Avoka to Present “The Digital Customer Journey in Fintech and Beyond” at CloudExpo
Chris Harrold, Developer Evangelist at Avoka, will discuss “The Digital Customer Journey in Fintech and Beyond” on November 12 at the upcoming CloudExpo. This New York City event features 10 tracks, 22 keynotes, and 222 top speakers on Digital Transformation. This is the tenth year of the conference and topics range from blockchain to big data.
The transition to digital solutions is becoming expected across all industries and financial services is no exception. In his talk, Chris will highlight how legacy environments at financial institutions can make the transition more difficult, since they can slow down the implementation of new functionality expected by savvy consumers.
“The constant pressure to provide complete, omnichannel delivery of customer-facing solutions to meet both regulatory and customer demands is putting enormous pressure on organizations of all sizes and in every line of business,” Harrold says. “Digital transformation isn’t going to go away and the need for greater understanding and skills around managing, guiding, and understanding the greater landscape of change is required for effective transformations.”
The session will cover today’s shift in culture, the need for new technology, and the technical debt load that results from developing digital solutions in the financial world.
Can Alcohol Dependence be Reversed?
If you could inactivate the neurons responsible for alcohol addiction, could you reverse the effect?
According to scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the answer is yes – at least in rats. “We can completely reverse alcohol dependence by targeting a network of neurons,” said TSRI Assistant Professor Olivier George, who led the study.
Background
Previous research indicated that frequent alcohol usage activates a specific group of neurons. Alcohol-dependent rats showed that the more alcohol consumed, the more these specific neurons are activated—which leads to more alcohol use and, eventually, addiction.
The Study
The hypothesis of the study was that if you could inactivate the neurons responsible for alcohol addiction, you could reverse the effect. The research team injected alcohol-dependent rats with a compound that inactivated just the alcohol-linked neurons (about five percent of the neurons in the amygdala).
Results
After the neurons were inactivated, the rats no longer needed alcohol and the effect was lasting, continuing until the rats were no longer monitored. In a statement released by TSRI, George commented, “We’ve never seen an effect that strong that has lasted several weeks. It’s like they forgot they were dependent.”
Subsequent tests returned the same results. The rats didn’t experience shaking either, a typical withdrawal symptom of alcohol addiction. Interestingly, rats who were casual binge drinkers did not experience the same effect—which may be due to the fact that they did not yet have a path of reward established in the brain.
TIRF Survey Says More Drunk Drivers on Roads
Planning Ahead for Night of Drinking May Save a Life
Results from an annual public opinion survey conducted by the 2016 TIRF (Traffic Injury Research Foundation) USA Road Safety Monitor indicate that an alarming percentage of drivers admit to driving impaired. Of the 5,050 individuals surveyed, 5.5% said they had driven impaired often or very often and 11.7% drove when they thought they may be over the legal limit.
These numbers are higher than those from the 2015 survey and draw a parallel with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s report that alcohol-related fatalities have increased. In fact, nearly 1/3 of traffic fatalities in 2016 were caused by alcohol.
The Two Most Popular Reasons to Drink and Drive
According to the survey, the two most popular reasons for driving impaired were that drivers:
1. Thought [they were] OK to drive
2. [Felt destination was] not very far away
Of those surveyed, younger men and drivers who had received traffic tickets were more likely to drive when they thought they were under the influence. Research has shown that individuals who have been drinking have a false sense of confidence about their driving ability.
More surprising is that although most feel that having a designated driver when out drinking is a good idea, a fairly large percentage (19.3%) never does. And a higher number than last year (8.4% vs. 5.3%) admitted to riding with a drunk driver.
Plan Alternative Transportation Before You Start Your Evening
So much of the population thinks, “I can drive, I won’t cause an accident” but the facts prove that to be false. With so many transportation options, there’s no need to be driving drunk. Plan on a ride home before you even head out the door, whether with a designated driver or alternative transportation such as a taxi, Uber, or Lyft.
The Traffic Injury Research Foundation USA, Inc. (TIRF) is an independent road safety research institute.
Learn more ways to drink responsibly in the Sober Days for the Holidays Resource Center.
SCRAM Systems® Supports Highway Safety at Lifesavers Conference
SCRAM Systems® was pleased to participate in this year’s Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities held March 26-28, 2017 at the Charlotte Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. This conference is the largest gathering of highway safety professionals in the U.S. and focuses on the challenges and potential solutions for today’s traffic safety issues.
Featured Products
SCRAM Systems showcased SCRAM Continuous Alcohol Monitoring® (SCRAM CAM®) and SCRAM Remote Breath® on the exhibit floor. With a diverse group of attendees, many were interested in learning how these products help monitor individuals for alcohol usage. Other products on display included roadside sobriety tools, prototype vehicles designed to determine if the driver has consumed alcohol, car seats with special sensors that notify when a child is left in a vehicle, devices that keep semi-trucks from jackknifing at higher speeds, and more.
According to Brett Wilday, Program Manager at SCRAM Systems, this year’s show was reportedly one of the largest so far with over 2,200 attendees. “This is a great show that gathers different industries with the goal of improved safety,” he said. “It brings professionals from a variety of backgrounds to share the latest technology, best practices, and ideas in a collaborative environment.”
Workshops at the Show
Over 80 road safety workshops were held throughout the event covering a range of topics including:
– Older drivers, teen traffic, and children
– Pedestrians, bicycles, and motorcycles
– Safety belts
– Driver assisted technology
– Distracted and impaired driving
– Sobriety courts
SCRAM Systems is a strong proponent of highway safety and looks forward to continued support of events and organizations whose focus is to reduce road-related injuries and deaths.
Maptek Staff Places First in Colfax Marathon Division
Denver Maptek staff won the Energy, Environmental and Geology Division of the 10th Annual Kaiser Permanente® Colfax Marathon in Denver on May 17, 2015. Maptek selected Make-A-Wish® Colorado to receive the $1,250 cash prize on their behalf. Make-A-Wish is a non-profit organization that arranges experiences for children with life-threatening medical conditions.
The team, comprised of Jon Dale, Mark Bourget, Chuck Yarbrough, Steve Uecker and Richard DeMarco, competed in the full marathon relay race (each completing about 5 ¼ miles) along with 1,077 other teams. The Denver team finished 17th out of all competing teams and fifth out of the corporate teams.
Maptek Donates $21K to Make-A-Wish™ Foundation
Maptek presented a check for $21,300 to the Make-A-Wish™ Foundation in December 2014. The staff participated in “Growvember” – a month-long fundraising event in which male employees volunteer to grow their beards in an effort to raise funds. All employees participated by forming teams and generating donations through raffles, silent auctions, bake sales, and events.
“This is one of the most amazing fundraising efforts I’ve seen and I’ve been doing this for 30 years!” said Pattie Forsythe, Director of Events/Promotion for the foundation. Make-A-Wish™ Colorado has granted more than 4,400 wishes to eligible children throughout the state; this donation will enable three children to have their wishes granted.
The team that raised the most money won the opportunity to select another non-profit organization to receive an additional $5,000 from Maptek. The team, headed by Nate Bazar, chose the Denver Children’s Advocacy Center. The DCAC is a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of children traumatized by sexual abuse and violence – as well as those who are at high-risk – with prevention, education and direct services.