trying to be trendy. Good designs stand the test of time, and it’s better to have a more classic, slightly trendy design with a smooth user experience than a beautiful app that glitches every two minutes.

Another design consideration is planning ahead; if the app layout needs to be reorganized during development to add a major feature, what can you do to prevent that timesink next time? When an app changes its flow, design, or purpose, a new UX evaluation is required.

For an app to remain a constant, dependable application for a user, it cannot make drastic changes in layout and design at the same time. Many issues from poor planning arise when your app needs a major makeover alongside a major code refactoring.

Doing your due diligence ahead of design implementation can save a ton of time and headaches. And employing a sustainable design that not only stands out but allows you to be versatile when other unexpected dilemmas occur is priceless.

#3: Don’t Try to Reinvent the Wheel

Good design principles are evergreen; they never lead you wrong, and they’re always applicable, no matter what the current trend is. So when you’re trying to design a beautiful, user-friendly app, try to stick to the tried-and-true basics.

Good designs:

• Have a simple layout that you can understand at-a-glance
• Take advantage of white space and above-the-fold content
• Walk first-time users through a quick tutorial
• Gift users some control
• Present clear choices and exit options on every screen
• Show data if, and when, needed

Bad designs:

• Are plagued with cluttered UI that is difficult to quickly process
• Lack padding and space to let content breathe
• Push users straight into their app without any handholding
• Don’t give users any control
• Don’t give exit options or clear choices to follow
• Show data all at once or show data that isn’t contextually relevant

Don’t underestimate the importance of a strong, simple, and sharp-looking UI. You should go through five or ten of the top apps in the app stores, compare their designs and new user orientations, and take a fresh look at your design. This method helps us when we’re experiencing designer’s block here at our mobile app studio in Los Angeles. If you can take what is useful and discard what is unnecessary, you’ll be one step closer to capturing a substantial amount of users.

#4: Assumptions and Risks

Most UX designers don’t have 24/7 access to the app’s ideal customers for quick questions, so they have to make a degree of assumptions. Whenever you assume you know the user and their thought processes while designing, you’re taking a risk.

If your competition’s already landed on the app stores, check out what users are saying in their feedback and reviews. Ask yourself how this feedback informs your own app’s design. Staying ahead of user’s complaints isn’t always possible, and you should be ready to adjust your app as more user feedback rolls in.

#5: The User is King

When you get a bunch of experts in one room to talk about the advancement and improvement of one product, it’s difficult to put aside egos and know-how to work together.

But if we can unite over the simple fact that the app, and as a result, we, serves the user first, designing and developing a successful app doesn’t sound so difficult anymore. And when you’re able to work together to create a beautiful end-product for the user, they’ll thank you for it by telling all of their friends.

The Bottom Line

You probably already have a great design sense, and you might be feeling a little nervous to use your intuition in designing. But the best designs are borne out of creativity, some persistence, and a strong cup of coffee.

So don’t settle for the unexceptional. Keep pushing yourself. Eventually, with a little effort, you’ll produce a design you’re proud of.

2018 was a great year for mobile app development. But it was really just getting us ready for 2019. What’s in store for 2019? Well, we’re glad you asked! Let’s take a look at the biggest trends coming up in the new year.

Send in the Chatbots

At our Los Angeles development HQ, we’re always excited to take on new projects in the chatbot market. Chatbots are forecasted to grow to $1.25 billion by 2025. It’s easy to see why: They’re great virtual assistants that satisfy modern business needs.

Studies show that up to 50% of B2B buyers prefer self-help options. And thanks to AI, integrating a chatbot into your app isn’t a tedious programming chore anymore. In 2019, chatbot personalization will become more sophisticated and streamlined.

An Accelerated Mobile Experience

Google’s AMP (Application Performance Management) pages result in faster, better experiences for mobile browser users (and as a result, better retention). In 2019, this technology will be central to better speeds and performance in apps.

2016 introduced instant apps, native mobile applications that don’t need to be downloaded; they’re smaller than regular apps, and they lower waiting times when first setting up a new phone. This convenient way to simplify installation will be a welcome trend in 2019.

The Convergence of IoT, Wearables, and Location-Based Technology

Wearables are forecasted to expand market penetration; experts say the fitness wearables market is projected to rise 64% by 2019.

Combining wearable devices and mobile apps with IoT and location-based tech will help to create a more holistic health and fitness experience. Expanding this field to IoT can bring in additional sensors and trackers to feed more multivariate data into the existing model.

