Oil and gas competitiveness hinges on the latest Information Technology systems

The competiveness of the oil and gas industry could hinge on the latest information technology systems. People hear so many things today, such as automation, machine learning, and the internet of things. Sometimes it’s annoying because it’s not always clear what they mean to the oil and gas environment. Most of the industry already has implemented foundational IT solutions and IT programs. There is a new breed of technologies, which have shown up for more than two to four years.

STRUCTURAL SHIFT IN THE INDUSTRY

The oil gas industry, in the last three years has pushed hard on the three levers of reducing cost, reduced staff, enhanced supply chain efficiencies as well as improved processes. To have a deeper process layer, enhancements would need a more sophisticated technology app in, for instance asset maintenance. Already, the industry has a deep comprehension of maintenance, but most approaches are rooted in some kind of usage or time-based measure. The more empirical maintenance approach could potentially engage the equipment manufacturer to help customers make sense of the data that the sensors collect and the assessment of equipment condition more accurate. In time, the understanding of a producer of the operating parameters of the equipment will improve, and maintenance departments will incorporate that learning to more lower-cost, efficient turnaround schedules.

THE FOUR KEY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS TRENDS THAT TRANSFORM THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY

1. Out with the old models and in with smarter financial models. The global IT spending in the industry would be worth $48.5 billion by the year 2020, with a major growth driver as the improved resources efficiency. Information and operational technology are starting to converge as new enabling technologies like the IoT have become more affordable and provide new ways to work smarter for less. The enhanced affordability enables not only big tier one organizations, but smaller ones transform the EAM or the enterprise asset management systems and boost uptime.

2. Extracting the most of existing resources. The companies that could move on new projects would continue to do so with a lesser headcount. Nevertheless, without the right resources, organizations run the risk of being unable to accomplish vital projects. Also, there’s a lack of younger engineers that come through to bridge the tap, who adapt easily to new technology.

3. Aging assets at a crossroads of being scrapped or maintained. The market’s unpredictability meant that the oil and gas field has reduced expenses on big-scale modification and maintenance of assets. However, it has not stopped operating. The longer that a firm delays maintenance of asset, the more hazardous it could become from an environmental, safety and operational viewpoint. Oil and gas companies struggle to catch up the backlogs. Effective used of reduced headcounts as well as contingent labor means possessing the right tools for planning and executing complex projects, workforce management and would be important to keep the costs and time of the organization efficient. Agile information technology systems means faster implementation and so quicker time to value the big-budget projects.

4. Fitter and leaner industry. The oil and gas companies, with leaner information technology and use of emerging technologies mean that they are well places to quickly adapt to new business methods and strategies to support the growing market.

CLOUD-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE

One way to boost effectiveness in the oil and gas market is to move the infrastructure to the cloud. Cloud-based infrastructure could hasten value realization and provide faster to deploy and more agile solutions. The entry cost is low and companies that survive and prosper are those that know how to leverage the enabling technologies such as mobility and cloud, to help optimize and automate processes as well as apply analytics to boost the operations output.

TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS IN OIL AND GAS

In response to the recent advancements in technology, oil executives have to take into consideration digital technologies that have the potential of transforming operations as well as build more profits from existing capacity. The effective use of digital technologies in the sector can lower capital expenses of up to twenty percent. It could cut the costs of operations up to three to five percent and around half of that in downstream.

The oil and gas enterprises were pioneers of the first digital age back in the 80’s and 90’s. Long before words like advanced analytics, big data and the IoT became popular, the executives in the field were using 3-D seismic, linear program modeling of advanced process control and refineries for operations. Utilization of such technologies unveiled new hydrocarbon sources and delivered operational efficiencies throughout the value chain.

Prices of oil seldom have stayed constant and while they’re stable at present, they could continue to decrease for the near future. For the industry to stay relevant, it has to make money for its stakeholders. To do that, it has to employ all tricks it has on up it sleeves, and the most powerful among them is the employment of technology.

Several ways that Information Technology could help build peace in the world

In IT programs or even in Information Technology education, not everyone knows that technology could help build peace. Tech innovations for conflict resolution and peace need not have a true social impact in order to succeed. Most people would only help change the world if it comes without true sacrifice and so it speaks to ongoing controversies. Conflict resolution and humanitarian development with technology-based approaches are admired by policymakers for their promise to quick-fix solutions. The traditional peacebuilding policy, which involve careful analysis for years or even decades is upended by ‘disruptive’ solutions that are gaining traction. Peace researchers who want to influence policy debates could not just release findings but should establish mechanisms to implement.

