TechBrief - February 2017

CONSTRUCTION TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Join Us in Las Vegas for the 2017 One-Day Tech Summit

AGC is proud to announce a One-Day Tech Summit in Las Vegas on Friday March 10, 2017 (at the conclusion of the AGC Annual Convention) at The Linq Hotel & Casino.

This summit is built on two pillars, Knowledge Sharing & Innovation, and focuses on The Process, The Technology and The People. This unique event brings together thought leaders from our industry to discuss the current and future state of construction technology and innovation.

We invite you to join us at this interactive event which will cover topics such as:

The PROCESS:
o Process and Perspectives – from the perspective of an Owner, Contractor and Sub-contractor, the state of technology and how to become more innovative
THE TECHNOLOGY:
o Cybersecurity – beyond preventative measures or solutions, how an organization’s culture impacts Cybersecurity
o Tech In the Trenches – an open forum discussion on various technology solutions and a peek at some of the tools and software in our future
THE PEOPLE:
o Millennial or early-career employees in the Workplace
o Traditional Practices that cannot keep up in a digital world
o Strategies to Overcome Adoption Barriers in the workplace

Watch this brief video for additional information. View the agenda here.

Speakers: Jim Gentile, Kristopher M. Lengieza, Sasha Reed, Nige Wingate, Nathan C. Wood, Jeff Sample and Shobhit Baadkaar

Fee: One-Day Summit (with paid AGC Convention registration): $149 | One-Day Summit Only: $225

Please also join us for a Summit Welcome Reception at The Linq on Thursday, March 9, 2017, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

AGC Technology Showcase: GAME ON!

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Bellagio Las Vegas

3:30 - 5 p.m.

Mark your calendars and don't miss the Tech Showcase, brought to you by the AGC IT Forum, during AGC's 98th Annual Convention in Vegas. This year's session will demonstrate how video game platforms can attract and train construction workers.

Speakers:

Bob McCall – Master Builders Association of Western Pennsylvania

Jason Koss – Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania

Jason Malatak – Mosites Construction Company

Ken Smith – Simcoach Games

According to a recent study, video games capture the attention of over 155 million Americans. And they spend 3 billion hours a week engrossed in their games. While some may view that as a monumental waste of time, video games are not just for entertainment anymore. They have become a powerful communication and learning medium.

Two AGC chapters in Western Pennsylvania are leading the way in using video games to help potential and current members of the construction workforce to assess career fit, explore construction careers, learn basic skills and experience what they are learning virtually. In this year’s AGC Technology Showcase, you will see some of these amazing video games and hear about the results they are producing.

By attending this session, participants will be able to:

Experience firsthand how powerful video games can be used as a communication and learning medium.
Explore different types of video games, including micro-games, short 3-5 minute experiences that grab your attention and get right to the point.
Examine the benefits of the effective use of video games in attracting and recruiting new employees.
Demonstrate how video games can be used for workforce development and training.

How CIO Fara Francis Oversaw the AGC's IT Revolution

"Fast and furious." That term easily defines the development, deployment, and proliferation of new technologies in the design and construction industry over the last decade. And Charlotte Fara Francis has had a front row seat for all of it. Now in her 11th year as Chief Information Officer for the 26,000-member Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), Francis has helped to steer the old school, formerly tech-averse, national trade group onto the information superhighway.
SOURCE: WWW.BUILTWORLDS.COM

Visit http://www.builtworlds.com/news/2017/1/29/how-cio-fara-francis-oversaw-the-agcs-it-revolution to view the full article online.

TECHNOLOGY TIDBITS

Early Reviews of Samsung's Chromebook

Some early reviewers of the Samsung Chromebook Pro characterized it as a "MacBook killer," but others were more restrained in their enthusiasm. Jointly developed with Google and first demoed at CES 2017, the Chromebook Pro is slated for release next month.
SOURCE: TECHNEWSWORLD.COM

Visit http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Samsungs-Chromebook-Pro-Earns-Respect-84300.html to view the full article online.

Twitter v. Trolls

Twitter announced recently the latest of its attempts to quash abusers. With the goal of making Twitter a safer place, it has come up with new ways to prevent the creation of new abusive accounts; make search safer; and collapse potentially abusive or low-quality tweets.
SOURCE: TECHNEWSWORLD.COM

Visit http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Twitter-Steps-Up-Efforts-to-Silence-Trolls-84287.html to view the full article online.