And although most wearables are focused on health and fitness, developers have the freedom to create a solution for any problem they deem solvable with wearables. Beacon Technology uses GPS to get a user’s location and send them an automated, customized message. For example, when you walk into a store, your phone will vibrate and show you a coupon you can use at the register.

We look forward to seeing how location-based technology is implemented around us in the near future, whether it be at airports, during mobile payments, or custom beacons for your own home.

Augmented and Virtual Reality

AR and VR are projected to generate $200 billion in revenue by 2020. In 2019, we can expect to see these emerging technologies exert more influence over mobile strategies.

Hardware is getting better; more smartphone manufacturers are integrating dedicated AR and VR platforms into their devices. And with more intuitive development kits to navigate and utilize, software is getting better too. So it’s no surprise that developers are set to create unique, beautiful user experiences with AR and VR in 2019.

As in recent years, AR will most likely steal most of the spotlight due to its practical applicability to various scenarios that VR is not suitable for.

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

Perhaps no other disruptive technology is impacting mobile app development more than AI. Today, integrating your app with machine learning (ML) has never been easier. And the benefits it offers are almost immediately realized.

ML and AI will particularly impact conversational agents like chatbots and virtual assistants in 2019. But that honestly doesn’t even touch the tip of the iceberg for the potential AI offers for business and consumers. Expect to see AI and ML implemented in novel ways this coming year.

Payments on the Go

Seamless and flexible payment systems are now expected by consumers from institutions; digital wallets and cryptocurrencies will continue to impact mobile app development in 2019.

There is a lot of potential for mobile blockchain applications in the next five years. And with e-commerce continually growing, mobile payment gateways will absolutely need to be secure, reliable, and convenient.

Integrating with the Cloud

If your mobile app developers don’t utilize the cloud to offload device wear and tear, you’ll want to make sure you’re including the cloud in your apps moving forward. With better storage options, loading times, and reduced hosting costs, the cloud can streamline the customer’s experience and the business’s operational workflow.

Research also shows that users are more likely to return to your app when an app uses the cloud.

Stronger Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity will become a big topic of discussion for many technologies and the industries in which they’re operating. In particular, mobile app data security is generally weak. Uber recently admitted to getting hacked, Facebook gave away user information without their explicit permission, and the EU recently fined Google $5 billion for Android anti-trust practices.

There’s clearly room for improvement. Hopefully, 2019 is the year industry leaders make it a priority.

Investing in cybersecurity can cost a lot up front, but it (obviously) costs more to replace your codebase and apologize to customers for losing their information. As consumers start prioritizing cybersecurity in their devices and software, mobile app developers cannot afford to fall behind in cybersecurity in 2019.

Predictive Analytics

Predictive analytics are being used to improve the user experience in apps for Facebook, Apple, and Google. A mobile app’s UI or UX can change depending on what predictions are made about your browsing behavior and interests.

This field will only get stronger with more data, so implementing predictive analytics, whether in your development workflow or in your actual app, can win you incremental improvements over time — which can become substantial, fast.

On-Demand Apps

The on-demand business model is growing beyond Uber, Postmates, and Seamless. In 2019, apps in this space will be enhanced by better UX/UI designs, predictive analytics, chatbots, and other technologies, like machine learning.

Even though it doesn’t seem like it can expand any further, this field will continue to grow and innovate new ways to bring us new services. And users will find that their feedback matters most for developers creating on-demand apps.

Your Imagination Is Your Only Limitation

2019 is the year for innovation in mobile apps. Many emerging technologies have evolved to the point that they’re ready for effective implementation. So this new year, creativity will be the name of the game for all involved with mobile apps.

What do you think is the most interesting mobile app development trend for 2019? Let us know in the comments below!

By now, we’ve all heard of or experienced the transformation of living rooms and kitchen areas into smart spaces with the help of devices like Alexa. But Internet of Things (IoT) development is also reshaping the commercial and industrial landscape with automation, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI).

Manufacturers and suppliers around the world are already capitalizing on major benefits throughout the supply chain from industrial IoT (IIoT). In fact, our next industrial revolution (called “the Industrial Revolution 4.0” by many experts) is riding on the cusp of IIoT’s newest features.

IoT Is Catalyzing the 4th Industrial Revolution

Using IIoT, AI, and edge computing, enterprises can combine data from multiple sources to distill insights to apply across the entire operation. This includes information from customers, sensors, service providers, employee input, and more. The result is real-time analysis that outputs actionable information, creating an automated system that just keeps improving with each iteration.