THE GOAL OF PEACE SCIENCE

The peace science’s goal is to comprehend ways to contribute better to peacebuilding. This implies that scholars should recognize how the new forms of knowledge and communication dissemination influence the policy world and be ready to react and act accordingly. New information technology systems could open up novel approaches to building peace. This was especially apparent in a lot of projects that use video games as a tool for attitude change. For instance, Peace Superheroes that is in development currently, offers players a chance to take on the role of peace builders as they transform violence.

TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES ARE DESIGNED TO ENGAGE

There’s a lot to be excited about in using information technology to build peace. In comparison to traditional ways of shaping the peacebuilding policy, technology approaches are more bottom-up and designed to directly engage with citizens, in contrast to working via recalcitrant or cumbersome politicians. Solutions like electronic tracing applications for conflict minerals or crowdsourcing experiences of victims to create a knowledge base for reconciliation and truth committees could better assist those who need it most. However, often start-ups launch peacebuilding initiatives without engaging deeply with existing knowledge or even worse, do not think that this knowledge is needed. This could mean that they’re useless to local communities or much worse, could be repurposed by governments to target people that the technology was supposed to help.

USING TECHNOLOGY FOR BUILDING PEACE

One major reason of using technologies in building peace is that they could empower a bigger number of people to engage and to participate. There are a lot of ways that technology could be used for empowering different groups in both conflict and post-conflict contexts. For example, there are well-documented tensions between state uses of technologies for security implications and surveillance of some grassroots uses.
Another assumption that underlies the use of technologies for building peace is that it could help boost peacebuilding, with the caution that there are risks and ethical issues associated with it. It’s evident in the proliferation of innovative initiatives and a lot of discussions on the role of technologies in more traditional peacebuilding.

TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPERS AND PEACE BUILDERS

Tech developers and peace builders shared reasons for concern and hope about the future. But in one aspect, they were united in smaller or bigger ways. Build Peace is a conference for social entrepreneurs and activists who want to look for ways to harness technology for building peace. There was huge agreement that on its own technology would not be able to solve conflicts, in comparison to several of the more techno-utopian ideas that apparently had captured the imaginations of people a few years back. The acknowledgement that technology could only be truly effective when used by, or in coordination with peace builders with in-depth knowledge of societies and conflict being targeted.

ALTERNATIVE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR PEACE

The depth and variety of experience shared in the Peace Building conference demonstrated that the use of technology for building peace is on the rise. Nevertheless, there are also alternative infrastructures for peace that are the result of tech-enabled initiatives.

1. Making space for new visions. Digital media provides the tools for collaborative media creation and dissemination, including blogs, social media, citizen journalism, wikis and more. Local peace builders use these tools to bring new voices to the public.

2. Making digital trust networks. SMS and online platforms could be used not only for instant messages transmission, they could also be used to form longer term relationships and regular exchanges. Local peace builders use groups in mobile chat rooms, social media and dedicated networking platforms for nurturing exchanges between groups, which are divided by conflict lines.

3. Counteracting calls for chaos and violence. Technology tools, too often are used to solicit and organization violent actions actively. Peace makers use the same tools as violent groups to counter violence calls through mobilizing collective positive messaging expression.

Powerful technology tools are on the rise in the hands of local peace builders and results to the widespread use of innovative initiatives. The technology for peace is a series of tools, which enable local peace makers to communicate with more people in a lot of ways, gather better information and substation relationships on digital platforms.

Keeping up with Technology and the Information Technology environment

With the fast evolution of the Information Technology industry, some people lament that IT has become oversaturated. However, the truth is that technology is growing constantly. A non-profit group Engine Advocacy that advocates public policies that encourage growth of technology start-ups in California, United States, and the job growth in the IT sector is beating the rest of the economy of the United States by three-to-one. This is also supported by a study made by the MEI or Monster Employment Index in Malaysia that says IT online hiring, telecommunications and other business processes that are IT-based increased by 12 percent this year.

IT PROGRAMS OFFERED IN ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS

In many colleges and universities these days, administrators are more and more aware of the relevance of technology. These institutions are offering degrees and programs to produce work-ready, competent graduates who could meet the demands and needs of the information technology industry. The programs and courses offered ensure that students possess the skills necessary for designing, developing and delivering software or technology in their future jobs. Students, for instance who are pursuing Bachelor of Information Technology could choose among three specializations, which include Software Engineering, Business Systems Design and Computer Networks. Students could select from a wide range of IT programs.

