From the desk of Josh Peldo – Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) & Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician (CCENT)
A large part of my job is to research and develop new technologies. Technologies that sometimes have nothing to do with the plain old telephone systems which most people associate with DRN. With the increasing speeds and capabilities of the Internet, part of my role here at DRN is to find new ways to maximize those capabilities. Our Fiber Optic Internet connections, along with new technologies, will make their lives easier and better!
One project that is gaining interest is in home automation or “smart home” applications. Schools, businesses, and homes are all good candidates for devices that add automation and increased functionality to their doors, locks, and lighting.
We’ve installed a lot of automated locks that can be unlocked with a proximity card, a code, or even your phone. If you’re tired of carrying or losing your keys, or if you’d like to automate your locks to automatically lock or unlock depending on a schedule, we have different options that can work with almost any scenario.
Something else that’s right around the corner is adding GPS tracking to your fleet, cars, or kids. It’s an easy install and an affordable way to track pretty much anything. It gives you up to date feeds on where your item is at, and it allows you to set up alerts to let you know things like when speed limits have been exceeded, or if a driver has gone too far away. Perfect for that crazy teenager that wants to go for a Friday night drive around town.
Another huge technology trend that is in home healthcare monitoring. I’ve been doing a lot of research in this area trying to come up with some devices that could make it easier for people to keep track of some of their own healthcare needs. Devices can monitor blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, weight, etc. These devices speak to a central monitoring station and this station uses the internet to report back those readings to a Home Healthcare Nurse or even a relative.
As we hit the midpoint of the summer there’s no slowing down for DRN. We’ve got customers adding new Point of Sale systems to their businesses, others are going to install solar powered security cameras in remote locations. Others have us trying to get their campgrounds connected up for wireless Internet. Whatever it is, it’s my job to stay on top of all these technologies and help make our customer’s lives a little easier. If there’s something you’d like me to help you with, just give me a call.