As Robert Schmid, the Digital IoT Chief Technologist at Deloitte, explains, “In IIoT technology, sensors are attached to physical assets. Those sensors gather data, store it wirelessly, and use analytics and machine learning to take some kind of action.”

The meteoric rise of IIoT occurred within the first two decades of IoT’s growth. No one knows where IIoT will take us or its long-term consequences. But we do know it’ll bring businesses unparalleled efficiency and unprecedented capabilities, resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars saved. Linear, rigid supply chain structures will become interconnected, dynamic, and highly-optimized systems.

And at the center of these systems are the customers’ needs.

Ensuring Customers’ Expectations Are Exceeded

Providing customers and clients with a great experience is the main goal of any business. With massive amounts of data available for support teams to look through, customers can get a clear picture of progress on a problem; it’s easy to track whether the customer’s package left the warehouse yet or where it might be stuck in the shipping process. And with this information and the help of chatbots and data analysis dashboards, any real-time demands can be met with accurate information.

Many experts believe that the power of IIoT depends on notifications and updates to react to sensors and machine data accordingly. After all, if companies aren’t going to use the data to continuously improve their systems or customer experience, what’s the point?

Predictive and Preventative Maintenance

Similarly, if there is no notification for emergencies, why even go through the trouble of installing advanced monitoring technology?

Because every machine is outfitted with sensors, it’s easy to keep track of which are more likely to be in need of repair soon. In many cases, sensors can be set to send an alert when they reach a certain threshold level. Engineers can be dispatched to the problem, drastically decreasing downtime in factories and supply chains.

IIoT is also bolstering the abilities of humans. Using infrared thermography, mechanics, repair technicians, and engineers can now get a new perspective on what’s going on inside the machines. Different colors can represent faulty connections, abnormal motors, tank levels, and pipe temperatures.

Instead of knowing when each machine’s lifecycle end is coming up, sensors can signal important updates for maintenance or replacement. Machine learning tracks minute changes in readings, so when the difference is significant enough, it sends an automatic alert to the appropriate party.

This comes in handy for maintaining a safe work environment. Running well-oiled machines results in huge improvements to worker welfare. IIoT also helps in case of emergencies. Sensors can monitor employees’ locations in tight or dark spaces, in case of an evacuation or accident.

A Future with Augmented Reality

One of IoT’s greatest strengths is its ability to adapt and work side-by-side with other disruptive technologies like AI. And IIoT is no different. DAQRI is a Los Angeles-based studio specializing in augmented reality (AR). They’re developing an AR helmet for engineers that will allow them to see 4D images above machines, instructions, and a map of every feature.

Another company, named UpSkill, is using AR to create wearables for field employees to send media and complete checklists, tasks, and work orders. This happens in real-time; managers can watch their employees’ progress by checking their IIoT platform.

Wearables and handhelds are a more affordable way for traveling salespeople to keep in touch with the rest of their colleagues and send automated notifications. Although they aren’t going to be AR-enabled for a while, it’s worth mentioning wearables; according to recent reports, more than 50 billion machines will connect to the Internet by 2020, and many of these will be wearables and handheld devices.

IIoT Will Affect Every Industry

AR enables employees to remain organized and helps train new employees at record speed. Ongoing maintenance keeps costs down for businesses and helps machines run longer. All of these savings in time, cost, and energy translate into a better experience for customers and a cheaper product all-around.

Machine learning algorithms working alongside traditional IoT systems multiply the true power of IIoT. The idea of “set it and forget” is a huge need for IIoT; it’ll drive many AI-fueled automations and IoT-enabled features while simultaneously pushing the envelope in sensor innovation.

And this doesn’t even begin to touch upon the plethora of other disruptive technologies that IIoT is integrating into warehouses and factories at a faster rate than ever before. IIoT will bring an infinite amount of possibilities, from the very top of the supply chain straight down to the consumer.

It’ll completely revolutionize every industry as we know it today. Are you ready for the next Industrial Revolution?

There’s Still Work To Do

In case you haven’t heard about the threat to our Internet freedoms in the past year and a half, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repealed net neutrality in December 2017.

This led to many citizens voicing concerns that their opinions weren’t being heard. After all, no one wants to swap the right to browse the Internet freely for unnecessary, expensive speed upgrades and Internet website bundles similar to the bundles available for purchase in cable TV subscriptions.