STEPS AND RESOURCES FOR KEEPING UPDATED WITH TECHNOLOGY

The evolution of information technology in business could not be denied. With the rapid changes happening in the industry, there are things to take into account in order to keep up with technology. Some include the following.

1. Determine the needs. A business has to determine the needs from the kind of technology it lives and work with, the existing knowledge base, as well as the learning style. Whatever the technology is, it requires better handle on fundamentals, such as magnetism, electricity, sound, light, fluid behavior and other fundamentals as needed. All these are building blocks. Learn more on the specific devices used, this could truly help.

2. Assess the available resources. From books, magazines to formal training sessions on the internet, there are various sources for technology-related information. Explore the options and determine which resource work best.

3. Rank resources in order of usefulness. The great thing about technology is that there are many resources. Weed them out and choose the resources that have even a small chance of working for the business and rank them in terms of importance or matter, lifestyle and learning style.

4. Make time to use resources. Some resources are for keeps. Integrating technology education into day-to-day routine only takes a few minutes a day.

KEEPING UPDATED WITH TECHNOLOGY IS CRUCIAL FOR BUSINESS

Keeping updated with technology is vital for every business, even those businesses that are not considered ‘technology’ organizations. An organization or business deals with technology in the security system, office productivity software, computers and networks, air conditioning, phone systems and more. Regardless if it is a simple cash register program that keep tabs on daily purchases or inventory or a sophisticated network linking places and people all over the world, technology helps enterprises maintain a competitive advantage and create a robust presence in the business world nowadays.

To compete in the business world today, it’s necessary to keep updated with technology to get the most of it, to keep abreast of new and emerging technology and to find information to make the right decisions when it comes to buying.

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Internet
Check out a good search engine and learn to use it particularly the advanced search features. This allows the staff to find user’s groups, manufacturer’s websites, purchasing guides, bulletin boards and online magazines.

Radio/Technology
Both have several shows dedicated to technology, including regular series, documentaries, news items, Q&A shows and more. Look for programs that deliver the best information to integrate into the daily schedule and to stay informed.

Magazines
Several magazines cater to the technology industry. Browse through these to find out which ones meet the needs of the organization. Subscribe to some that offer the most useful resources to read every month. Another option is to visit the local library every now and then to skim back issues.

Newspapers
All major newspapers cover technology topics in some way. Newspapers have listings of Q&A columns, useful websites, product reviews and user tips. Such features allow people to learn more at a glance. Make a habit of checking them out and cut out useful item to post on the company bulletin board.

Books
There are many ‘tech’ books today. They definitely are worth the time and effort. Buy a few for general reference and make them accessible to employees. The books tell how different technologies work, but most have useful appendices and glossaries, which explain the basic principles.

People
Seminars are great in getting updated on technology fast. Also, look for super users in the organization and consider them as resource.

Keeping updated with technology is crucial due to its central role in people’s lives. Keeping up to date with technology is possible due to the vast resources made available.

Top three Information Technology stocks that are best to purchase this year

To profit from IT or Information Technology this year includes purchasing the right IT stocks. Information Technology has been a hot issue for decades now. It has helped a lot of investors make successful retirement portfolios as well as create plenty of wealth in the future. IT programs abound as the sector grows and evolves continuously.

HOW TO PROFIT IN THE IT SECTOR THIS YEAR

While information technology is indeed a profitable endeavor these days, it also is a risky one wherein investors could walk into a trap at each turn. That is why, metaphorically speaking, it is necessary to separate the dry chaff from the golden wheat in this field. There are actually three top IT socks this year that offer more rewards than risk at this moment. Diving deeper this year, technology is seeping to almost each and every aspect of people’s daily lives. From travel to retail and transportation, hardly anything is just purely analog these days. From a perspective of an investor, this is quite an opportunity. The tech sector still boast a lot of opportunity for investors in the four corners of the globe. While there are a lot of great Silicon Valley companies, these three names for one reason or another appear to be the best technology stocks to buy for 2017.

