Artificial intelligence can improve many processes in the insurance industry. Three areas that would benefit the most from these improved processes are pricing, claim handling, and fraud detection. AI can gather information and accurately analyze it to provide competitive policies that meet the needs of the customer. Implementing AI in claims handling would cut down on time and money spent throughout the claims process. AI has the ability to detect fraud at a much higher success rate than humans because of its ability to run through data. This could save the industry billions of dollars in fraud. https://www.bankrate.com/insurance/artificial-intelligence-meets-the-insurance-industry/

Many companies in the Tech Industry have announced their cooperation in assisting the government and health officials in the fight against COVID-19.

Apple and Google recently announced that, due to the situation the World finds itself in, they have decided to work along side one another to come up with the best solutions they can to fight the virus. Additionally, many companies that offer software services, such as MariaDB, have announced that they will be providing their platform to causes working to stop COVID-19.

For more information on the measures that Apple and Google are planning to take, visit the link bellow.

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3534478/tech-pitches-in-to-fight-covid-19-pandemic.html

Video conferencing application Zoom is a target of hackers. Hackers are utilizing this newfound use of Zoom to expose user data including passwords, webcam/microphone security, emails, or device information.

According to Devashish Sharma, CTO at workplace communication and collaboration platform Flock, it is crucial for businesses to have to right security apparatus in place to avoid confidential organisational data falling into the wrong hands.

Issues that have affected its credibility is data-sharing with Facebook, exposed LinkedIn profiles, and a “malware-like” installer for macOS.

Zoom Video Communications has also been sued by one of its shareholders who alleged that the company kept some of its security flaws hidden.

The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, alleged that Zoom failed to disclose some vulnerabilities and that the services did not provide end-to-end encryption.

Read more about it here if you want: https://www.hindustantimes.com/tech/hackers-love-to-find-exploits-in-zoom-video-conferencing-app-sell-on-dark-web-for-up-to-30-000/story-8ENUrtdy6bqZOq8o3G0VeK.html

It’s so easy to develop an addiction. Especially one that’s as common as being dependent on technology. Many parents wonder as they watch their children use tablets, phones, and tvs every single day, if this really is an addiction. Luckily, “Today’s Parent” has created a video listing 9 common signs of screen addiction. You can view the video here: https://youtu.be/0Me0Tn22ZHk. 

The Signs

While the video lists 9 signs that suggest your child may have a screen addiction, I will only discuss a few. There are obvious signs that are easy to spot such as lack of interest in other activities, or frustrating evenings when no tablets are allowed, but what about some of the more subtle signs? Is your child constantly talking about their tablet games? Or refuses to engage in conversation? These signs are often overlooked or thought of as “kids just being kids” when really these are the more serious symptoms of screen addiction. 

How to Prevent Addiction

There are many ways to prevent your children from developing a screen addiction. One of the most obvious being limiting screen time. However, there are other ways that will keep your child’s technology usage in check. Try leading by example, by limiting YOUR (the parent’s) amount of time using tablets, phones, and tv. Also try to encourage non technological hobbies like playing board/card games. Oftentimes kids and even adults get so involved in the game that they forget to check their phones. And if games aren’t your liking, try reading a book, making crafts, or having a photography session with an “old” style camera. Oh and there are always traditional sports, which don’t require technology. Most children use tablets and technology to have fun and socialize. The point is to show your child that there are ways to do these things without the screens.

Unplug

If you’ve watched the video and you think your child is addicted to screen time, don’t panic just yet. Like with all addiction, there are ways to quit. It’s important that you, as the parent, stand strong. Encourage your kids to adopt non-technological hobbies as mentioned above, but also begin to wean them off the screens. Remember it won’t be easy. Start by setting a timer for a certain amount of minutes or hours, and tell yourself and your child that when the timer goes off, no more screen time. Each week you should decrease your child’s amount of screen time so that the process is gradual. This method can also be reversed, having your child spend at least 1 hour doing a “non-technology” activity daily. Then, gradually increasing the time spent on non-technology activities. The details should be manipulated depending upon the situation but the important thing is that the change is slow and gradual.

Technology and Communication two extremely large businesses in the world today. Together they make Information, Communication and Technology a major that can take you many different places. ICT is considered a mix of IT with a major focus on communication in the technology world. So if you find your self in a bind between majors ICT could be the middle ground a perfect place for you. If ICT sounds like a major you wold be interested click here to learn more.

Meditation and mental health apps have seen a huge spike in usage. Apps such as Headspace, Talkspace, and Sanvello.  As everyone is self isolating we see a need for these apps more than ever. We now see that users have better access to Mental Health care due to these applications, but the question remains. Are these apps just as good as traditional counseling? This article discusses if that’s the case

https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/03/20/905184/coronavirus-online-therapy-mental-health-app-teletherapy/

The NFL has officially announced its move to a virtual draft this year. Though challenging, yet doable, the growing concern behind the updated event is its security. With the spread of Covid-19, many of the organizations are using teleconferencing platforms such as Zoom. Although Zoom is being used by schools and businesses all around the nation, many teams are still concerned about hackers. Head coach of the Baltimore Ravens John Harbaugh has expressed concerns about Zoom based on newspaper articles that he has read about security breaches. He has talked with several IT staff within the Ravens organization about trying to work on a more secure setup. The NFL draft is right around the corner which is forcing those in charge of cybersecurity of each team scrambling to implement new security precautions. Read More.

The world is in havoc, and people rely on technology to get them through this whole pandemic. They may not know that it will be affected by the COVID 19 virus do to loss of revenue and the ability to research new tech. See how else the illness is affecting the technology industry around the world.https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/virus-attack-to-slow-down-it-growth/articleshow/74956507.cms

Niam Yaraghi writes about how the recent COVID19 pandemic will need to change how we access health information both before and after it happens. He talks about having more access to citizens health records and tracking people via their cell phones. What will this lead to though?

Thoughts like this, may seem like they have the best intentions; can this lead to other problems in the future?

It may be thought of as okay in other countries to track its citizens whereabouts, but most Americans would agree that they do not want the government or other officials tracking them at any time. This is an invasion of our privacy.

We have the right to be left alone in the United States and anyone entering the IT profession, and in this context, Healthcare IT, need to remember that. What you do can have serious repercussions down the road for future generations of Americans. What may be a request be a healthcare provider, may be a violation of our rights.

We may think it is okay in a pandemic to track where people have been, but does that technology get used then outside of the healthcare setting. It inevitably will get used whether for honest reasons or not. We may say we don’t have anything to worry about if we’re not breaking the law, but are the law biding by the law themselves.

Everyday our rights are challenged by groups of people who want access to our information. As IT professionals, it is ethically part of our duty to protect the rights of Americans to not be traced, tracked, or be monitored if they do not want to be. Contributing to healthcare IT is a fine line to walk, and we want to be part of the healthcare solution, not part of the problem.

The US lacks health information technologies to stop COVID-19 epidemic