Under a repealed net neutrality Internet, we’d be paying for fast lanes. If you don’t fork over the cash, your Internet speeds are subject to throttling and content is subject to blocking. A perfect example of why this is inane occurred a few months ago, when California firefighters had their data throttled by Verizon during the state’s largest wildfire ever, the Mendocino Complex Fire. The issue wasn’t resolved until the fire department upgraded their data plan.

Unfortunately, things may still be up in the air. As soon as the news reached Capitol Hill that Governor Brown signed the new law into effect, the Justice Department sent a note to expect a lawsuit. The federal government wants to stop California from blocking federal regulations, but it’s not entirely clear whether they have rule over specific state-sanctioned laws too.

Setting the Standard

Experts have frequently noted that California’s new law has the strongest net neutrality regulations in the whole country. The new law gives the attorney general the main responsibility of making sure there are no potential lawbreakers.

Compared to the original federal law, California added quite a few extra regulations into its bill. First, it restricts zero-rated data plans (deals that allow Internet service providers (ISPs) to provide free calls, texts, or content in exchange for using a specific app or website). Because ISPs could restrict content from some companies but not others, it wouldn’t be fair to consumers.

Unlike the bipartisan divide when Congress discussed rolling back the federal repeal of net neutrality, both parties overwhelmingly supported the bill.

As a result of California’s strongly-worded bill, advocacy groups and tech activists say other states will surely follow the example California set. Indeed, more than 25 states have considered legislating net neutrality protections when the federal decision to repeal was made.

Whose Domain Is It, Anyways?

Attorney General Jeff Sessions spoke out against California’s newest law as soon as it passed. He says, “Under the Constitution, states do not regulate interstate commerce — the federal government does. Once again, the California legislature has enacted an extreme and illegal state law attempting to frustrate federal policy.”

Ajit Pai, the face of the FCC council that ultimately repealed net neutrality federally, also had some thoughts on California’s new law. He brought up a federal appellate court ruling that found “state regulation of information services is preempted by federal law.”

Additionally, Pai commented, “I look forward to working with my colleagues and the Department of Justice to ensure the Internet remains ‘unfettered by federal or state regulation,’ as federal law requires, and the domain of engineers, entrepreneurs, and technologists, not lawyers and bureaucrats.”

Telecom lobbyists are even predicting that this lawsuit could end up in the national Supreme Court.

Fighting Words

But Miguel Santiago, an Assemblyman representing Los Angeles who co-authored the new California legislation, disagrees. He says the new law directly relates to the First Amendment right of “free speech”. Specifically, he says, “The fight for social change and progressive values is directly tied to a free and open Internet. This measure ensures that we, in California, will maintain a free and open Internet that doesn’t discriminate or price users or content differently.”

The California Senator who initiated the legislation, Scott Wiener, said he thinks California can defend the new law in court well.

This lawsuit reminds Senator Wiener of another time when the federal government sued California. Wiener outlines that “we’ve been down this road before: when [President] Trump and Sessions sued California and claimed we lacked the power to protect immigrants. California fought Trump and Sessions on their immigration lawsuit. California won — and California will fight this lawsuit as well.”

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra helped lead a lawsuit against the FCC over the net neutrality repeal. But he says California needs more budget to enact the regulations, and, “while the Trump Administration continues to ignore the millions of Americans who voiced strong support for net neutrality rules, California—home to countless start-ups, tech giants and nearly 40 million consumers—will not allow a handful of power brokers to dictate sources for information or the speed at which websites load.”

It Won’t End Until The FCC Caves

The new California law will take effect on January 1st, 2019, and California Senator Kevin de León isn’t backing down against the federal government. As Senator de León aptly puts it, “The bottom line is this. The Internet is vital to our democracy because it is part of our daily lives.”

We’ve been watching California’s progress on the new bill from our Los Angeles-based mobile app development studio, and we couldn’t be prouder of our state government! We’re ready to support them and every state looking to reinstate net neutrality. But we know this endeavor will need all the help it can get.

Do you trust your ISP to have your best interests at heart? If you didn’t emphatically answer “YES!” with 100% certainty, you need to join us in the fight for Internet freedom and the right to privacy.

Show the FCC, the federal government, and big telecom companies that we won’t stop fighting for what’s right, no matter how much lobbying power or budget they may have.