ALPHABET LOG BANNER

Nowadays, people are aware of Alphabet as the parent company of Google, the internet search and advertising giant. Under the consumer-friendly brand, Alphabet also runs plenty of services that at are directly aimed at corporate customers. The prime example of this is online advertising, followed by cloud-computing services as well as advanced machine learning tools. Google’s umbrella encompasses 99 percent of the revenue of Alphabet at present. However, this is going to change later on. Less the ‘other bets’ division, there will be no need to wrap Google in the Alphabet structure. This aspect works on diverse areas as self-driving cars, medical research and high-speed connectivity services. In ten years, chances are that Alphabet would look much different from the online titan people are used to. It aims to be a cross-sector conglomerate, an impressive set of loosely connected services and products, wherein the common denominator tying the entire group together is data-driven research. In the years to come, this is a winning strategy. The conglomerate idea frees Alphabet to begin from the robust platform of technology and cash that Google has built and point in new directions as situations allow. Alphabet has the second biggest market cap on the world, but still has plenty of room for growth in years and years to come. Rest assured to be very comfortable buying Alphabet shares this year.

AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIES

Diving deeper into security services, Akamai runs a global network of content delivery services that are based on installed specialized caching servers installed in data centers and connection hubs worldwide. The caches used to hasten download of big files, which include digital video, high-resolution graphics. Media customers accounted for the lion’s share of the sales of the company. As of this year, Akamai is allowing smaller rival Limelight Networks take much media traffic, which used to mean a lot, providing Limelight a new lease on life while Akamai aims towards a security market that is more profitable. The same caching servers could serve as effective cure for DDoS or distributed denial of service attacks. Businesses and organizations need solutions that could defend against massive botnets exploiting thousands and millions of online devices. This is a field wherein the unique architecture of Akamai, as well as its ongoing investments in global security and innovative continue making an important difference. In 2016, the cloud security sales of Akamai skyrocketed 44 percent higher and is showing no signs of slowing this year. The media delivery income plunged 10 percent lower, yet the company appears to be comfortable with the new calling. The company strikes a profit with no sweat. Furthermore, the security-focused future appears bright.

HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE

Hewlett Packard Enterprise could be considered business-as the oriented side of the old Hewlett-Packard. In 2015, the enterprise segment was spun out as a separate business, leaving HP Inc. to handle printers and consumer products. The two enterprises still are joined in a lot of ways and can stand to put more space between, but investors at least have the chance to concentrate on one particular aspect of the sprawling operations of the old company. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has moved towards refining its strategic plan and double down on opportunities that are highly profitable within is wheelhouse. It spun out the low-margin enterprise services operations to merge with Computer Sciences Corporation. It creates the DXC Technology, a new business entity. Soon, the catering sales of the software division followed, moving out towards Micro Focus, a UK-based sector peer in a deal of $8.8 billion. A meaner, leaner company turned around to acquire Nimble Storage, a flash-based storage specialist for $1 billion. The revamped Hewlett Packard Enterprise is almost pure play on enterprise services with a little side of financing operations. It focuses on big-iron server systems, enterprise-class storage solutions and consulting services required to run a data center that is HP-powered. Moving forward, the company trades almost half of its yearly income for much bigger profit margins and clearer business focus. One could buy into the evolving business at affordable prices, along with a dividing policy that is reasonably generous. This is a pick in the IT sector that is low-risk now that the corporate makeover is completed. It is ideal for investors who have short patience for surprises and volatility along the way.

Top technology trends in Education

The education sector continues to boost its technology investments to make learning more interactive, more effective and streamlined. Education technologies continue to evolve to provide more value to learning or students anywhere in the world.

As the education field continues embracing the power and promise of digital technology and learning, one thing for sure is that regardless of how exciting the new technology may be, the tool itself should always be secondary to the goal that the student, teacher or administrator wants to achieve or the problem they want to solve. Utilizing disruptive innovation to improve educational institutions, the most successful designers of education technology would keep the end in mind, instead of pushing tech innovations for technology’s sake.

Pressure continues to rise on education budgets all over the world. However, despite this fact, the education sector is continuing to boost its technology investment that’s related to learning. Some of the top technology trends in the field of education include the following:

1. Online corporate learning. The corporate e-learning market is expected to grow around thirteen percent every year until 2017. This is due to the growing number of companies that have realized that there is indeed great value in furthering the knowledge of their employees in cost-effective and flexible ways that are tailored to each and every needs of an individual. Opposite the academic MOOCs or Massive Open Online Courses which remain struggling to find the best path to a reliable revenue stream, businesses that are focused on corporate e-learning enables employees in each industry and at any experience level the power of customized training, 24 hours a day on any device. Unlike training that is classroom-based, learners get to rain on their own time with customized formats. Everyone could move at their own pace, learning what they should know as well as exploring their individual interests. While still a relatively young industry, corporate e-learning promises in delivering new teaching models and a future of exciting breakthroughs.

2. Alternative styles of learning. The days are gone when students have to rely on tutorials that are text-based or even video-base. Although those are effective still, new learning styles will continue to emerge, providing online learners more interactive experiences such as directly writing code in the browser, or accomplishing online challenges as part of the learning process. One example of this is Code School which offers a one-of-a-kind approach which relies on alternative learning style that is believed to be more engaging, fund and effective compared to plain videos. With this, users watch a short video, stop and practice what they’ve learned via a series of interactive coding and assessments all the browser before proceeding. As they progress, they earn points and badges which serve as guide for one’s learning and progress. Furthermore, there is a mobile application so users could watch and review videos anytime.

3. Online competency-based training. Online learning and competency-based training are nothing new. However, the combination of the two is making a revolutionary approach to education. Online competency-based training providers could cost-effectively combine learning modules into pathways which are adaptable and agile to the evolving labor market. They do so by breaking down learning not by course or even by subject matter, but through competencies, so releasing learning from the hindrances of traditional methods and institutions. The method helps students via targeted learning outcomes, portable skill sets and customized support that employers care. This trend is expected to highlight the vital role of employers to build a value network that aids students to directly connect with prospective job opportunities.

4. Skills measurement. In relation to creating momentum in online corporate learning, expect an intensified focus on determining better ways of assessing skills and measure individual progress, competency-based learning and the end result which is ROI. Measuring a skill set could be accomplished with just ten questions in less than two minutes based on an adaptive algorithm. This enables educators to give students a SAT-like score for any skill, which could provide the foundation for a new industry standard in terms of skills measurement. Other web education organizations have begun experimenting in this area.

5. Flipped-learning technology. A flipped class is a kind of blended learning wherein students will watch video lectures outside of class to learn about content online and perform homework in class with a teacher’s guidance. This helps in engaging students both outside and inside the classroom. Designers of online tools and video streaming that are centered on this approach should make it a priority to optimize them for interactivity.

With numerous technology options, combining educational and technology landscapes could be daunting for educators. The future technology trends in the education environment looks bright. Clearly, there is a lot more to come and remaining on top of the latest developments is paramount.

Technology has made people's lives easier and faster to keep up with the lifestyle

For decades the word technology has been heard and today it has become a word that's not only spoken but practiced as well. The evolution of Information Technology has accompanied the evolution of societies, creating new ways to make people's lives easier and trying to keep up with the lifestyle. In a world where technological evolution is inevitable, the new generations are born with the thought that it is not possible to live without contemporary high-tech equipment. 

So, can we live without information technology or not?  First and foremost, it is important to remember that technology is a tool, something people use to make life easier. In the field of medicine, the IT evolution saves thousands of lives. In the social sphere, it enables people to keep in touch with friends all over the world easier and faster than before. However, it is important to realize that it reached a point where it controls people, making them depend on it and could not live without it. So, what could be done?

There has to be awareness of the extreme dependence on technology and social networks are the first step for a more balanced lifestyle when it comes to interaction. To be able to assess the importance as well as the limitations of IT, it is necessary to determine the signs that humans have become too dependent on IT. The signs include the following:

1. Work is over for the day if the internet is down. A lot of organizations today by mutual gesture cease work for the day because the internet is down. 

2. Buyer's remorse is becoming more common. Purchasing things online are convenient when the item is absolutely what one wants. If it's not, however, it could be all-consuming just trying to figure out how to get it back to where it came from. 

3. Nobody knows a phone number. If the cell phone is lost and all the contacts, it is very much possible that one has no idea on how to get in touch. Listing down important contact numbers on paper has plunged down in popularity with the evolution of technology. 

4. The dread of breaking up a relationship face-to-face. Many are considering doing and even doing this through text. While texting is convenient, but in terms of clearly getting a message across, a face-to-face talk is still the best way. 

5. No one lives in the moment. There are so many instances when one wants to capture moments on video only to realize that one is unable to experience the moment because the camcorder did not work or required a battery change. 

6. Brick and mortar stores are beginning to get extinct. This is because today, one could purchase and order almost anything and everything online, causing hundreds of physical stores to close. 

7. Without a mobile phone, one feels lost. Technology addiction is reality nowadays, with people checking text messages and emails as much as thirty to forty times every hour. 

Addiction to technology is no joke. It could be great, but too much of could leave one strung out and stressed. Studies revealed that smartphone use could lead to catastrophic scenarios like car accidents and the main cause of poor work-life balance. Guess the choice remains in every person's hands. The balance is in appreciating and using it the right way, but also awareness of when to turn it off to experience life to the fullest.