Follow EFF (the Electronic Frontier Foundation) to fight against the ISP monopolies, corporate giants, and the FCC. EFF is in Washington D.C., following a Circuit Court case closely that will affect the federal lawsuit against California. Donate to the EFF today so they can continue fighting for our human right of fair access to a free and open Internet.

Healthcare is undergoing a revolution right now. More institutions and stakeholders are embracing the many benefits that mHealth app development provides. As a result, patients are receiving better treatment than ever before.

Below, we examine the market outlook for mHealth as well as a few of our own endeavors that have made a big difference in improving patient outcomes.

Just What the Doctor Ordered

The term “mHealth” only appeared a few years ago. Yet, few other technological paradigms can match the rapid growth it’s experiencing today. Healthcare is shifting towards the adoption of technology at an unprecedented rate, and for good reason: whether it’s appointments, prescription refills, video chats, or emergency calls, mHealth allows for the seamless exchange of vital information.

In a recent survey, Physicians Practice, the largest circulated business publication in healthcare, found that three out of four of their readers believe mobile devices and mHealth are here to stay in today’s medical practice. 75.9% even said they utilize the advantages of mHealth in their own practices on a regular basis.

Other forecasts support this viewpoint. Business Consulting firm Grand View Research expects to see a colossal 44.2% compound annual growth for mHealth applications, resulting in the market possibly reaching a value of $111.8 billion by 2025. Similarly, the “Mobile Health (mHealth) App Market – Industry Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts to 2023” report projects the mHealth market to reach $102.35 billion by 2023.

mHealth has proven to be invaluable in every step of doctor-patient interaction. It offers avenues for more precise personalized treatment as well as effective and fast communication. To see this in action, read on; we’ll discuss some of our most recent projects in the mHealth space.

Improving Cardiovascular Emergency Treatment

Cardiovascular (CV) disease affects 84 million people in the United States alone and leads to 610,000 deaths per year. Despite its common occurrence, emergency protocols for handling this affliction can usually only be found on paper. As you can imagine, searching for a piece of paper is the last thing doctors should have to do while treating someone suffering from a cardiac arrest.

Mark Ebling, Patient Care Manager at the Minneapolis Heart Institute (MHI), knew there needed to be a better way to access CV emergency protocols. He wanted the entire MHI network to have the latest treatment methods on tap. And with Dogtown Media as MHI’s app developer, he found the perfect solution.

We developed an intuitive cardiovascular emergency app that put the latest protocols in the palm of physicians’ hands. No more scrambling through piles of papers needed. And to avoid any lapses in communication, we also hard-coded the standardized protocols for offline use, so physicians in rural areas would be ready at a moment’s notice without the need for Internet connection.

This feature has been immensely beneficial according to Ebling: “A rural physician utilized a protocol within the app (could not find the paper version at their hospital) and successfully started treatment and transferred the patient (via the app) to us for emergent life-saving surgery.”The need for this app became readily apparent upon release. We expected a few hundred downloads from key physicians in the Minneapolis area. Since it became available, the app has garnered more than 4,000 downloads in seven countries and has already saved multiple lives!

A Simple (and Swift) Solution

The substantial demand for a cardiovascular emergency protocol app led Dogtown Media to create SwiftHealth, a mobile solution that brings the latest CV treatment methodologies to your fingertips. Our first in-house healthcare product, SwiftHealth is available anywhere and anytime, ensuring that physicians are ready to handle emergencies at a moment’s notice, regardless of signal strength or WiFi availability.

Of course, not all emergencies can be addressed right away. Similar to our MHI solution, SwiftHealth lets first responders and care providers refer patients to your CV service line’s intake with one click so he or she can get the life-saving care they need.

The app can be adapted to your brand while we maintain the technology underpinning it. This allows for easy incorporation and seamless scalability in any healthcare network.

The Growing Need for Innovation

mHealth offers a plethora of possibilities to improve healthcare in every facet. And healthcare providers and practitioners are finally starting to embrace these advantages.

Do you have an idea to enhance patient care, your network’s infrastructure, or any other aspect of healthcare? Don’t hesitate to contact us. Dogtown Media’s development headquarters are based in Los Angeles, but we work with enterprises and ambitious innovators around the world.

We’re extremely proud of the impact we’ve made so far in healthcare, but we know there’s still so much more to do. If you have an idea but don’t know where to begin, reach out anytime — if you can dream it, we can build it! We can’t wait to start working with you to build a better (and healthier) future.

Original article written by Dave Kerpen for Inc. Magazine

There is a proven correlation between our happiness and productivity. Of course, sometimes whether or not we’re happy isn’t up to us. When your situation rules out happiness, it’s time to revise your strategy. If you relieve a little pressure, you’ll find the balance needed to keep your head up during the daily grind — at work and beyond.

In spite of the many illusions that insist otherwise, there are only two things in your life that are totally under your control. Your action, or your response to a given situation, is the first. Your attitude is the other, and it’s your outlook relative to that situation.

It may sound like a frightening prospect, but it can be a relief to realize that most things are outside your control. You can drive carefully and still get in a car wreck. You can renovate your home and still struggle to sell it. The thing is, even when your circumstances appear to be working against you, you do control both your outlook and response.

There’s no doubt that it can be difficult to deal with the day-to-day when your life is unbalanced. Fortunately, the following tips — one of them dealing with mindset and two focusing on actions — can help.

1. Pitch picture-perfect.

That idyllic work-life balance we’re all striving to achieve isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. You’ll be much happier when you ditch the idea of work-life nirvana and instead recognize the value in experimenting with the ideal balance. Make sure your family, employees, and the people you care about know that you’re relying on their feedback. It can be hard to tell you’re dropping the ball if no one lets you know.

If you create the kind of environment, both at home and at work, where people feel comfortable communicating with you, you’ve already established a balance check. Realize that every now and then, something might slip through the cracks. It’s OK, and it happens to the best of us.

2. Schedule slack time.

We’re inundated with stories of CEOs like Elon Musk, who works for days without ever leaving his office, and Tim Cook, who gets out of bed at 3:45 each morning. These leaders are certainly successful, but modeling your behavior after them is a mistake. According to a study from researchers at Stanford, our productivity plummets after 49 hours of work in a week. Entrepreneurs, in particular, are prone to burnout and its profound negative effects.

In the early days of co-founding mobile technology studio Dogtown Media, CEO Marc Fischer worked himself so hard that he lost more than just productivity.

“Even though I loved what I was doing, I sacrificed my mental and physical health. I’d work until my vision got blurry, and once I literally made myself sick,” Marc says. “That’s when I realized how important it is to take a break. If you don’t, life will force you into downtime, anyway.”

To avoid working yourself into the ground, schedule time for breaks during your workday, and plan to take time off for vacations. While even the briefest hiatus might feel indulgent, you’ll profit from renewed energy when you return.

3. Take advantage of tech.

There is an entire family of apps devoted to increasing our productivity. Task management apps like Evernote and Things keep you organized and task-focused. Procraster and SelfControl put a stop to your procrastination by getting to the root of your delay. And if your productivity problem is really just that you look at your phone too much, the Forest app encourages you to focus elsewhere by growing virtual trees on your screen (but only if you leave it alone).

Another family of apps — this one focused on health and fitness — can help you when you do get close to burnout. Headspace, Inc., for one, is trying to bring the stress-relieving power of meditation to the masses, and the company currently has the top-ranked meditation app on Wirecutter. Calm, Apple’s 2017 iPhone app of the year, has meditation lessons and sleep stories that will soothe your thoughts away from life’s stresses. While one app download might not offer the whole solution to your particular circumstance, every bit of balance helps.

4. Be kind.

I’ve found that the best way to change my mindset is to focus on kindness for others. It’s amazing how doing a simple, mundane act of kindness can shift my perspective and improve my mood. In the heart of New York City, I like to go downstairs and give $5-10 to a homeless person to make my day. But there are lots of quick, easy options for acts of kindness: Hold the door open for people entering your office building for 10 minutes. Grab coffee for a couple of coworkers. Call your mom. You might be surprised at how great you end of feeling after an act of kindness.

5. Practice gratitude.

I’ve found that the other simple, fast way to improve my happiness and therefore my productivity at work is to practice gratitude. Write a list of people and things you’re grateful for. Write a hand-written thank you card. Go up to a fire fighter or police officer to say “Thank you.” Whatever your choose, being grateful will actually make you happier!

Sometimes trying to work in life’s crazier seasons can make you feel like you’re in a hurricane — and not the eye of it, either. Ditching the idea of perfection, recognizing the importance of downtime, practicing kindness and gratitude, and exploring the variety of productivity-boosting and stress-relieving tech tools available are all small but important steps that will help you regain some balance. Start with these ideas and regain control of your actions and mindset. You’ll be surprised at the benefits that result.